Wool and cotton are my preferred fibers (over polyesters and nylons) because they’re biodegradable and not oil-dependent. But once in a while, a synthetic piece like the Patagonia Dusty Mesa Fleece Parka ($199) comes along and gives me pause.
What I Loved
Good for the Environment
The textile industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world. Toxic chemicals like polyvinyl chloride to size fabrics, chlorine bleach to lighten colors, and benzidine and toluidine as dyeing agents and flame retardants are all known cancer-causing agents. What make the Patagonia Dusty Mesa Fleece parka good for the environment is that it’s made from 100 percent recycled half-inch pile fleece. The nylon trim and lining is also 100 percent recycled from the waste of weaving mills.
The fact that Patagonia managed this feat should come as no surprise. They were the first outdoor apparel company to use fleece made from recycled plastic bottles, which lessens our dependence on petroleum, reduces landfill waste and causes less air, water, and soil contamination compared to using non-recycled nylon.
Fit and Size
It runs large. Go true to size if you want the option to add a down sweater as a mid-layer; if you don’t think you’ll use a mid-layer, and you don’t like a (very) relaxed fit in your parka, order down a size. I’m 5’ 5” and wear a size small. Thus is my sample from Patagonia. The small Dusty Mesa Fleece parka hit me at mid-thigh and its relaxed fit left me room for a base- and midlayer on the colder days.
Good Warmth in the Shoulder Seasons
The Patagonia Dusty Mesa Fleece parka is made from 100 percent recycled Sherpa fleece, which is made from polyester and is a variant of stretch knit regular polyester fleece fabric. The key difference is that Sherpa fleece has a smooth knit side and a textured side to imitate the look and feel of real sheep’s fleece.
For being as thin as it is, it was warm in temperatures in the high-30’s to mid-40’s. If you go true-to-size instead of sizing down, you can easily take it down to colder temperatures by adding a down sweater mid-layer. Also, the sleeves are nice and long and the hood is nice and deep to keep my head warm in cold wind.
What Could be Better
Because it lacks tapering in the waist area, I look like a sheep walking on its hind legs. The addition of a drawstring waist would clearly define the species barrier.
