Patagonia

Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia's founder, started climbing in 1953 and began making pitons in 1957 after going to a junkyard and buying a used coal-fired forge, an anvil, some tongs and hammers, and teaching himself the art of blacksmithing. By 1970, Chouinard Equipment had become the largest supplier of climbing hardware in the USA. It had also become an environmental villain because its pegs were damaging the rock. After an ascent of the degraded Nose route on El Capitan, which had been pristine a few summers earlier, it was decided to phase out of the piton business. Fortunately, there was an alternative: aluminium chocks that could be wedged by hand rather than hammered in and out of cracks. They were introduced in the first Chouinard Equipment catalogue in 1972. Chouinard Equipment later became Black Diamond.

The clothing business started small with a few rugby shirts imported from the UK. The name Patagonia was chosen as it was decided the range should not be exclusively for climbers and Patagonia was pretty much unknown territory for everyone in those days. Fleece clothing (then used by fishermen) soon followed and then new materials such as polyester for base layers began to be used. During the '80s bright colours were introduced into a world previously dominated by greens, browns and blues.

In the late '80s Patagonia started using recycled material to make some of its clothing, a process that has accelerated in recent years, and also decided to donate 1% of its sales to ecological good causes, which has done ever since, most notably by buying up vast swathes of wild land in South America and then donating them back to the country concerned as national parks.

Patagonia make brilliant outdoor clothing and equipment but there are some other very good reasons to support them as a company which are partly why Needle Sports has such a major stockist of their range for so long.

Patagonia Airshed Cap
Patagonia Airshed Cap
Patagonia Airshed Cap
£31.50
£35.00
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2 In Stock
Patagonia Airshed Visor
Patagonia Airshed Visor
Patagonia Airshed Visor
£27.00
£30.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Atom Sling 8L
Patagonia Atom Sling 8L Patagonia Atom Sling 8L Patagonia Atom Sling 8L Patagonia Atom Sling 8L
Patagonia Atom Sling 8L
£49.50
£55.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Bandana
Patagonia Bandana
Patagonia Bandana
£18.00
10 + In Stock
Patagonia Beanie Hat Classic Fitz Roy: Andes Blue
Patagonia Beanie Hat Patagonia Beanie Hat
Patagonia Beanie Hat
£40.50
£45.00
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4 In Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 14L
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 14L
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 14L
£54.00
£60.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 3L
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 3L Patagonia Black Hole Cube 3L
Patagonia Black Hole Cube 3L
£36.00
£40.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 100L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 100L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 100L
£180.00
£200.00
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Out of Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 40L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 40L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 40L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 40L
£126.00
£140.00
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Out of Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 55L
£144.00
£160.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L
Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L
£162.00
£180.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack 5L
Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack 5L Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack 5L Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack 5L
Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack 5L
£54.00
£60.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Boardshort Label Funfarer Cap
Patagonia Boardshort Label Funfarer Cap Patagonia Boardshort Label Funfarer Cap
Patagonia Boardshort Label Funfarer Cap
£40.50
£45.00
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3 In Stock
Patagonia Brodeo Beanie
Patagonia Brodeo Beanie Patagonia Brodeo Beanie Patagonia Brodeo Beanie Patagonia Brodeo Beanie Patagonia Brodeo Beanie
Patagonia Brodeo Beanie
£40.50
£45.00
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7 In Stock
Patagonia Duckbill Cap
Patagonia Duckbill Cap
Patagonia Duckbill Cap
£27.00
£30.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L
Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L
Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L
£81.00
£90.00
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2 In Stock
Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L
Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L
Patagonia Fieldsmith Lid Pack 28L
£81.00
£90.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Men’s Clean Climb Trade Responsibili-Tee
Patagonia Men’s Clean Climb Trade Responsibili-Tee Patagonia Men’s Clean Climb Trade Responsibili-Tee
Patagonia Men’s Clean Climb Trade Responsibili-Tee
£40.50
£45.00
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1 In Stock
Patagonia Men’s Microdini 1/2 Zip Fleece Pullover
Patagonia Men’s Microdini 1/2 Zip Fleece Pullover Patagonia Men’s Microdini 1/2 Zip Fleece Pullover
Patagonia Men’s Microdini 1/2 Zip Fleece Pullover
£108.00
£120.00
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2 In Stock

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