Responsible Performance | Field Testing at Patagonia

You tug up and cinch down your hood, turn away from the stinging bullets of spindrift and climb upwards, while dark clouds brood above. Of all the things on your mind at that precise moment, the environmental responsibility of your jacket probably isn’t at the top of the list of your priorities. For the time being, you are focused on staying warm, dry and safe in the mountains. It’s one of the reasons that the GORE-TEX brand and Patagonia are so well respected in the outdoor world. Their names have become almost synonymous with reliability, performance and quality.  

Those characteristics don’t happen by accident. Rigorous lab and field testing is a fundamental part of both companies’ development process. As a principle, Patagonia does not test products on their customers.

Back in the comfort of our homes, we have a little more time to consider our personal environmental impact; and if you love being in the outdoors, it is a no-brainer to want to take care of the planet. What does that look like in real life, though, and what has it got to do with a waterproof jacket? And how can we be sure that we aren’t compromising performance in the search for a more responsible consumption.  

Bringing sustainability and performance to the same high level 

Some waterproof products have relied on perfluorinated chemicals, as they have the DWR treatments that provide water repellency, but that's changing.

Nearly a decade ago, Patagonia and the GORE-TEX brand started towards an impossible goal: to remove water-repelling perfluorinated chemicals, better known as PFCs and PFAS, from the waterproof fabrics in their outerwear, without compromising performance.

Well, they did it—and set an entirely new standard for technical shells. Both brands have been on a ten-year journey together to develop this alternative solution; one that is worthy of Patagonia’s ‘Ironclad Guarantee’ and the GORE-TEX brand’s GUARANTEED-TO-KEEP-YOU-DRY promise.

Named ‘New GORE-TEX products’, they first made an appearance in Patagonia’s 2022 range. This new material eliminates the need for PFCs to achieve the highest standards for waterproofness and breathability in various conditions.

Additionally, new GORE-TEX products have a reduced carbon footprint, and the use of recycled and solution-dyed textiles also reduces energy and water usage in the manufacturing process. A win-win, er-win? scenario. 

Field testing responsible performance 

The GORE-TEX Brand and Patagonia sought ways to work together and take new GORE-TEX products with ePE membrane even further for 2023.

Collaboration is central to the way the GORE-TEX brand works with all partner brands; ensuring fabric and construction work together to deliver high performance.

Using the original 2-layer ePE construction that was first launched in 2022, and with the GORE-TEX brand providing trial fabrics and Patagonia’s team creating prototypes, GORE-TEX performance 3-layer version of New GORE-TEX products with ePE membrane was developed. Now garments could go further, in more extreme and extended conditions.

Remember, Patagonia does not test products on their customers. Fortunately, Patagonia and GORE-TEX had a team of ambassadors and athletes to put the new fabric through all the rigours that technical mountain sports inflict on our garments.  

Patagonia Alpine climbing ambassador, Matt Helliker sums up the value of the process. “When things are looking really grim, if you’re feeling very vulnerable in the mountains and you’re wearing something that makes you feel secure, it’s going to help you survive, right? I just think it will make you feel pretty indestructible.” 

 

Fellow ambassador and Head of European Field Testing, Jon Bracey, adds “the primary role of a Patagonia ambassador to give feedback on the gear, and help develop functional, trustworthy kit. Alongside the Ambassadors, most of the testers are mountain professionals like guides, accompagnateurs, and ski patrollers. Plus a few ski and climbing bums! It’s essential that testers are out in the field every day, have a good eye for detail, and are open minded.” 

“For new products or fabric innovations and concepts it might be a few years of collaboration and prototype testing before we see the final product. We are incredibly lucky to have the ‘Forge’ which is our state of the art R&D lab. Some incredibly smart scientists and engineers working here are a crucial part of what makes Patagonia who it is, and will continue to be a world leader in development of responsible clothing.” 

So, from the maritime winters of Scotland to the worst weather that the Alps and the greater ranges had to offer; New GORE-TEX garments with ePE membrane had to shrug it all off. The end result was a fabric worthy of the GORE-TEX brand’s ’Extreme & Extended’ performance standard, with Patagonia being one of a few selected brands to use it in their new outerwear from this winter.

Take care of your garment and it will take care of you 

It’s an often-forgotten aspect of performance, but we ask a huge amount from our garments. Not only do they shelter us from the elements, they are scuffed against rocks, constantly rubbed by rucksacks and stuffed into and out of packs. Dirt and grime impact the textile, reducing its breathability. Then all that use eventually wears away the durable water repellent (DWR) finish. We’ve all had a jacket that water once beaded off beautifully, but now seems to wet out in record time. The good news is garment care is as easy as putting on a load of washing; albeit with specific DWR wash and refresh products. Just follow the instructions on your clothing. 

 

Regular washes and reproofs not only maintain the optimum performance of your garment, they also extend its life. And as far as sustainability is concerned, there is no bigger win than putting off replacing an item for as long as possible.  

Finally, should the worst happen and your garment gets ripped by a rogue crampon, say, Patagonia’s Worn Wear programme has your back; they’ll do what they can to repair the item.  

New GORE-TEX products; whatever the sport 

Patagonia has taken new GORE-TEX fabrics with ePE and applied it to their range – now available at Ellis Brigham – featuring designs for specific activities across all technical mountain sport categories. Look out for Patagonia Storm Shift and Triolet ranges, Alpine Suit and Super Free Alpine Jacket. So whether hiking, skiing, mixed climbing or mountaineering, there will be a GORE-TEX garment with ePE membrane guaranteed to hold up to the harshest of demands; all without PFCs. 

Written By: Tom Hill