But teeming lineups caused Lopez to flee Oahu for the quiet of Maui in the 70s. And in 1992, Lopez relocated to Bend, Oregon, where he lives to this day. He regularly surfs the river wave on the Deschutes and the wave-like windlips of Mount Bachelor. And despite living thousands of miles from Hawaii, he’s still known as Mr. Pipeline. According to modern day Mr. Pipeline Jamie O’Brien: “Even to this day, his dominance at Pipe is unparalleled. He won Pipe Masters a few times, but his freesurfing prowess out there was what really set him apart. His style was incredible and inspiring to everybody who has ever surfed the wave.”

If you watch footage of Lopez surfing, or flip through a magazine from the era, it’s not a logo, nor Lopez’s visage, that’s most recognizable were you to stumble across him at a far-flung reef pass. Rather, it’s his silhouette. The delicate precision of fingertips tracing a wave face. The steely control. The indolent—almost insolent—arch of his back. His style—that’s what you’d recognize. An intangible element that, ironically enough, is impossible to camouflage. 

Lopez has been a longtime partner of Patagonia, and over the last few months we’ve had the chance to test and review three pieces from his killer camouflage collection in Mexico and Alaska. Mr. Pipeline might not be able to blend in with the crowd at your local surf break, but after a lifetime spent hiding behind the curtain of the world’s preeminent wave and sidestepping crowds in Maui and then Oregon, it’s clear that the man appreciates a bit of camo.

Who it’s for: Surfers and non-surfers alike. Surfers will appreciate the Gerry Lopez co-sign, while landlubbers will just be jazzed on the lightweight wind breaker and the black and grey styling that pops against the gold accents. Really, this piece is perfect for backpackers, travelers, sailors, and anyone who’s regularly around wind, water, or sun—and often a combination of the three.

What we love: Honestly, we’re not usually fans of camouflage—and this is the only camo item in our gear closet at the moment. But the grey and black pattern combined with the golden stitching and drawstring is as stylish as a Gerry Lopez hand-drag barrel. Ok, maybe not that stylish, but close. 

The 100% recycled polyester material is extremely lightweight but it definitely dulls the bite of the wind. It’s also rated UPF 50+, protecting your sun from harmful UV rays. We thought it might be too warm to wear in the heat of the day, and it was in some cases, but it actually wasn’t too bad, especially on boat rides when you have a bit of wind. Furthermore, the hoodie is stretchy—high-octane movement like burpees or trail running is comfortable in this hoodie. In fact, this hoodie is incredibly comfortable just hanging out, too, we took to wearing it on flights and long car rides, too. 

The Patagonia Stretch Terre Planing Hooded Jacket is also DWR-treated, which helps repel ocean spray and light drizzles, and the spacious hood is a must in these scenarios, too. Dual zip hand pockets are much appreciated when rocking the hoodie on an airplane or heading into town for tacos and a beer.   

What we don’t dig: If you’re looking for insulating warmth, look elsewhere. On an evening hike in Alaska, we got a little chilly, but that was really user error—if temps are dropping below 60, this is insufficient.

Additionally, it’s a bit pricey if you’re just using this piece as a windbreaker. But the truth is, the Planing Hooded Jacket is much more versatile, as it’s also able to handle sun and light rain. In the end, we found the price more than justified by the quality and multi-functionality of the jacket.

When and where we’ll use it: There were two instances during testing that this piece really proved its worth. The first was a dawn patrol boat ride to an undisclosed surf spot in Mexico. It was drizzling on the way to the dock, and the DWR treatment kept the drops at bay. It cleared up once we were on the boat, but it was a little too chilly to wear just a t-shirt between the wind and spray.

The other instance was hiking, exploring, and scrambling through a mossy canyon in Alaska. With fixed ropes dangling near a waterfall, getting wet was guaranteed. The material helped keep arms and torso dry, and while the jacket did eventually soak through, in a couple of places, it was quick to dry and comfortable to wear.

In addition to surf trips and waterfall hikes, we’ll use this layer on canoe trips, fishing excursions, and anytime we’re in or around the water. It’s perfect for the lake, the river, the beach, the ocean, and beyond. We’ll mainly rely on it in warmer locales, but can definitely play in cooler ones in spring, summer, and fall.   

Why we’re stoked: This jacket is as dapper as Clooney in Oh Brother Where Art Thou, and we’ve been amped to have it on hand while dodging barrels in Mexico and dodging grizzlies in Alaska. It’s a perfect companion for warm weather trips when you want an extra layer but don’t want to pack anything heavy. For protection from intense sun, moderate wind, and light rain, it doesn’t get any better than this piece from Mr. Pipeline and the good folks at Patagonia.

