As cold weather arrives in Japan one after another, I visited Patagonia's Spring/Summer 2026 exhibition. Patagonia already has a lineup of masterpieces that represent the brand, but the products coming out for Spring/Summer 2026 are also functional and full of brilliant ideas, making it an exciting exhibition
There was a lot to see this time around, including a down jacket that looks like it has excellent heat retention, a new technical fleece added to the "R1" series, an improved climbing version of the "Houdini Jacket" that is useful in any situation, and new products added to the Capilene Cool base layer series. There were also products that had been around for a while but that I hadn't heard of before that made me think "this must be pretty useful," and I felt like I didn't have enough time
I would like to quickly share some details about the exhibition
table of contents
- Patagonia's "Free Wall Kit" features products perfect for hiking and mountain climbing
- The Terra Via Series hiking pants boast outstanding comfort and fit with three-dimensional cutting that accommodates movement, meeting your needs at a high level
- The Capilene Cool series is now easier to wear and more comfortable. With a revised fit and new lineup, the series can meet a variety of needs
- Discover hidden gems from the fly fishing category! A functional mountain shirt and amphibious pants
- Patagonia Provisions: Japan's first regenerative organic certified natural sake in 2025
- Summary: We can't wait for the mountain climbing season! Patagonia products to watch for Spring/Summer 2026
Patagonia's "Free Wall Kit" features products perfect for hiking and mountain climbing
The brand's "Free Wall Kit" is a total layering package designed to maximize performance in the harshest environments during the activity of climbing. I've never done any serious climbing, but there were some products in the Free Wall Kit that I thought would be perfect for activities I enjoy, like mountain climbing, hiking, and stream fishing, so I'd like to introduce a few of them
The Durable Down Parka is filled with 800 fill power down
Durable Down Parka with unique loft stitching
For those looking for lightweight yet durable cold weather gear, the Durable Down Parka may be the perfect solution. Durable Down Parka, which serves as the belay jacket in Patagonia's "Free Wall Kit" for climbers, which is being proposed for Spring/ , is filled with 800 fill-power down and has a high loft. When you actually try it on, you'll find that it's so warm you won't be able to wear it indoors.
High loft and heat retention that makes it impossible to wear indoors
The Durable Down Parka isn't just warm; its construction and construction have also been carefully considered. First of all, there's the unique stitching. The maze-like stitching minimizes cold spots caused by thread stitching and maximizes the down's heat-retaining properties. Feeling it, you'll notice that the chest and back of the torso are filled with plenty of down, while the amount of down is reduced in the sides, such as the underarms, reducing restriction to the body and making it feel less bulky than it looks. It also has a double zipper so it can be used even with a harness attached, and a button at the bottom of the zipper improves warmth and prevents it from flapping or falling off.
Buttons at the bottom prevent it from flipping up
The shell is made of 1.9 oz. Ultra PE ripstop, the same material used in Patagonia workwear, making it extremely abrasion-resistant. It won't tear easily, even if it scrapes against rocks or gets scratched by bushes in the forest
The Durable Down Parka has a unique design that sets it apart from other downwear on the market, yet is built to be sturdy enough for practical use by climbers.It is an attractive piece of clothing for climbers who take on difficult challenges, as well as anyone looking for highly insulating cold weather clothing.
New addition to the brand's signature technical fleece "R1" series
The image is of a women's model
I have worn many pieces from the R1 series and it is one of my favorites. Recently, the R1 series has been updated and new products added every season, and new items will be added to the lineup in spring 2026
The R1 Ultralight Hoody boasts the lightest fleece in the R1 series, offering exceptional flexibility and stretch, a comfortable fit, and abrasion-resistant surface. While previous R1 series models easily suggest high breathability based on the appearance of their lining and outer fabric, the R1 Ultralight Hoody lacks a grid structure, making its performance unpredictable based on appearance alone. It seems like it would work as a base layer in the harsh winter and as a mid-layer in warmer weather, but as an R1 enthusiast, I'm curious to see how it performs in practice. Designed for alpine climbing and part of the Free Wall Kit, the R1 Ultralight Hoody is harness-compatible, features a streamlined design without a pocket around the stomach, and includes pockets on both chests. Bearing the R1 name, its hidden potential seems beyond imagination, and it was definitely one I wanted to test out in the mountains.
The Houdini Rock Jacket is a versatile windshell jacket, adapted for climbing
The fabric is so thin it's almost transparent, and it's actually very light when you hold it
The Houdini Jacket is considered a classic, alongside the R1. Lightweight and compact, yet offering excellent protection, the Houdini Jacket is a versatile piece of clothing that can be worn for any activity, both in the mountains and in town. The Houdini Rock Jacket is designed for climbing.
The anorak's half-zip construction provides a long, slim fit that tucks securely under a harness. The shoulders are roomy for extended arm movements, and the two-way adjustable hood is helmet-compatible. The Houdini Rock Jacket is also designed for climbing as part of the Free Wall Kit, but it's also perfect for steep alpine terrain where a helmet is required. The unrestricted cut also makes it suitable for stream fishing, where you'll be constantly casting your rod. Personally, I'd like to keep it with me when I go.
