Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Gear Reviews

    Patagonia Houdini Jacket Review

    Donald BuraglioBy Donald BuraglioDecember 16, 2013No Comments3 Mins Read

    Going light doesn’t mean going cold … at least, not when you’ve got a jacket like Patagonia’s Houdini along for the ride.

    Patagonia Houdini Jacket Features:

    • Weight 113g (4oz)
    • Featherweight 1.2-oz, 10-denier 100% nylon ripstop
    • Deluge Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish
    • Slim fit
    • Zippered chest pocket converts to stuffsack with carabiner clip loop
    • Durable half-elastic cuffs
    • Drawcord hem
    • Four color options
    • MSRP $99.00

    IMG_6915

    Vanishing Tricks in the Patagonia Houdini Jacket

    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.  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.

    Patagonia Houdini hiking

    Which brings us to Patagonia’s Houdini.  If there’s a lighter and more versatile jacket for high aerobic activity out there, I’m not aware of it.  It’s also fairly rugged, and would be just as suitable for scrambling or rock climbing as it is for running.  And when you’re not using it, it stuffs down to a pocket smaller than your television remote for easy storage.

    TiVo clicker on top, Patagonia Houdini on bottom

    Material construction is 100% nylon ripstop fabric that is highly abrasion resistant, and has a very nice balance of breathability and wind resistance.  There’s a DWR finish coating the entire garment for water resistance in light rain.  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.  While running, the Houdini keeps me warm with temps into the mid 30s with just a single tech shirt underneath.

    Low profile hood with rear pullcord

    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.  Its overall shape is fairly low-profile, with minimal obstruction of peripheral vision.  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.  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.

    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.  The super thin nylon and a smooth finish make layering underneath a jacket as simple as can be.

    The Good

    • Outstanding warmth for such minimal weight
    • Great versatility and durability
    • Compact storage

    The Bad

    • Rear hood pullcord can be tricky to reach and manipulate, especially with gloves.

    The Bottom Line: Patagonia Houdini Jacket

    With dynamic performance elements and superior compactibility, there’s almost no reason to leave the house without a Houdini jacket for chilly autumn adventures.

    Buy now:  Available at Patagonia.com

    28
    SHARES
    ShareTweet
    jackets patagonia
    Previous ArticleSRAM Road Hydraulic Brake Recall Expands – STOP USE
    Next Article 2014 Fox 34 TALAS 29 CTD Fork Review
    Donald Buraglio
    • Website

    Donald is a physical therapist, ultrarunner, barefoot aficionado, and father of three with more than 20 years of experience in endurance sports. When he's not training for ultramarathons, he enjoys hiking or slacklining with his family in Monterey County, CA.

    You Might Also Like

    Velocio Ultralight SL Base Layer Review

    June 9, 2023

    Schwalbe G-One Allround 650b Review

    June 7, 2023

    Patagonia Endless Run Shorts Review

    June 5, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Schwalbe G-One Allround 650b Review

    June 7, 2023
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022

    Moosejaw Ice Fort 25 Quart Hard Cooler Review

    May 17, 2023

    Wahoo ELEMNT Rival Multisport GPS Watch Review

    March 9, 2022

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021

    Review: SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS for Road?

    October 5, 2022
    9.1

    Review: 2023 Trek Domane+ SLR 9 eBike

    December 5, 2022
    9.6

    Trek Domane SLR 9 AXS Gen 4 Review

    May 10, 2023
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Velocio Ultralight SL Base Layer Review
    • Schwalbe G-One Allround 650b Review
    • Patagonia Endless Run Shorts Review
    • Review: Outdoor Vitals Tern Ultralight Merino Hoodie
    • Fresh Wheels: Pivot Mach 4 SL Gets Both Racier & Rowdier
    • Shimano S-Phyre Magnetic GR Sunglasses Review
    • Moosejaw Ice Fort 25 Quart Hard Cooler Review
    • Join Zwift “Ride Like King 15” Rides May 19-21
    • Review: Hoka Challenger 7 Road/Trail Shoe
    • Fresh New Bikes from Cervelo, Pinarello and Vitus
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.