PATAGONIA Granite Crest Jacket

RRP £260 Target price £260 Patagonia have been leaders in creating more ethical gear for about as long as they’ve been in existence, employing practices like 100% traceable down early on. They’re also a B Corp which means they’re legally bound to weigh the interests of workers, the community and the environment along with shareholders. So no unmediated profiteering. One of the newest items in their repertoire is the Granite Crest jacket, made with discarded and recycled fishing nets

and without the use of PFCs. These strands have been repurposed to make a lightweight nylon fabric called NetPlus, faced with a PU waterproof/ breathable membrane and recycled nylon backer. The result is a light and flexible shell that glides easily over other layers, packs down well and shucks off the rain. I wore it up Kinder Scout on one sleety late spring day and found it to be brilliantly breathable – I kept it on the whole way up, just switching out layers underneath when I started to feel too warm. It’s not particularly thick (though being nylon, is durable) and I did feel a little cool in it sometimes, so it works best for three-season adventuring. It’s got some nice features too: an adjustable hood, pit zips and phone-sized outer chest pocket – though none of the pockets will take an OS Map. Overall, the Granite Crest is a versatile shell which would be just as good on the bike as walking the dog or schlepping up a hill in the rain. SR patagonia.com

WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Is it fully recyclable? Unsure. But you can drop it off at a Patagonia store at the end of its life and they’ll do their best to repair or recycle it.