#Patagonia houdini waterproof full#

The wrist cuffs are elastic on the bottom and static on top of the wrist, allowing for a balance of breathability and protection that allows you to view your watch without wrestling with a full elastic cuff while wearing gloves on a chilly day. The jacket cinches at the hem to lock things down when you want to retain every bit of warmth. It also secures the hood well by running the cinch cord through the rim of the brim to create tension around your typical running and hiking hat. The rear hood cinch is simple, intuitive, and rests comfortably at the rear neck.

The Pertex Equilibrium breathability to wind protection balance is about right for most outdoor activities, except in very cold, windy conditions in exposed locations. The raised grid double weave liner material, Pertex® Equilibrium, encourages greater airflow, feels pleasant against the skin, and prevents the clammy feeling that often accompanies sweating in windbreakers. We found once we warmed up our body during the run, this men's running jacket excelled in sub 50☏ down to around freezing (maybe warmer if the wind is ripping and colder if you wear a heavier base layer underneath and the winds are mild). In this gear review, we look at what makes the Houdini Air jacket the best wind shirt.ĭuring our testing at altitude in the eastern Sierra, mornings in coastal California, and humid 50☏ overcast days in Tennessee, we found that the Houdini Air is the perfect second layer when the weather just outmatches a base layer. It won our overall Best Women's Windbreaker and gets a mention in our Best Women's Running Jackets guide. The Houdini Air won our overall award in our Best Men's Running Jacket and gets an award in our Best Men's Windbreakers guide. But nothing makes the case more than the Patagonia Houdini Air, prompting us to sing praises. Some other windbreaker jackets pack down smaller, and others may be warmer (not always a good thing). Plus, it’s backed by the same well-known warranty and customer service. Patagonia's quality is nothing new, but this jacket stands out for its cut, breathability, packability, features, and style. It has an unmatched balance of breathability and weather resistant protection, a comfortable raised grid double weave fabric, and a smart hood and wrist cuff design. If there was a chill in the air, this is always the jacket we wanted to wear-as long as it wasn't pouring rain. If weight matters but you’d still like a few features the Houdini is a good choice, especially given the low cost.Every day that wasn’t a Patagonia Houdini Air testing day started with us wishing it was one. I can comfortably wear the Medium size over only a base layer. Patagonia describes the fit as ‘slim’ and it is. The Houdini is made from ripstop nylon that’s windproof and breathable. It’s situated high up just below the neck and I find it a little awkward to use. There’s a single pocket that’s just big enough for a compass or small phone and which doubles as a stuffsack for the jacket. The cuffs are only half-elasticated but they’re still close-fitting, making it hard to push the sleeves up. This means it can be closed around the head to stop it blowing back in a strong wind. The hood is adjustable via a drawcord with a toggle at the back of the head. Patagonia’s well-established Houdini is ultralight but has a few more features than the most basic jackets. This review is part of our windshells gear guide, and was first published in the April 2018 issue of The Great Outdoors.

Chris Townsend reviews a classic ultralight windshell.