In Boston, we’re lucky to have several parks and paths nearby suited for city folk like me who just want to get a little in touch with nature (compared to my brother, who scales mountains and glaciers every weekend)! One of our favorite fall spots is Jamaica Pond, a nearby respite from the bustle of downtown. It’s the perfect place for a walk or jog to take in the foliage, and on a chilly day it’s hard not to grab a piping hot bowl of pho or ramen at the nearby Soup Shack!
I’m partnering with Backcountry in the spirit of exploring your own little patch of the outdoors, even if it’s just a local walking spot like this one. They carry a wide range of active brands for the family, all with free 2-day shipping (on orders over $50).
From the Big Brands event, I wanted to highlight a few sustainable pieces below. My woolyester fleece pullover in this post features a petite-friendly fit (always a positive sign when reviewers complain about something being too short!), with a textured recycled wool blend and wide, stretchy banded hem and wrists that help with the fit.
1. Patagonia Prarie Insulated Parka – (starts in xs)
This first caught my eye at a store and they were just about sold out of most sizes, so I’m very surprised to see it here at this price! If you love the utility jacket look, this is an upgraded version with an organic cotton canvas outer and a thick, cozy shearling lining throughout the torso and hood (sleeves are also lined but not in shearling).
While the sleeves are a little long on me, the XS is fairly petite friendly with a cinch-able drawstring waistline that hits at my natural waist and a slightly longer length in the back than the front. However, note sleeve length and torso length increases with size, so bigger sizes may not be petite friendly. You can also un-snap the sleeve cuffs and flip them up for a casually cuffed look.
2. Smartwool socks
Made of responsibly sourced merino wool and are cushioned for extra warmth and comfort. I just got these taller snowflake socks to wear with my boots this winter and they come up mid calf on me (FYI: very very toasty when paired with insulated Sorel or Sperry boots). They also make a slightly lower snowflake sock option here if you don’t want your socks to peek out too far from under boots!
3. Patagonia better sweater full zip up or 1/4 zip up (starts in xxs)
Their signature zip up is made entirely of recycled materials and makes a great gift. XXS is a pretty slim fit on me for wearing over a lightweight sweater or long sleeve tee. Material is a light-medium weight stretchy knit (so is also good for layering under bigger coats), but this is lined in a fleece material so it’s actually deceptively warm given the weight!
4. Patagonia Down With It Chevron parka (starts in xs)
Filled with recycled down and finished with a water resistant coating. Other features include a detachable hood, and snaps at both sides on the bottom for more freedom of movement. I tried on XS and it’s a slim fit that hits below my knees, and the pockets hit a little lower near my hips, so I would recommend this for ladies taller than myself (I’m 5 feet tall). For a more petite friendly down jacket on sale, check out the Raven Rocks hooded down jacket!
5. Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T Fleece Pullover (starts in xxs)
Made of Polartec Thermal Pro fleece which is partially recycled materials. Note this is a slim fit, and I personally prefer my fleece pullovers to be a little more oversized and less tapered. An XXS fits on someone my size if you primarily plan on layering just a tee underneath, or if you plan on using this fleece as a layer underneath bigger coats.
Thank you to Backcountry for partnering on this post.
