Jack Wolfskin vs Patagonia: Which Brand is Better?

Jack Wolfskin vs Patagonia: Which Brand is Better

Welcome to another of our brand comparisons! We like doing these opinion pieces because not only do we learn more about different outdoor brands as we do our research, but we also learn from the comments that many users of this website leave us. And many of these users have years of experience with the brands that we discuss here.

Today we’ll put against each other two very famous companies, one from Germany and the other from the USA, or more precisely, Jack Wolfskin and Patagonia.

We’ll go over the usual points – brand history, materials, main products, and prices – and in the end, we’ll see who wins this battle.

So, let’s get started!

Contents:

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1. Jack Wolfskin

A Short History of the Brand

You probably have already heard of Jack Wolfskin, especially if you’re from Europe. This German brand was founded in 1981 in Frankfurt by Ulrich Dausien. Since 1997 the company is based in Idstein, Germany.

Over the years, due to rising demand and market share, Jack Wolfskin has developed into one of Germany’s top outdoor brands, providing a variety of products. It is also very popular in other countries in Europe.

Jack Wolfskin official website
Jack Wolfskin official website

Today, the brand offers a wide range of equipment for various outdoor activities, including clothes, footwear, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents, and more.

For a very long time, Jack Wolfskin has been dedicated to sustainability, environmental preservation, and social responsibility, much like many other outdoor apparel and equipment brands. We can see this in the things it makes, which is why we consider it to be an excellent example of a responsible business.

Both those searching for quality casual wear in general and those looking for outstanding outdoor gear find the company’s style and performance very appealing.

Don’t miss: Jack Wolfskin vs The North Face: A Comparison

DISCOVER LOCAL TRAILS WITH US | WOLFTRAIL I JACK WOLFSKIN

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Materials and Manufacture

Do you know how much Polyester goes into the making of outdoor products? Jack Wolfskin is a brand that is concerned about its impact on the environment and it uses recycled polyester in its products wherever possible.

It is crucial to have the appropriate insulation options for your clothing. This is why Jack Wolfskin uses a variety of natural and synthetic materials for insulation, including RDS-certified Down, Microguard (synthetic), and Fibercloud (synthetic).

Moving on to fabric technologies, Texapore is the technology used by Jack Wolfskin. This fabric, which is windproof, breathable, and waterproof in addition to being water-resistant and snow-friendly, is used in the brand’s coats and sportswear.

Texapore is available in a variety of styles and protection levels to suit a range of activities.

Learn more: Gore-Tex vs Texapore Technology: Which One is Better?

TEXAPORE (English) | Jack Wolfskin

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Where are Jack Wolfskin jackets and outdoor equipment made?

Products from Jack Wolfskin are made in Europe and Asia. Their factories are located throughout Asia, including in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Korea, etc. They are present in Slovenia, Germany, Turkey, and Italy in Europe.

Their raw materials come from Europe, the United States, and Asia. (source)

Read also: Jack Wolfskin vs Columbia: Which Brand is Better?

Popular Designs

From Jack Wolfskin’s collection, we have selected some of the most popular products.

Jack Wolfskin Men’s West Coast Hardshell Jacket

Jack Wolfskin Mens West Coast Hardshell Jacket
Image: jack-wolfskin.com
Check out the West Coast Jacket at Amazon.com (#ad)

The WEST COAST jacket will keep you dry, warm, and protected from the elements so you can go outside in any weather, whether it’s a rainy fall afternoon or a winter snowstorm.

It has two chest pockets, four hand pockets, an inside pocket, and an adjustable hem, and uses Texapore Herringbone 2L.

Jack Wolfskin Women’s Vojo 3 WT Texapore Mid Hiking Shoes

Jack Wolfskin Womens Vojo 3 WT Texapore Mid Hiking Shoes
Image: jack-wolfskin.com
Check out the Vojo 3 WT Shoes at Jack-Wolfskin.com

Jack Wolfskin created the Vojo 3 WT Texapore Mid Shoe to hike on trails without sacrificing comfort and breathability. Its outsole offers stable traction on a variety of surfaces.

This pair of hiking boots is made of synthetic and suede leather, as well as a waterproof and breathable Texapore membrane. To keep your feet warm and dry, it has an interior lining made of quick-drying NANUK polyester fleece.

Prices

A lot of things from Jack Wolfskin are reasonably priced. This brand does provide many products for thrifty buyers that can be added to their outdoor gear collection.

Having said that, Jack Wolfskin is not always inexpensive. For instance, its warmest jackets can cost more than $200.

Is Jack Wolfskin outdoor gear worth the price?

Their products, in our opinion, are worth the cost. You can count on Jack Wolfskin if you want high-quality gear with a good quality/price ratio because they are renowned for using quality materials and cutting-edge technology in their products.

Don’t miss: 8 German Clothing and Jacket Brands for Outdoor Activities

2. Patagonia

A Short History of the Brand

Rock climber Yvon Chouinard established the American company Patagonia in 1973. Its present headquarters are in Ventura, California.

