If breathability is a priority, I recommend Patagonia’s Houdini Air, which we also had along on our trip and far exceeded the standard Houdini in temperature regulation. This would lead to a clammy and slippery feeling along the interior of the jacket. While hiking, I wore it on overcast and cool days, but if the sun came out or the trail was particularly steep, I’d start sweating. As I touched on above, I admittedly run warm, but I’ve consistently overheated in the jacket whenever the conditions are mild. The Houdini’s full ripstop nylon construction excels at protection but comes up short in breathability. Whenever rain picked up on our backpacking trip, I swapped the Houdini out for a rain shell. The good news is that the Houdini is so thin that it dries fairly quickly, but if sustained rain or snow is in the forecast, it shouldn’t take the place of a dedicated rain jacket or hardshell. To be fair, windbreakers aren’t waterproof by nature, and the main goal is blocking wind. In terms of water and snow protection, the Houdini’s durable water repellent (DWR) coating can shed light moisture, but its face fabric starts absorbing water fairly quickly. All in all, the amount of versatility you get for the weight is truly remarkable. Finally, the slight drop hem at the back is a nice touch for a little extra coverage. You can cinch the hem to block out wind at the waist, the half-elastic cuffs seal nicely around the wrists, and a single adjustment at the hood allows you to tighten it down effectively. It cut the wind nicely when we stopped for lunch while backpacking, and I hiked in it if the weather was cool or the wind was particularly rough.Ĭonsidering its weight, Patagonia nailed all the right features. And on our trip to Patagonia, I found myself keeping the Houdini close and wearing it daily. In practice, it’s been a perfect match on everything from cold and clear days with temperatures in the high 30s Fahrenheit to blustery rides along ridgelines with temps hovering in the mid 40s. But the second I stop, I throw it on and wear it for the entire descent. I do run warm and the Houdini isn’t particularly breathable (more on this below), so I store it in my pack for the climb. In fact, it offers ideal wind protection for late winter and early spring mountain bike rides. The moment I zip up, the shell immediately shuts out wind and provides a noticeable boost in warmth. Weighing seemingly nothing, the Patagonia Houdini impresses me each and every time I pull it out of my pack. To see how it stacks up to the competition, see our article on the best windbreaker jackets. Below we break down the Houdini’s overall performance. The verdict: despite newer and more breathable designs being available, the Houdini still offers a standout combination of weight, wind resistance, and price. We tested this long-time favorite in high winds while backpacking and hiking in Patagonia and during late winter/early spring hikes and mountain bike rides in central Washington State. My girlfriend did have to zip this jacket down to let her body breathe quite a few times when the sun started to shine.Patagonia’s Houdini jacket is a standard bearer and in many ways defines the ultralight windbreaker category. The Houdini’s full ripstop nylon construction offers excellent warming, but this does come at the expense of breathability. A common feature of windbreakers is that they can get a bit hot and clammy, and the Houdini Jacket is no different. Patagonia Houdini Jacket – Ventilation and Breathability Patagonia has an epic range of waterproof jackets if you’re looking for something a little more able to deal with a downpour. However, it’s so light and thin that it does dry out very fast. If you are expecting to get exposed to heavy rain, bring a rain shell as the material will eventually soak up water and you will get wet. Its durable water repellent exterior is designed for active use, so it should be enough as long as you keep moving in all but torrential downpours. The jacket is designed to deflect light to moderate showers but is not a fully waterproof piece. If you are doing long hikes on winter days, climbing to alpine altitudes, or spending time exposed to gales and super cold wind, then get a proper winter jacket instead.
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