Backside Line
The Patagonia Houdini Jacket is a timeless piece of drugs that has lengthy been considered one of our finest windbreakers. Its minimalist design provides distinctive wind resistance and packability with out weighing you down. Superb for hikers, path runners, and out of doors lovers who prioritize weight financial savings, this ultralight shell is a go-to layer for fast-and-light adventures in variable circumstances.
We’ve worn the Houdini for dozens of outings – from mountain climbing in Utah to path working 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 means 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 seeking to save area and carry much less.
Designed with a slim, athletic match, the Houdini strikes seamlessly along 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 finest suited to layering over lighter clothes—sizing up could also be essential in case you plan to put on it over a heavier mid-layer. It’s not probably the most breathable jacket we examined, however the Houdini nonetheless supplies sufficient air flow for high-output actions like working and snowboarding. The Houdini supplies glorious efficiency at a value that received’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 discipline take a look at its efficiency in a number of circumstances. Our assessments consisted of real-world publicity to the wind and components. We additionally used a blow drier to check wind resistance and in addition accomplished a one-hour run whereas deliberately overdressed to check its breathability and moisture administration.
Fast Specs
Patagonia Houdini
Greatest Light-weight Windbreaker
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.6/5.0
Value:
$109
Weight:
3.7 oz.
Professionals
- Ultralight
- Glorious worth
- Plenty of colour choices
- Packs down into pocket
- Good stability of breathability/safety
Cons
- Slim match makes it somewhat onerous to layer over cumbersome clothes
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 circumstances. It successfully blocks all wind and supplies 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 gentle moisture, the Houdini is decidedly not a rain jacket and can moist via rapidly. Nevertheless it dries out rapidly, 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 choice 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 mountaineering, climbing, or different moderate-output actions. When working and cross-country snowboarding within the Houdini, we did discover some moisture construct up alongside the again and arms. This rapidly soaked via and evaporated as a substitute of beading up making this an excellent 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 among 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 while 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 working vest. For its weight and packability, the Houdini is a standout performer.
Consolation & Match
When layering underneath the Houdini, it’s apparent that the jacket has a trim and athletic match. This makes it nice for summertime adventures. After we wore this jacket within the winter, we wished extra room beneath to layer.
The nylon development additionally lacks the mobility and suppleness present in different windbreakers. We frequently felt barely restricted via the shoulders and arms when carrying the Houdini. This was particularly noticeable when carrying a heavy pack. It’s nonetheless a lot cellular for many actions, however the Houdini maintains among 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 comfy sufficient for many actions, and blocks the wind successfully. This can be a nice choice in case you’re in search of one light-weight windbreaker to function your arsenal of 1. It supplies all of the options we count on and require of a windbreaker with none additional bells and whistles. Its simplicity and reliability make the Houdini a superb alternative for entry-level lovers and seasoned adventurers alike. Its affordable price ticket and excessive efficiency provide you with an excellent bang to your buck. The Houdini has lengthy been considered one of our favourite windbreakers and is certain to be considered one of yours as properly.
What Different Windbreaker Ought to You Contemplate?
Head to our gear information to see the total lineup of finest windbreakers.
Arc’Teryx Squamish Evaluation: If the Houdini felt somewhat tight and restrictive, the Squamish is constructed with a extra elastic cloth that gives extra mobility and suppleness.
Rab Very important Evaluation: Barely heavier than the Houdini, the Very important provides extra climate resistance however with a equally trim and athletic match.
Patagonia Airshed Professional Evaluation: One other nice choice from Patagonia, the Airshed Professional provides much more breathability in a lighter platform extra akin to a shirt than a jacket.
