Dedicated to the most demanding alpine adventures, the M10 shells are back from Patagonia, 14 years after their first launch. The aim: to get to the essentials by eliminating the superfluous and prioritizing mobility.
Waterproof, breathable and space-saving. That's how Patagonia extolled the virtues of its M10 jacket when it was unveiled in 2010. "It was the first time the concept of lightness and speed had been applied to the most committed of alpine adventures," recalls Kate Rutherford, then brand ambassador and now Alpine Product Line Manager at Patagonia. "We'd never had anything like it before, and it was the first time as an athlete, that we were really listened to. It was special."
In 2018, the M10 was withdrawn from the range "as we explored other sporting demands" justifies Kate Rutherford. New models made their appearance, but with the addition of pockets, zippers and trim, the absence of a simple, lightweight yet ultra-technical jacket was felt. So, 14 years after the appearance of the M10, Patagonia had no trouble convincing the generation of athletes who had already tested the M10 shells, to return to the principles of this range. "In general, climbers and mountaineers don't agree... on nothing, but this was unanimous," smiles Kate Rutherford.
By prioritizing freedom of movement, a lightweight waterproof/breathable layer and overall compactness, Patagonia has once again hit the nail on the head. On the M10 jackets, details are reduced to a minimum and the materials used are guaranteed free of perfluorinated chemical compounds (no PFC/PFAS in the three-layer fabric technology). Still on the technical side, Patagonia has used a nanoporous membrane developed by the automotive industry through a process that stretches the material to produce uniform nano-sized holes. This membrane allows steam to escape and prevents water droplets from seeping in, keeping you dry. "High mountains are a perfect playground for this kind of innovation," explains Kate Rutherford. "If we can make them work up there, they can be used in other sporting communities too."
As for mobility, the watchword of the M10, Patagonia says it was inspired by the world of dance to redesign the jacket from the original, working in particular on the armpits to allow climbers to move as they please on the toughest ascents. "One of Patagonia's hallmarks is that a new idea can come from anywhere. It doesn't have to come from a specific group of people for it to be adopted. It just has to be good," concludes Jaimee Redfern, from the brand's design department.
Find M10 jackets, anoraks, pants and bibs, as well as the whole Patagonia universe, at Private Sport Shop.
