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Three Coats In One

by Elke Erschfeld

coats

A few years ago I treated myself to Patagonia’s Tres 3-in-1 Parka as a Christmas present. Back then I bought it because the sales person mentioned that it was their warmest winter coat yet and I love multi-functional products. The Tres Parka is highly functional with its two coats nested within each other. You can either wear the 2-layer waterproof and breathable outer shell as a protection against rain and wind or the interior zip-out parka that’s insulated with 600-fill premium European goose down when you simply need to stay warm. And then of course, the third option is to wear the entire Tres Parka during cold winter days as a defense against wind and freezing temperatures.

During my first winter I took it with me on a business trip to New Zealand while wearing all layers during my departure from New York. In New Zealand I wore the outer shell as a raincoat only. On my way back to the States I had an unexpected layover in San Francisco due to a blizzard in the North East where I only wore the inner down coat. Patagonia’s Tres Parka basically endured several snow blizzards and rainstorms in multiple time zones during its first winter season and that was just the beginning. The 3-in-1 concept saves space while traveling and uses less material instead of having three separate coats. Thanks to its smart design packing for a trip is easy and I always feel prepared. It’s not inexpensive but I’m on my fourth season and it shows very little wear.

What ultimately sealed the deal for my purchase was that both nested coats contain materials made of 100% recycled polyester. Patagonia has always been on the forefront of sustainable design in the sourcing and production of their garments. In 1993 it was the first outdoor clothing company to include fleece into their products made from post consumer recycled (PCR) plastic soda bottles. The use of recycled polyester keeps plastic out of landfills, reduces our dependency on foreign oil, and promotes the use of recycled materials in the garment industry. Patagonia really knows, how to combine utility with respect for the environment while keeping you warm and toasty.

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