Mended shirt with vintage fabric. Done by StyleTongue.

Tested to the Max in the Tropics. Tom Enderlin. Costa Rica.

Dear Patagonia,

If clothing could talk, my baggies would certainly have a tale to tell. Living in tropical Costa Rica means I am in shorts most days, and more often then not I sport these functional and comfortable shorts. I am a fly fishing guide, and through constant rain, harsh sun, forest walks, and frequent slimming when cradling and releasing the big jungle tarpon we encounter they have prevailed. I even ripped my left front pocket wide open on a submerged branch when jumping into the water for such a release. The shorts are also a great gardening garb, and from hard work on my little organic finca they now have many banana stains (yes the liquid inside a banana tree does a number on clothing) and small rips. While not as exciting, the right front pocket was ripped on a knob in my kitchen while cooking. Luckily, iron-on internal patches have helped to make the pockets almost like new, and I now no longer lose my keys. Through all the use, they are still one of the first items I throw into my gear bag when packing for a trip, and I often pull them on as a mojo lifter during a particularly tough period of tarpon lock-jaw. Thanks for making such a great and simple piece of clothing. Hopefully they get many more years of outside time.

My Stand Up Obsession. Bryan Webster. Illinois.

Dear Patagonia,

I cannot bring myself to ever throw away any Patagonia gear. I am not sure of the exact date of purchase or from where, but suffice it to say that it was early 70′s.  I started climbing the peaks of Illinois after a friend came back from NOLS training.  We made many trips to Devils Lake in Wisconsin, but daily climbs were limited to my brick, three story house, our castle like high school and all the buildings in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Stand up shorts and pants were my go to climbing uniform and they have lasted to this day.  The stand ups still fit thanks to semi-clean living, ongoing marathon training, and a whole lot of mending. Here is a photo from a trip into the Wind River Range back in 1977.

30 Years and Going Strong!  Elizabeth Burns & Sons, Chicago Illinois.

Dear Patagonia,

My parents bought this fleece set for my brother in the 80’s.  Since then its been worn by my two brothers and my four sons!  This jacket has been on numerous outdoor adventures, camping trips and playground escapades.  Through the years it has held up to all the abuse without any need for repairs.  Besides minimal pilling you would think it was new!  Thank you Patagonia for making quality products for generations to use!

Chest Pinch. Mike Greenberg. Philadelphia, PA

Dear Patagonia,

I was setting up a student climb in the Three Sisters Wilderness in central Oregon in 1986. I locked off my descender and leaned in to pull on a suspected loose block on an overhanging wall. After resuming my rappel I felt a squeezing in my chest. When I looked down I saw that my purple, quilted, polypropylene jacket had been eaten entirely by the descender to the point where the flesh of my chest was also stuck in the descender. I had to “batman” up the rope in order to free my chest and jacket. 

About 30 years later I passed the jacket to my oldest son before his cross-country road trip. Even with the hole in the upper chest it managed to provide him warmth on his way to Lake Solitude in Wyoming. He gave it a few new tears, and said that half the people he saw asked him where the jacket came from, and what had been done to it. 

Hope the jacket makes it to my grandchildren and then another 30 years.

Transformation. Akiko Gilmore. Everett, WA

Dear Patagonia,

As a child outgrows his clothing so fast, my son’s first jacket was still in good condition. I could have given it to somebody, but I made into a backpack so that he could use it longer. Last summer, he went to his first summer camp with the backpack.

I totally agree with the idea ‘IF IT’S BROKE, FIX IT!’ I grew up in Japan, taught by my grandparents and parents who have suffered during and after WWII, I naturally use things respectfully, mend them, remake them, and use them again. Nothing to throw away, really. That became my work too. Upcycling and remaking kimonos, T-shirts, leather jackets, etc. at SekiWorks, I am happy to do what I believe.

Stand Ups have Stood Up. Kevin March. La Grande, OR. 

Dear Patagonia,