Who it’s for: This stellar roll top dry bag is purpose-built for anyone who hauls wet and dry gear at the same time and hates pervasive dampness. More specifically, we’re recommending this pack for surfers, kayakers, rafters, anglers, and anyone who often wears a wetsuit, dry suit, or waders. Beachgoers and swimmers will love the pack, too, to help keep swimwear and damp towels away from dry clothes. Photographers will also be taken by the rolltop dry bag, as there’s

What we love: This is the best surf backpack we’ve ever tested. The main compartment is insanely spacious and can be packed way beyond the 35L listed capacity. We stuffed two sets of wetsuits, booties, gloves, and hoods in this bad boy and still had room for a full-size PackTowl.

The material is trustworthy: a tough, recycled polyester with a TPU-film laminate. This allows you to toss wet gear inside the main compartment or the easy-access mesh outer pocket and have faith that it won’t penetrate the laminate and cross-contaminate your kit. When hauling a wetsuit or soaking waders, the mesh outer pocket is a dream, as it’s incredibly spacious and allows your wet gear to drip dry on the hike back to the parking lot. We’ve often used regular rolltop packs to haul wet gear, and while they do the job, they are a heavier option and do lead to rank, stinky gear since they’re not dripping dry. A mesh outer pocket helps solve this problem.

Additionally, we loved that the pack keeps dry items dry when rain is in the forecast. We left this pack sitting on exposed rocks as we surfed through tropical thunderstorms down in Mexico, and were pleased to find that phones, towels, and clothes were dry as a bone upon exiting the water.

The padded back panel and shoulder straps are quite comfortable on fully loaded, short-to-moderate hikes. We didn’t experience any hot spots when hauling gear to and from surf spots or lugging camera gear on hikes, but we didn’t take it on long hikes when fully loaded. Based on our experience over two-to-four-mile distances, we would likely opt for a more heavy-duty, framed pack for hikes longer than five miles with a full load. If you’re packing light, this pack is comfortable and capable on longer hikes, and we happily employed this pack on five-to-ten mile missions. 

The inner compartment is not compartmentalized at all—it’s a black hole of a gear hauler, which is perfect for surf trips and wet/dry gear hauling—but there is a tiny interior zipped pocket that can squeeze in wallet, key, and phone (assuming you don’t have a tablet-sized smartphone). Straps and buckles on the outer part of the pack allow you to secure the roll top closure. Or, you can use the hip belt and the middle straps and attach a skateboard to the exterior of the pack. 

Lastly, we’re big fans of the grey and black camo pattern in the Gerry Lopez edition of this pack, but it’s also available in several rad colorways and basic black.

What we didn’t dig: The hip belt is on the thin side. It could be more robust, which would help to max out the roll top load and go for longer missions. Additionally, the small interior pocket could be a little bigger for more internal organization.

When and where we’ll use it: We’ll use this pack anytime precipitation is in the forecast and wet gear is guaranteed. It’s perfect for far-flung surf trips and chill weekends on the shore with friends and family alike. Mostly, we’ll employ the pack when hauling wetsuits and waders.

This is a consummate carry-on for the traveling surfer, no matter the destination. Load it up with laptop, camera, and the latest issue of The Surfer’s Journal for the flight, then stuff it with wetsuit and towel upon arrival at your final destination. We’ll bring this on fishing trips, surf trips, beach day trips, and rafting trips for years to come.

Who it’s for: surfers, cliff jumpers, wakeboarders, etc. Anyone who values durability over weight in boardshorts.

What we love: There are lighter boardshorts on the market. But the fact of the matter is they cost twice as much as these Patagonia’s and last half as long—or less. These boardies are simple, durable, and dependable. The fit is comfortable, as is the lightweight fabric. A blend of 87% recycled polyester and 13% spandex offers plenty of stretch, whether you’re opening the hips with a pre-surf pigeon or throwing drop-wallet frontside hacks on a tropical freight train.

What we didn’t dig: We tested the Bayou Blue colorway, and they’re the loudest camo print we’ve ever seen. This is perhaps an acquired taste, and some will want to opt for the mellower Big Sky Blue.

When and where we’ll use it: These are going to be our go-to boardshorts for longer surf trips, when durability and livability are key. Ideal for tropical waves and Rocky Mountain lakes alike.

Why we’re stoked: The attention to detail and the overall durability Patagonia puts into their boardshorts is a much appreciated. It sucks when you spend over a hundred bucks on technical, high-performance boardshorts only to have them stretch out or fray after less than a year of use. Patagonia’s entire boardshort line, including these Stretch Hydropeak Gerry Lopez 18” Boardshorts, is well-made, Fair Trade certified, and built to last. Even better, they’re way below the hundred-dollar mark. Whether you’re getting barreled in Bali or throwing gainers off of a Colorado cliff, these boardies are a solid bet.