Patagonia Men’s Recycled Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

Soft and luxurious, yes. Rugged? Not what typically comes to mind when we think of cashmere. And yet, the Patagonia Men’s Recycled Cashmere Crewneck Sweater is all of the above. This medium-weight sweater’s classic fit and unusual durability—it contains 5% wool for added strength—make it feel less precious than our other picks. It’s the one we’d toss into a backpack for a weeklong trip abroad or layer under a ski jacket for snowy adventures.

It’s especially durable. Unlike our other, all-cashmere picks, this sweater is made from 95% recycled cashmere—spun from pre-consumer cashmere scraps sourced from European factories, so it has a lower ecological impact than virgin cashmere—and 5% wool. While cashmere is undoubtedly a softer material, wool is both thicker and more naturally elastic. The result of this blend: a substantial, slightly fuzzy knit that feels far more indulgent than wool alone—without any hint of itch—but hardier than 100% cashmere.

The sweater’s hefty, resilient fabric seems less likely to tear or stretch over time compared with that of the other sweaters we tested, and its reinforced, fully fashioned sleeves also bode well for its longevity. In our tests, after a few weeks of wear, the comfortably snug ribbed collar still looked good as new, even with our tester’s (rather large) head repeatedly popping through.

It seals in warmth. The seven-gauge, two-ply knit of the Recycled Cashmere Crewneck did a great job of retaining body heat when we wore it on what passes for a cold autumn morning in Southern California; it’s ideal for layering while you’re exploring a city, hiking a trail, or even snowboarding. We were especially thankful for the sturdy, resilient ribbing around the collar, cuffs, and hem, which firmly seals out chilly air.