Patagonia Substitutes

I have been a long time Patagonia user. Loved the R1, have a Knifeblade Pullover that rocks, a hardshell, a wind shell, Cap4, etc, etc, etc. It has been my go-to brand when looking for clothing… until now.

This year they changed the cut of their clothing. I tried to purchase an R1 and an R2, and they were sized for people with wide middles. They were supposed to be slim fit, but when I tried them on I found them to be baggy around the waist. I am 5'10", 170, and as much as I like it when my wife says I have wide shoulders and a big chest, the fact is that I am carrying at least 10 extra pounds around my middle and have a 33 or 32 inch waist. A slim should fit me tight. Patagonia doesn't any more.

So, I have been looking for other sources for r1 and r2 type stuff. For an r1 replacement I have gone with NW Alpine's Black Spider Hoody. It is just a little lighter than my r1, but just as warm and fits great. For the r2 replacement I went with the Black Diamond CoEfficient Hoody. I doesn't have stupid hand pockets and I like it a lot better than the r2. Both of my replacements fit like a "slim" cut should fit!

Anyone else frustrated with the new sizing from Patagonia and many other outdoor brands? What brands have you found that actually makes gear that is sized for normal (not fat americans) athletic / active folks? What brands still make quality gear that works and doesn't have a bunch of worthless features?

Look at Rab and Mountain Equipment from England. The Rab Baseline hoody is my favorite R1 type hoody. The Mountain Equipment Eclipse hoody is really cool too.
Dallen

Cool! BTW, I'm loving the Knifeblade Pullover. Thanks for giving me a good deal on a great piece.

I love my TNF fleece, it's not grid, but it has balaclava hood, long sleeves, flat seams. No thumb holes, and it has Han pockets. It's very versatile just like the r1. The name of it escapes me right now. Fits me well and I'm a pretty average build. 6' 175

I bought a NW Alpine Black Spider hoody and hated the way it fit. Rab, BD, Arc, and HH all fit me well. Patagonia and OR fit is very hit or miss. Their pants fit great but their jackets fit like a trashbag.

Go into REI and try on everything?

Arcteryx fits really skinny. You might look into Ibex, who make wonderful pieces and will tell you how specific things fit.

I thought this thread would be about where to find mini-Cerro Torres.

NW West alpine, Mammut, OR

I am6,1 164lbs and have had really good interactions with NW alpine

The new Mont Bell Trail Action Parka is an excellent R1 hoody substitute and cheaper new than you can ever find an R1 on sale for.

I've also noticed it has a (very) slight wind resistance which makes it even more versatile than the R1

montbell.us/products/disp.p…

>> I thought this thread would be about where to find mini-Cerro Torres.

Ditto.

Ibex is a cool natural fiber (not always 100%) company - I've been dabbling with their stuff to see how it fits, etc. Just ordered some base layer stuff which is on sale. Still haven't figured out which of their items is a good R1 substitute.

Also, if you want to get really obscure:
denverpost.com/business/ci_…

Neither of these domestic natural fiber companies will disappoint you in terms of painful price tags. (Before you call me out - the fiber/labor isn't domestic for all Ibex products, but they are very North America focused)

I'm a big fan of BD's new clothing. I'm 6'3" 165lbs and find the fit really trim but relatively long. Can't speak to their tops personally, but I've been wearing their dawn patrol pants nonstop for skiing and climbing

Hiro wrote:>> I thought this thread would be about where to find mini-Cerro Torres. Ditto. Ibex is a cool natural fiber (not always 100%) company - I've been dabbling with their stuff to see how it fits, etc. Just ordered some base layer stuff which is on sale. Still haven't figured out which of their items is a good R1 substitute. Also, if you want to get really obscure: denverpost.com/business/ci_… Neither of these domestic natural fiber companies will disappoint you in terms of painful price tags. (Before you call me out - the fiber/labor isn't domestic for all Ibex products, but they are very North America focused)

I saw a Voormi hooded r-1ish piece yesterday. It looked great. The only problem is that they are sold out. Looking forward to seeing this company get up and running!

the voormi stuff in Pagosa is very nice, its a little heavy for a R1 hoody substitute.

