Patagonia Houdini Jacket Assessment | CleverHiker

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The Patagonia Houdini Jacket is a timeless piece of substances that has lengthy been one in every of our greatest windbreakers. Its minimalist design presents distinctive wind resistance and packability with out weighing you down. Excellent for hikers, path runners, and outside fanatics who prioritize weight financial savings, this ultralight shell is a go-to layer for fast-and-light adventures in variable situations.

We’ve worn the Houdini for dozens of outings – from mountaineering in Utah to path operating and backpacking in Wyoming to backcountry snowboarding in Alaska. All through all these actions, it stays a flexible and high-performing windbreaker. With a measured weight of three.5 ounces, the Houdini is among the many lightest windbreakers available on the market. Its skill to compress into its chest pocket and clip to a pack or harness with an built-in carabiner loop makes it a no brainer for anybody trying to save area and carry much less. 

Designed with a slim, athletic match, the Houdini strikes seamlessly together with your physique throughout high-output actions. Elastic cuffs, an adjustable hem, and an elastic cinch hood make sure the jacket stays placed on gusty days. That mentioned, its athletic match is greatest fitted to layering over lighter clothes—sizing up could also be obligatory when you plan to put on it over a heavier mid-layer. It’s not essentially the most breathable jacket we examined, however the Houdini nonetheless offers sufficient air flow for high-output actions like operating and snowboarding. The Houdini offers glorious efficiency at a value that gained’t break the financial institution.

How We Examined

Over three months, we wore the Patagonia Houdini on hikes and runs in addition to backcountry and cross-country ski journeys to area take a look at its efficiency in a number of situations. Our checks consisted of real-world publicity to the wind and parts. We additionally used a blow drier to check wind resistance and likewise accomplished a one-hour run whereas deliberately overdressed to check its breathability and moisture administration.

Wind & Climate Resistance

The Houdini is a good layer to throw on when the temperatures drop or the wind picks up. We’ve worn the Houdini on windy summits in the summertime and mid-winter days backcountry snowboarding, and it protected us from quite a few climate situations. It successfully blocks all wind and offers nice safety when the gusts choose up, because of cinches within the hood and a hem that retains the jacket tight and safe. Though handled with a DWR coating that beads mild moisture, the Houdini is decidedly not a rain jacket and can moist by shortly. Nevertheless it dries out shortly, making it nice for publicity to drizzles and lightweight rain showers.

Breathability

The ripstop nylon of the Houdini makes some concessions in breathability. With the one possibility for air flow being unzipping the jacket, it isn’t as breathable as others we examined. That being mentioned, the Houdini remains to be extraordinarily breathable and is nice for climbing, climbing, or different moderate-output actions. When operating and cross-country snowboarding within the Houdini, we did discover some moisture construct up alongside the again and arms. This shortly soaked by and evaporated as a substitute of beading up making this an ideal jacket for lively outings.

Weight & Packability

With a manufacturer-stated weight of three.9 ounces and a measured weight of three.5 ounces (males’s medium), the Houdini is likely one of the lightest jackets in our lineup. It barely feels there when worn on the physique and is a good layer to shove within the backside of a backpack for if you want it later. Its packability is equally spectacular. The jacket stuffs into its personal chest pocket, making a compact bundle a lot smaller than a one-liter bottle. A carabiner loop permits it to hold from a climbing harness, or it may be tucked right into a small area in a pack or operating vest. For its weight and packability, the Houdini is a standout performer.

Consolation & Match

When layering beneath the Houdini, it’s apparent that the jacket has a trim and athletic match. This makes it nice for summertime adventures. Once we wore this jacket within the winter, we needed extra room beneath to layer. 

The nylon building additionally lacks the mobility and suppleness present in different windbreakers. We frequently felt barely restricted by the shoulders and arms when carrying the Houdini. This was particularly noticeable when carrying a heavy pack. It’s nonetheless lots cell for many actions, however the Houdini maintains a number of the restrictiveness of older windbreakers earlier than extra elastic materials was broadly used.

Ought to You Purchase the Patagonia Houdini Jacket?

The Houdini is a timeless traditional for a number of causes: it’s extraordinarily packable and light-weight, breathable and cozy sufficient for many actions, and blocks the wind successfully. It is a nice possibility when you’re on the lookout for one light-weight windbreaker to function your arsenal of 1. It offers all of the options we count on and require of a windbreaker with none further bells and whistles. Its simplicity and reliability make the Houdini a wonderful selection for entry-level fanatics and seasoned adventurers alike. Its cheap price ticket and excessive efficiency provide you with an ideal bang to your buck. The Houdini has lengthy been one in every of our favourite windbreakers and is certain to be one in every of yours as properly.

What Different Windbreaker Ought to You Contemplate?

Head to our gear information to see the total lineup of greatest windbreakers.

Arc’Teryx Squamish Assessment: If the Houdini felt a bit tight and restrictive, the Squamish is constructed with a extra elastic material that gives extra mobility and suppleness.

Rab Very important Assessment: Barely heavier than the Houdini, the Very important presents extra climate resistance however with a equally trim and athletic match.

Patagonia Airshed Professional Assessment: One other nice possibility from Patagonia, the Airshed Professional presents much more breathability in a lighter platform extra akin to a shirt than a jacket.