Such is the case with the Dual Aspect jacket, which employs a 3-layer H2No Performance Standard fabric made from a 100% recycled nylon ripstop face with a slick jersey backer, a waterproof/breathable PU-based membrane and, as of 2021, a PFC-free durable water repellent finish.

“It’s many eco credentials make it more than worthy of a place in our Green Gear Guide.”

The garment is also Fair Trade Certified sewn in Vietnam, with the membrane supplied by Toray industries in Japan. Both factories are audited and monitored for their ethical standards.

Oh, and if you need a pair of hiking pants to go with your new shell, it’s worth noting that two other pairs of pants from the current Patagonia range – the Altvia and Point Peak – feature the same PFC-free DWR treatment, as well as recycled fabrics. 

Somewhat surprisingly, Patagonia has been one of the slower brands to move to PFC-free waterproofing. Until now, they’ve stated that the alternatives to PFC-free DWRs haven’t been up to scratch, making for garments that don’t last long enough. So this is a big move for Patagonia.

And the brand seems confident that its new PFC-free DWR is up to standard. Apparently, in the process of its development, more than 20 prototypes and competitor products were taken to northern Scotland to climb in the notoriously cold, wet and windy conditions of Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms. This allowed them to subject every product to the same prolonged exposure in the alpine environment and directly compare the performance. After that, they say they walked away “confident that the new, fully PFC-free materials perform as well as the best fabrics in the industry.”

Construction and Performance

All the details that you’d expect in a technical mountain shell are present and correct. That includes a helmet-compatible hood with a laminated visor and reinforced brim, plus two-way adjustment. There’s a two-way main zip, two chest pockets with storm flaps; two watertight handwarmer pockets (placed high so as to stay clear of a harness or pack waistbelt), two-way pit zips for ventilation, engineered underarm gussets for added reach without hem lift, low-profile Velcro cuffs, a hem drawcord and a built-In RECCO avalanche reflector. All that in a shell that tips the scales at under 500g.

The face fabric is made of 30-denier ECONYL nylon. That’s the only area where the specs perhaps fall down compared to some rival shells, which might use a 40-denier or even an 80-denier fabric for added durability. Of course, the trade-off is added bulk and weight, as well as reduced breathability. Patagonia are balancing all those factors with protection and durability here.

Verdict

With an array of features, the Dual Aspect jacket is well equipped for technical use. It’s certainly capable of taking on the worst UK hill and mountain days, and in fact is likely to be overkill for easier hikes. But if you’re a keen summit-bagger, climber or mountaineer looking for a reliable but eco-friendly shell for the biggest days, it definitely merits a closer look. And of course, we really like the fact that in terms of construction, this jacket is PFC-free and incorporates recycled nylon, as well as being Fair Trade sewn. All those credentials make it more than worthy of a place in our Green Gear Guide.