Recycled commercial fishing nets are turning up in unusual places these days, like Patagonia’s Recycled Down Sweater Parka – rated in the Feb. 12 issue of Travel + Leisure magazine as the best lightweight woman’s parkas, of 41 jackets put to the test.
“Patagonia has a consistent dedication toward sustainability in its apparel, and this parka is no different, using the brand’s NetPlus postconsumer recycled ripstop nylon (made from recycled fishing nets) as well as fully recycled goose and duck down filling,” wrote Maggie Stepian, a Montana-based writer and editor with a decade of professional outdoor gear-testing experience.
The parka, which weighs barely over 1 pound, is packable in one of its pockets, and fits neatly into carry-on luggage. All 41 parkas were tested for warmth, fit and unique features.
Testers for Travel + Leisure gave kudos to Patagonia’s consistent dedication toward sustainability in its apparel.
The netting is collected by Bureo Inc., a company with offices in Tacahuano, Chile, and Oxnard, California, for which NetPlus is a signature material – made by recycling one of the most harmful forms of ocean plastic pollution.
Travel + Leisure found the jacket to be best for moderate winter weather, as well as shoulder-season temperatures during testing in chilly Northeast U.S. weather.
The jacket got kudos for somehow avoiding the downfall of other long-hemline jackets by not impeding range of motion, so it even feels comfortable while sitting down.
“It does have a two-way zipper to ease any restriction, but we were pleasantly surprised at how easy it has been to move around it,” the magazine parka review said.
According to Travel + Leisure this parka is available in several colors at REI, Backcountry and Patagonia.com.
