ISPO Award 2022 for the Patagonia Super Free Alpine Jacket

When the ISPO Award jury met for the fourth round of the ISPO Awards 2022, they had more than 100 candidates to evaluate. During their 2-day get-together at a quiet farmstead in Upper Bavaria, with the surrounding mountains being powdered with the first snow, they chose the products that they thought to be worthy an ISPO Award 2022. The Patagonia Super Free Alpine Jacket was one of the winners, and the reason is simple: it unites responsible new materials with clever function.

Combining high-level performance features for alpine climbing and advanced ecological innovations, this jacket is designed for alpinists who see themselves also as advocates for the planet. The Super Free Alpine Jacket, which will be available from October 2023,  is born from a partnership between Patagonia and Gore and rooted in the idea of responsible, performance-led alpine solutions. Pairing a simple yet innovative design for weather protection and functional mobility with the newest membrane technology by Gore-Tex, the jacket keeps the storm outside and the wearer comfortable on the inside, making it just the right garment for tackling even the boldest climbing routes in the most committed style.

In the manufacturing process, Patagonia uses a 100% recycled nylon fabric woven and 100% PFC-free Gore-Tex ePE, which sets a new standard for responsibly built technical shells providing storm protection in terms of waterproofness and breathability. It is built with a lower carbon footprint and backed by the Gore-Tex ”Guaranteed to keep you dry“ promise. The Super Free Alpine Jacket also uses a DWR platform that excludes the use of perfluorinated chemicals in the product.

As with all its products, Patagonia offers the so-called Ironclad Guarantee for the Super Free Alpine Jacket. The company has invented this pledge many years ago for all its products. It says that if a customer is not satisfied with one of the products, or if one of the products does not perform to satisfaction, customers can return it to Patagonia for a repair, replacement, or refund. Damage due to wear and tear will be repaired at a reasonable charge.

The innovative design solutions in the “Storm Seal” hood, cuffs and hems of the Super Free Alpine Jacket provide complete weather protection and functional mobility. The hood features an additional, lightly insulated gasket that sits tight around the face or the helmet and blocks wind as well as rain or snow. Similar gaskets at the cuffs also reduce moisture transmission to the inside, which is import when climbing with your hands overhead. The so-called “Clean Clip” hem improves mobility as there is no tightness around the hips and makes racking gear such as harnesses easy.

Hence, the Super Free Alpine Jacket reflects Patagonia’s style of climbing, the company states: committed, hard alpine style climbs. But it also showcases their product ethos of responsible performance: building better performing products out of more responsible supply chains and responsible materials. The ISPO Award 2022 proves that the company is on the right track.

• Eco-friendly 100% PFC-free Gore-Tex ePE membrane
• 100% recycled Nylon
• PFC-free DWR finish
• Lightweight
• Smart hood, cuffs, and hem solutions