#Patagonia houdini jacket reviews full#

Clearly, you won’t need to scroll to the bottom for a summary report on how this jacket fared. This review came about because I love this jacket and I think it’s a vital piece of kit for mountain bikers (or people that go outside in general). It has kept me comfortable on colder than expected lift rides, mountain summits and during surprise rain storms.

#Patagonia houdini jacket reviews full#

I’ve had a Patagonia Houdini jacket for two full riding seasons. That is not the way this article came to be. You gather thoughts along the way about specific points to share and pay extra close attention to things the gear does well (or not so well). Typically, when you are going to review something, you get it with that intention and then you use it with that in mind. The reasoning behind this review happened in reverse. With dynamic performance elements and superior compactibility, there’s almost no reason to leave the house without a Houdini jacket for chilly autumn adventures.We take a look at Patagonia’s ultra light jacket option for fending off foul weather The Bottom Line: Patagonia Houdini Jacket Rear hood pullcord can be tricky to reach and manipulate, especially with gloves.Outstanding warmth for such minimal weight.The super thin nylon and a smooth finish make layering underneath a jacket as simple as can be. I’ve also worn the Houdini as a midlayer between a shirt and heavier jacket for cold-weather hiking when I’m stopping more frequently or moving less quickly. On the aforementioned mid-30-degree mornings, I use the hood when my ears start feeling frosty, then tuck the hood into the back of the jacket once I’ve warmed up. It cinches easily with a single rear elastic cord, and the material is soft enough that you don’t hear the thunderous rustling of fabric in your ears while running. Its overall shape is fairly low-profile, with minimal obstruction of peripheral vision. I’m generally not a fan of running with a hood, but the Houdini nearly won me over in this regard as well, thanks to some key design elements. While running, the Houdini keeps me warm with temps into the mid 30s with just a single tech shirt underneath. I wore the Houdini over a single baselayer during some cold mountain hiking near Lake Tahoe, and even in high winds near 10,000’, as long as I kept moving, the thin shell kept me warm. There’s a DWR finish coating the entire garment for water resistance in light rain.

Material construction is 100% nylon ripstop fabric that is highly abrasion resistant, and has a very nice balance of breathability and wind resistance.

And when you’re not using it, it stuffs down to a pocket smaller than your television remote for easy storage. It’s also fairly rugged, and would be just as suitable for scrambling or rock climbing as it is for running. If there’s a lighter and more versatile jacket for high aerobic activity out there, I’m not aware of it. Throw in a dose of breathability and water resistance, add a good helping durability, and you’ve got a piece of gear any trail runner will love. Weight-to-warmth isn’t just a spec ratio for through hikers it’s just as important for trail runners looking to stay light and agile even when facing cool conditions. Vanishing Tricks in the Patagonia Houdini Jacket Zippered chest pocket converts to stuffsack with carabiner clip loop.Deluge Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish.Featherweight 1.2-oz, 10-denier 100% nylon ripstop.Going light doesn’t mean going cold … at least, not when you’ve got a jacket like Patagonia’s Houdini along for the ride.