Patagonia Houdini Jacket Evaluate | CleverHiker

Backside Line

The Patagonia Houdini Jacket is a timeless piece of substances that has lengthy been one in all our finest windbreakers. Its minimalist design affords distinctive wind resistance and packability with out weighing you down. Excellent for hikers, path runners, and out of doors 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 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 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 house 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 stated, its athletic match is finest fitted to layering over lighter clothes—sizing up could also be obligatory in the event 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 wonderful efficiency at a worth 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 situations. Our assessments consisted of real-world publicity to the wind and parts. 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.

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 supplies nice safety when the gusts decide up, due to 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 way of rapidly. However it dries out rapidly, making it nice for publicity to drizzles and light-weight 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 stated, the Houdini remains to be extraordinarily breathable and is nice for mountain climbing, 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 by way of and evaporated as an alternative of beading up making this a fantastic jacket for energetic 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 once 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 house in a pack or working vest. For its weight and packability, the Houdini is a standout performer.

Consolation & Match

When layering below 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 wished extra room beneath to layer. 

The nylon development additionally lacks the mobility and adaptability present in different windbreakers. We regularly felt barely restricted by way of the shoulders and arms when carrying the Houdini. This was particularly noticeable when carrying a heavy pack. It’s nonetheless lots cellular for many actions, however the Houdini maintains among the restrictiveness of older windbreakers earlier than extra elastic materials was extensively used.

Ought to You Purchase the Patagonia Houdini Jacket?

The Houdini is a timeless basic 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 in the event 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 further bells and whistles. Its simplicity and reliability make the Houdini a superb alternative for entry-level fanatics and seasoned adventurers alike. Its cheap price ticket and excessive efficiency offer you a fantastic bang in your buck. The Houdini has lengthy been one in all our favourite windbreakers and is bound to be one in all yours as effectively.

What Different Windbreaker Ought to You Contemplate?

Head to our gear information to see the complete lineup of finest windbreakers.

Arc’Teryx Squamish Evaluate: If the Houdini felt just a little tight and restrictive, the Squamish is constructed with a extra elastic cloth that gives extra mobility and adaptability.

Rab Important Evaluate: Barely heavier than the Houdini, the Important affords extra climate resistance however with a equally trim and athletic match.

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