Some of Ibex's line is made in the States or Canada, the closest Item to an R1 that that make that I have is the indie hoodie. Great layer however, I do not climb in mine. I use it as a base layer skiing or something simliar, the fabric does not hold up that well to dessert climbing. I am almost exclusively climbing crack and it tears things apart. one of the reasons I shill for NW Alpine is that I have wormed my way through OW's and chimneys in the fall and spring in their items and they are scuffed but functional, also 100% made in Portland OR. the owner is a nice guy helps too.

Rob Warden, Space Lizard wrote:the voormi stuff in Pagosa is very nice, its a little heavy for a R1 hoody substitute. Some of Ibex's line is made in the States or Canada, the closest Item to an R1 that that make that I have is the indie hoodie. Great layer however, I do not climb in mine. I use it as a base layer skiing or something simliar, the fabric does not hold up that well to dessert climbing. I am almost exclusively climb crack and it tears things apart. one of the reasons I shill for NW Alpine is that I have wormed my way through OW's and chimneys in the fall and spring in their items and they are scuffed but functional, also 100% made in Portland OR. the owner is a nice guy helps too.

I had similar experiences with Ibex. Besides the price being a turn off they didn't hold up very well to desert climbing.

As for slim fit gear, I really like OR's cut. I'm 5'6" 140 with broad shoulders and smalls fit well. They make a reasonably priced R1 type layer and the wool/synthetic blend t-shirts last forever (seriously, I get 3+ years of heavy use out of mine). My down jacket gets used almost daily 6 months out of the year and after 3 years it still looks brand new.

I like the look of the NW Alpine stuff, definitely going to check them out.

I've never touched a Voormi - good to know that it's heavy - the R1 is definitely impressively light for the warmth.

Any users of the Arcteryx Konseal or Fortrez hoodies out there? I've been eyeing those too. They have an integrated face mask, which seemed potentially appealing.

Links...
arcteryx.com/product.aspx?l…

arcteryx.com/product.aspx?l…

OR or Ibex. Ibex is a little spendy but the quality is amazing

MEC T2/T3 ...

they are basically cap4/R1 copies .... the sizing is athletic ... and in the men size runs a tad small so you may want to size in the upper end

mec.ca/product/5026-604/mec…

54-72$ and made in CANADA

;)

bearbreeder wrote:MEC T2/T3 ... they are basically cap4/R1 copies .... the sizing is athletic ... and in the men size runs a tad small so you may want to size in the upper end mec.ca/product/5026-604/mec… 54-72$ and made in CANADA ;)

I was looking at those recently. They look great, and the price is quite reasonable. What's the deal with ordering from MEC to a US address? Website says $20 shipping, which might be tolerable if several items are ordered. Concerned about customs delays, customs fees, etc.

Any personal experience with ordering from MEC to the US?

I got a good deal on the R2 over the holidays. I had the same baggy around the waist experience. Since the deal was so good, I had it altered for $10 at a local tailor. So it no longer has the original seams, but fit is much better.

I like the fit of the first ascent hangfire hoodie, and performance has been good. They have tall sizes, so you can go down in size (if needed) to get the trim fit, then go "tall" to get the arm length. Sometimes they are on clearance at really good pricing.

JCM wrote: I was looking at those recently. They look great, and the price is quite reasonable. What's the deal with ordering from MEC to a US address? Website says $20 shipping, which might be tolerable if several items are ordered. Concerned about customs delays, customs fees, etc. Any personal experience with ordering from MEC to the US?

i live in canada so cant tell you about customs to the US

at backpackinglight.com many have ordered from MEC to the US, so you might ask there

or you could just take a climbing trip to the canadian rockoes, bugs and squamish

;)