Patagonia reveals new gear for 2010 at Outdoor Retailer

One of the best things about walking the floor at the Outdoor Retailer '09 Summer Market is the chance to see new gear that won't be released to the public until next year. Over at the Patagonia booth, the new jackets and baselayers slated to hit store shelves in 2010 were on display, and it became evident that lightweight and simple was the new trend.

Take for example the new M10 Jacket. It's a super-minimalist shell made from three layers of technical material that is waterproof and breathable. The M10 Jacket has a microfleece-lined neck, watertight zippers, helmet-compatible hood, taped seams, and is Patagonia's lightest 3-layer shell, weighing in at only 10.7 ounces. The M10 Jacket comes in both mens and womens versions and will be in stores on January of 2010.

Even lighter than the M10 Jacket is the Nine Trails Jacket. Made for trail-running or any outdoor aerobic activity in inclement weather, the Nine Trails Jacket is made from a triple ripstop nylon that is so thin, it feels like crepe paper. Somehow, this super-thin material withstands wind and weather. It also is ultra-packable when stuffed into the chest pocket. There's will also be a Nine Trails Vest available.

Insulation is another hallmark of Patagonia's line of outerwear, and puffy jackets and vests continue to be popular. Funky styles and bright colors seem to be the new thing as evidenced by jackets like the women's Nano Puff Pullover. It is wind and water resistant, lightweight, compressible, and supposedly really warm.

In the baselayer category, wool is quickly becoming more and more widespread, despite the fact that it costs more than capeline or poly-pro. Due to its environmentally friendly nature, Patagonia has been creating new lines of underwear made from wool. A good example of this is the mens Merino 1 T-shirt. It is a very soft wool shirt combined with a recycled polyester core to help wick moisture, while retaining the odor protecting quality and warmth of wool.

These new products are just a small taste of what's coming from Patagonia this January when the products get shipped out to retailers in 2010. Judging by their Outdoor Retailer booth, it seems that simple design and lightweight fabrics will be all the rage in outdoor gear next year.