The Houdini Rock Pants, made from the same material, are also available. These lightweight and versatile wind shell pants are also available
Relaxed silhouette from the waist to the thighs and knees
The Houdini Pants, which were once available, have been revived in climbing specifications. What I found unique was the rise and zipper shape. The rise is deep so as not to hinder movement, and the fit is slightly wider. As someone who prefers a relaxed fit, this silhouette was perfect for me. The zipper is also spirally placed from below the knee to the hem, making it easy to put on and take off while wearing shoes. When closed, the fit around the hem is tighter and does not hinder movement
Unique spiral zipper
The Terra Via Series hiking pants boast outstanding comfort and fit with three-dimensional cutting that accommodates movement, meeting your needs at a high level
The Terra Via Trail Pants are slim-fitting yet easy to move in
The Terra Via series of high-performance pants, designed for serious mountain hiking and trail walking, is being renewed. The Terra Via Trail Pants maintain their slim fit while undergoing some slight changes to improve the fit. Made with highly stretchable fabric and a three-dimensional cut, the slim fit allows for unrestricted movement and a streamlined silhouette. The elastic waistband and hem zippers have been eliminated, and one back pocket has been removed, resulting in a simpler, more lightweight pair of pants.
The TerraVia Alpine Pants have also been updated to improve the fit, while retaining all of the original functionality. When you try them on, you'll find they're just as comfortable to wear and offer great mobility.
The Capilene Cool series is now easier to wear and more comfortable. With a revised fit and new lineup, the series can meet a variety of needs
The Capilene Cool base layer series has evolved to be even easier to wear. The slightly looser fit makes it comfortable to wear on its own, and of course, the exquisite fit makes it suitable for use as underwear
In addition to the resized Capilene Cool Daily and Capilene Cool Trail, the lineup will now include Capilene Cool Ultra and Capilene Cool Sun.
Capilene Cool Ultra 's honeycomb structure promotes airflow, making it quick-drying and breathable, making it ideal for activities that involve sweating. The lineup is extensive, with sleeveless, short-sleeved, and long-sleeved hoodies, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. The fabric is very thin, making it light, and its smooth texture makes it extremely comfortable to wear.
The long-sleeve hoodie is also highly functional, with a button at the neck to prevent the hood from flapping in the wind and thumb holes to protect the backs of your hands
A comfortable fit that can be worn as is
Capilene Cool Sun is a garment that is ideal for blocking UV rays. It has UPF 40+ coverage, which can block even the strongest UV rays. Rather than applying sun protection to the fabric, it blocks UV rays by incorporating it into the thread, and its sun protection effect lasts even after washing.
Capilene Cool Sun series joins the lineup
It also has moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, and can be used both on land and in water, making it ideal for all activities during times of strong UV rays. Because its purpose is to block UV rays, the lineup includes two types: long sleeve and long sleeve hoodie. Like Capilene Cool Ultra , it has thumbholes and a buttoned hood. The men's version also has a chest pocket.
Last year when I visited Mt. Tateyama, I was able to avoid sunburn by wearing long sleeves no matter how hot it was, and as a result, I was able to stay comfortable, so this kind of UV protection clothing is a must-have. If you have one, you can enjoy summer activities without being bothered by UV rays
The Capilene Cool series has four main types
Discover hidden gems from the fly fishing category! A functional mountain shirt and amphibious pants
There are still many new ideas and functions that are useful for mountain climbing and hiking. With this in mind, I am also paying attention to products in different categories, but the fly fishing category is where I find the most interesting products
The River Rambler Hybrid Sun Hoody released in Fall/Winter 2024, is a hidden gem and one I personally love, but now it 's been updated. While retaining its functionality and structure, the material on the hood and from the shoulders to the sleeves Capilene Cool Sun. hood blocks UV rays, and the button-down shirt design allows you to open it when it gets hot, making it a versatile piece for summer mountain climbing.
The Sandy Key Pants are not a new product; they are fishing pants that have been around for a while, but with a relaxed fit and quick-drying material, they are amphibious, and the seat and knees are highly abrasion-resistant, making them ideal for walking on rocky ridges. The slightly relaxed silhouette of the Sandy Key Pants is a timeless piece, but they also have many convenient features for fly fishing, making them a pair of pants that caught my eye.
Patagonia Provisions: Japan's first regenerative organic certified natural sake in 2025
Our final recommendation is a Japanese sake for alcohol lovers. Niida Honke, located in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, has a history spanning over 300 years and is the first sake brewery in Japan to receive regenerative organic certification. While regenerative organic may not be a term you've heard of yet, it's a certification established in 2017 that is comprised of three pillars: soil health, animal welfare, and social equity. Building on existing organic certifications, it is a holistic certification of the world's highest standards, and is intended to function as an excellent foundation for maintaining the natural environment, considering connections with the surrounding environment and the creatures that live there, and symbiosis with the ecosystem
I had the opportunity to try Yamamori 2025, a sake made using the first rice cultivation system in Japan to receive this certification. Sake is complex, and I'm still a novice, so I'm not an expert enough to really talk about it, but Yamamori 2025 has a mellow taste, and a subtle sweetness spreads in my mouth as I sip. Sake is complex, and even though I'm not an expert enough to really talk about it, it was a very delicious sake. The interesting thing about sake is that even with the same brand, you can enjoy the changes in taste depending on the year it was made and the length of time it was aged
It also comes in a convenient 150ml size, so you can slip it into your backpack and enjoy sake in the great outdoors
Summary: We can't wait for the mountain climbing season! Patagonia products to watch for Spring/Summer 2026
We introduced some of the new and renewed products for Spring/Summer 2026, focusing on technical wear
Introducing each and every item in detail would be an incredibly long post, so please wait a while for the detailed review. Outdoor Gearzine will be field testing new products that Patagonia will be releasing in Spring/Summer 2026, and reviewing what we can only learn by actually using them, so don't miss out on future information!
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