£199.95 £249.95
Compared to Patagonia's more hiking-focused jackets, the Boulder Fork is aimed more at the outdoor 'utility player'. Those jacks of all trades who might be fly-fishing or climbing one weekend, hiking or biking the next. The key thing, of course, is the superb water-resistance, utilising Patagonia's tried-and-trusted breathable H2No 3-layer fabric and bolstering the performance with waterproof zips and stormproof cuffs. The hood has a laminated visor and single-pull adjustment, with a clever low-profile cut that sits flat against your back when not in use. The designers at Patagonia have set the chest and handwarmer pockets relatively high to sit clear of a climbing harness or waist belt, and they're also surprisingly roomy to swallow up maps, fly boxes or other bits and bobs. It all adds up to a superb jacket that's as versatile as you need it to be.
| Alpha Size | Chest* | Hip | Arm Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 84 cm | 81 cm | 76 cm |
| XS | 89 cm | 86 cm | 81 cm |
| S | 94 cm | 91 cm | 84 cm |
| M | 102 cm | 99 cm | 86 cm |
| L | 112 cm | 109 cm | 89 cm |
| XL | 119 cm | 117 cm | 91 cm |
| XXL | 127 cm | 124 cm | 94 cm |
| XXXL | 142 cm | 140 cm | 95 cm |
*Chest is usually the best size predictor. However, if your hip measurement is larger, consider buying the size indicated for your hips.
Patagonia is the brand that other gear companies want to be when they grow up. In 2022, the company's founder, Yvon Chouinard, famously gave the company to the planet. It’s now jointly controlled by a charitable trust and a not-for-profit dedicated to fighting the climate crisis, and all post-operating profits go to environmental causes.
But in some ways that’s the tip of the (melting) iceberg. For nearly half a century, Patagonia has been an experiment in responsible business. From the farms that grow their cotton to the factories that make their goods and everything in-between, they’ve tried incredibly hard to set the gold standard in terms of ethics, transparency and social responsibility. Not only that, but their gear is made to last – to take hard use and repairs, and to maintain its performance through thick and thin.
All of which is even more extraordinary when you consider that Yvon Chouinard started out blacksmithing climbing gear for his mates in his parents' backyard, using a forge and anvil that he bought from a junkyard.
At WildBounds we don’t usually tend to go for the big-name brands, but this was one we simply couldn’t resist. Quite apart from their amazing ethical and environmental credentials, they just make great gear. We’ve used it and loved it for years, and you will too.