What is NetPlus? ALSO: our Fave NetPlus Clothing

If you’re as passionate about sustainably-made outdoor gear as we are here at Terradrift, there’s a material you should definitely know about: NetPlus®. Made of recycled fishing nets, it’s being used by a number of outdoor brands to reduce the impact of every garment, craft high quality fabrics, and clean up oceans in the process. Here’s what the material is and some of our favorite gear and clothing made of the stuff.

What is NetPlus Material?

First things first: What is NetPlus fabric? It’s is a type of synthetic material made entirely from recycled fishing nets, one of the most polluting and deadly materials that end up in waterways around the world. That’s because they trap and kill more marine animals per year than other type of waste. So in order to reduce both dependence on virgin plastics and keep trash out of our oceans, the company Bureo collects the nets and makes the material and outdoor brands use it to craft more sustainable apparel and gear. (We wrote about Patagonia’s pioneering use of the material here.)

According to Bureo’s website, 673 tons of fishing nets were recycled into NetPlus nylon in 2024. Compared to virgin nylon, NetPlus results in 20% less greenhouse gases and requires 70% less water, 67% less fossil fuels, and 68% less energy.

They do it by partnering with fishing communities and companies around the world and incentivizing them (via direct payment or donation to enviromnmental nonprofits) to collect and send in their old, worn nets for recycling.

Then Bureo sorts, cleans, shreds and packs the nets. Nets are then broken down and turned into nylon pellets, which are spun into all kinds of yarn for fabric making or accessory making, from solid hat brims to soft puffer jacket material, depending on what any given brand needs. What’s more, The material is traceable through every part of the process, so when a tag says “NetPlus,” You can be certain that it is.

The Best NetPlus Clothing and Outdoor Gear

So where can you find NetPlus clothing, accessories and outdoor gear? There brands all offer at least one quality option whether you’re on the hunt for hiking pants, swim trunks, or jackets.

Patagonia

Patagonia has long been a pioneer in using fabric made of recycled fishing nets. So it plays that Patagonia NetPlus options abound. In fact, they offer more gear and clothing made of NetPlus than any other brand. And we dig most of it.

Their Baggies shorts are perhaps their most popular option and make great swim/run/paddle/hike shorts. The famous Micro Puff jacket is super lightweight and perfect for layering. And the Endless Run line of leggings and shorts are so soft and stretchy and one of my personal faves. Quandary Pants and shorts are all made of the recycled material, are stretchy, durable and make excellent hiking pants.

Finisterre Nimbus Hooded Jacket

The most recent insulated jacket we’ve tested may be our favorite. And yup, it’s made of NetPlus. What makes it so great? Besides the cozy fit and solid warmth-to-weight ratio (it’s pretty dang light for how warm it is), Finisterre went all out with the details: there’s a two-way adjustable hood (rare on a midweight puffy), pockets are lined for warmth (I cannot understate how delighted I was by this feature), and there’s a soft microfiber lining around the entire chin area of the collar.

The inner and outer fabric is made with NetPlus material and the brand is a Certified B-corp.

Outerknown

This sustainably-minded outdoor brand quickly became one of our favorite for their use of better-for-the-planet materials (like regenerative cotton) and responsible manufacturing. They don’t have a ton of apparel made of NetPlus, but one option is the Apex Evolution Trunks, which we haven’t tested, but we have worn plenty of other clothing from Outerknown, including the All Time Scallop Trunk. So we know the brand makes quality gear out of more responsible materials with an impeccable attention to detail.

The Boundless Puffer is another lifestyle-oriented insulated jacket that’s made of NetPlus.

Outdoor Research

While OR doesn’t yet have a ton of products made of NetPlus material, the brand’s popular and lightweight SuperStrand XT Insulated Hoodies are one of them. The jackets are lightweight, perfect for layering or wearing on their own, and have an impressive warmth-to-weight ratio. Only the outer fabric is made of NetPlus (the insulation is made of a mix of recycled and virgin polyester), but it makes for a solid lightweight jacket for hiking and outdoor adventure.

Hats

Hat brims were one of the first and most accessible items to be made of NetPlus material. As a result, many brands carry NetPlus hats that feature the material. Patagonia, prAna, and Dakine are just a few of them.

Bottom Line

While buying any new clothing or gear is less sustainable than buying used, new clothing made of sustainable materials has a far gentler impact on the environment, uses less energy, and creates fewer harmful emissions than virgin materials. As a bonus, NetPlus also incentivizes the cleaning of our oceans. So if you’re going to buy new, shop responsibly. Then wander on.