Patagonia official website
Patagonia official website

However, Yvon had much more prior experience with outdoor equipment. Following his learning of blacksmithing techniques in the 1950s, Yvon began producing and offering for sale his own climbing pitons to interested climbers. He started doing business using the name Chouinard Equipment. Later in 1973, he would establish Patagonia.

Yvon expanded its new business after his initial experience with climbing pitons to include clothing for a variety of sports and hobbies, including surfing.

Patagonia’s product line grew steadily during the following years to include outerwear, sleeping bags, backpacks, parkas, and more.

Today, the business serves as a one-stop shop for practically all of your outdoor equipment necessities, including clothing for hiking, camping, and mountaineering.

Must read:
10 Outdoor Brands Like Patagonia That You’ll Definitely Love
9 American Jacket Brands for Winter and Outdoor Activities

Materials and Manufacture

Patagonia has always paid close attention to the preservation of the environment. They have worked very hard to cut down on waste and use recycled materials whenever they can, such as recycled polyester, recycled Spandex, etc.

With the support of their customers, their Worn Wear program seeks to give old Patagonia products a second life. The materials used by the brand are also fully traceable and ethically sourced.

The Californian brand has made numerous advances in its manufacture and technology throughout the years. To ensure that the final product can withstand the worst weather, their testing procedure exposes products to challenging conditions.

Moreover, their H2No fabric technology is a true rival to Gore-Tex, which has long been the industry standard for waterproof and breathable materials for outdoor activities.

Like Gore-Tex, H2No is offered in many configurations and layers. Both of these fabric technologies are utilized by Patagonia. If you’re interested in learning more, you can read our comparison of H2No vs. Gore-Tex here.

H2No® Our Waterproof/Breathable Testing Standard

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You might also like:
Patagonia vs Columbia: Which Brand is Better?
Patagonia vs Marmot: A Comparison

Where are Patagonia jackets and outdoor equipment made?

Regarding product manufacturing, Patagonia has a big presence in Asia. The majority of its outdoor gear is produced in countries including China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Mexico and the USA are responsible for a lesser portion of the brand’s products.

Popular Designs

Now let’s take a look at two popular products by Patagonia.

Patagonia Women’s Torrentshell 3L Jacket

The women’s Torrentshell 3L jacket has a very simple design with only the most basic, necessary elements. For the best possible breathability and waterproofness, it features the 3-layer H2No® Performance Standard, ensuring all-day comfort.

Check out the Torrentshell 3L Jacket at Patagonia.com

Patagonia® W's Torrentshell 3L Jacket

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You might also like: Patagonia Torrentshell vs Marmot PreCip Jacket: A Comparison

Patagonia Men’s Nano-Air® Jacket

For those who like being active up in the mountains, the Nano-Air jacket is a good option. It’s built with 100% polyester and is wind and water-resistant, breathable, and quite elastic.

With its FullRange® insulation, which is also composed of 100% polyester, you will move freely when participating in outdoor sports in the mountains.

It has a chest pocket and two handwarmer pockets, and all of them are zippered.

Check out the Nano-Air Jacket at Patagonia.com

Patagonia® Men's Nano-Air® Jacket

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Read also: Patagonia Nano-Air vs Nano Puff Jacket: A Comparison

Prices

Although Patagonia offers a wide range of products, it often ranks among the pricey outdoor gear companies. The cost of its performance and insulated jackets can exceed $250 USD.

Is Patagonia outdoor gear worth the price?

Yes, in our opinion, it’s worth the cost. The company provides excellent customer support along with quality, very efficient, and versatile products.

If you want to learn more: Why Is Patagonia So Expensive? Are Its Jackets Worth The Price?

3. Which Brand is Better?

woman hiking with a backpack in the mountains

Both companies offer great quality for your outdoor adventures and their range of products is very wide, covering a large number of sports and activities. Jack Wolfskin is also often called “The North Face of Europe” by many outdoor enthusiasts for its large number of clothes, gear, and accessories.

As usual, your personal situation, the product you’re looking for, and the activity or sport you plan to participate in will all influence your decision between these two companies.

Having said that, to give you our personal opinion, we think that based on the price, Jack Wolfskin is more for the casual outdoor enthusiast who hikes in his or her free time.

He is exploring the outdoors near the place where he lives and he certainly doesn’t want to spend a fortune at this time. He is trying to understand if he likes the activity or not. So, he picks two or three pieces of gear that just do the job, but nothing exceptional. Maybe he will spend more when and if he really becomes passionate about the sport.

On the other hand, the Patagonia customer is more experienced and wants to invest more in her gear with specific features that she’ll use for many consecutive days up there in the mountains.

Then, there are also other types of personal preferences based on the brand’s history, marketing, brand’s social and environmental consciousness, and so on.

And that’s all for this comparison! What about you? What do you think of these two companies? Let us know in the comments.

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Read next: Patagonia vs The North Face: Which Brand is Better?

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