21 Best Things to Buy From Patagonia

My circle of family and friends are outdoorsy people. Hiking in the mountains is our happy place, camping near a creek gives our kids endless hours of joy, hanging out around a fire pit is our favorite activity and when we can make it to a snowy slope, we're all-day skiers and snowboarders.

As you can imagine, we all have our favorite brands for outdoor gear, but one brand that we can all agree on — no matter the age, gender or size — is Patagonia. (My brother's first present for my first baby was a Patagonia snowsuit, and we don't even get that much snow here.)

Not only are Patagonia's clothes built to last, but the company is focused on keeping their textiles out of the landfills. They have repair tutorials on their website, and you can send in a piece to be repaired, or trade it in for a credit, and they make sure it stays in play and out of landfills.

I took a quick poll of my people to curate a best-of list. We hope you find some Patagonia pieces you love as much as we do.

Best Patagonia Buy for Everyone

The number one most agreed-upon Patagonia item is the Nano Puff jacket. It's incredibly lightweight but keeps you as warm, if not warmer, as its bulkier counterparts. Windproof and water-resistant, the jacket is made of a highly compressible material so it packs down very small. Several of my friends made a point of saying similar jackets get cold when they get wet, but the Nano Puff does not. If you're going to try one piece from Patagonia, this is the one to start with.

Patagonia Essentials for Women

The redesigned Retro Pile jacket is a favorite. It's made from 100 percent recycled materials, sewn in a Fair Trade Certified™ facility (as are all of their products) and is a great everyday jacket. And don't forget the base layers. They wick moisture, dry fast and keep odor at bay.

Patagonia Essentials for Men

My brother works for the national parks – maintaining trails, building bridges and rock walls, and a list of other incredibly physical tasks. His number one favorite from Patagonia is the R1 fleece. Breathable and stretchy, it gives him ultimate mobility and keeps his body temperature just right. Flannels and base layers are also must-have pieces for the guys.

Patagonia Essentials for Toddlers and Babies

These are all clothes my friends and I bought for our little ones, loved and handed down — most items are already on their fourth or fifth kiddo. We originally bought the reversible down jacket a size big for my oldest daughter, but she was able to wear it for three years, then her sister wore it for another three years and now my niece is wearing it. It truly looks brand new.

Patagonia Essentials for Kids

My daughter wears this vest all the time. It's the perfect layering piece, super soft and has handwarmer pockets for those really chilly days. Other great pieces for kids are the Better Sweater® pullover for casual everyday wear and the four-in-one jacket, which has multiple combinations of insulation and shell wear.

The Best Patagonia Bags

Patagonia's bags are versatile workhorses made from ultra-durable materials, with straps that adjust from shoulder to backpack and the ability to stow the bag in its own pocket for ease of storing or packing.