Patagonia Houdini Full-Zip Jacket - Men's

I picked this up last spring and spent the entire summer with it. I'm 5' 10", 145lbs and the Medium is a great fit. This has quickly become one of my favorite pieces because it 1.) Breathes incredibly well 2.) Blocks wind & 3.) Takes up very little room in my pack. I wouldn't want to cheesegrader down a slab with it on, but, it's held up very well on numerous bike rides and climbing adventures.

This is one jacket that I wouldn't hesitate to own two of. The Houdini weighs almost nothing and it's the kind of jacket that is nice to always have with you. It packs down super small - maybe the size of a tennis ball? - so it fits nicely in a camelbak, bike jersey pocket, fishing vest, or ski pack. What has surprised me about it is how versatile it is, and how much I wear it. I bought it to keep with me while fly fishing and on bike rides in case of an unexpected storm, but it has turned out to be worn much more than that. It breathes really well, almost like a super lightweight soft shell, while still protecting against wind (very well) and water (pretty well). You can tell there is a really nice DWR coating on it, and the Patagonia construction is as good as it gets. I expected it to be stuffy and clammy once I started working up a sweat in it, but it works really well in any temp you would use it in. I've even started carrying it with me on ski tours. Get one for yourself (or two!)

This is a great shell when you need to carry a shell, but dont need bomber protection. I carry this on mountain runs when you need to be protected from afternoon thunderstorms. The light weight and compact size fit easily in a small hydration pack or under a bungee on a hip belt. The shell does not breath the best, but it serves it;s purpose. I wore this jacket for the 2008 Leadville Trail 100 where it rained for the entire race. The jacket kept me dry enough to stay warm in the 40F temperatures.

Just got mine today and was really surprised how well it fits. I am 6' 6" and 240# with a 46" chest and a 36" to 37" sleeve. I got the XXL and the body of the Houdini had plenty of length, not too large at the waist but still roomy enough if the body to layer or allow plenty of fredom of movement. The sleeves did well. While not as long as a Patagoni jacket they easily covered my wrist and did fine with elbows bent as if holding trekking poles.

Super light weight, nicely constructed and will pack tiny to fit in a pocket or corner of a day pack. Nice hood too. I got the blue which is a pretty normal color as wind jackets go. Not sure why the makers of all the popular brands feel day-glo colors are needed. Thumbs up to patagonia for offering a normal color!

This is the best jacket I own. Go out anytime of the year with this and an R1, you can do almost anything.

Definetely not rain proof as it lets in water, but for how lightweight and comfortable this jacket is - I give it 4 stars.

THE perfect jacket for trail running. Ultra light weight and crunches down to nothing(I carry a Nathan double bottle waist pack with the little pocket between the bottles; the Houdini and ubiquitous garbage bag fit nicely). It's not waterproof but, when used with a garbage bag it is the bomb. Have used it for all of my mountain hundreds for years.
Get one and use it.

I own just about every soft shell out there from just about every manufacturer. For the most part, unless you are a committed, top notch, person, these jackets are a complete waste.

This jacket though is what 99% of the populace needs. It provides needed wind break, sun break, and insect break.

I I used it in DC when the sun disappeared and it rained for ten minutes straight in Arlington National Cemetry. Then I pulled it off and stowed it back in my pocket.

Then I used it as a fanny pack. Twirled up my small purchase and knotted the jacket around my waist.

I have been at the beach getting beat to death by the sun and put this thing on. Viola', no sunburn.

I have been in the mountains on a rest break getting bombed by mosquitos. Whipped this jacket out of pocket pulled it on and no more bother.

I was waiting on the top of an 11,000 foot peak for my partner after a trail run to the top. I was getting cold. Whipped out this hidden jacket and was warm, shielded from the sun, and the damn biting horse flies.

This jacket is it. I stuff it in my pack, I am 52 years old, for my bike ride to my office.

Oh yeah, I have been on a sunny beach, windy, in the 80's and feeling the sun burn me to a crisp. Pulled out my sky blue Houdini, and no more sun worries. Also, no sticky, smelly sun screen smeared all over me.

This jacket is a wonderful piece of travel clothing.

Good bye to sun screen and insect repellent, as long as I have this jacket.

The best color. Sky blue. Guys, I know. Sky Blue? Seriously, it is a manly color the way Patagonia did it.

Only $125.00. Now, can I return the closet of soft shells I own that promised this and at three times the price?

The best product I have owned in years.

Seriously, you won't regret it! I've owned the various iterations of this Patagonia jacket over the past decade and it's always comes along in my pack when I'm out in questionable conditions in the mountains. Heck, since I own a couple I toss one in my work back pack for "just in case" rain moments. So compact and lightweight you'll hardly know it's there. While it isn't rain "proof" it is very water resistant and just as a shell to block the wind it's awesome; really holds your moving body heat in nicely so even if you're soaked through it does fairly well. Really no detractors from this jacket... just get one already!

Rob Youngren
Wasatch Speed Goat Mountain Racing Team

The Houdini is incredible. It's a great jacket to have on hand for all of those times (from climbing, to hiking, to skinning, to cycling, to...) where you don't need a full on shell, but you need something. It provides great wind protection with little added weight, and takes up very little space. Packing it into its own pocket makes it small enough to fit comfortably into a standard pocket on a cycling jersey, or practically disappear in your pack. It is also surprisingly durable. I had a little run in with a car (literally), on my bike commute home one day, landing me, in my houdini, on the asphalt. After collecting myself, I was pleasantly surprised to find no rips or holes in the jacket, only some black marks.

I'm 5'11, 150# and the small fits perfectly.

EDIT: Backcountry's info says there are two pockets. This is incorrect, there is only one.

I have two Houdini jackets and absolutely could not live without them. I take one with me almost everywhere. I bought one for my husband recently. He thought it was too expensive, until he started using it. Now it is one of his favorite pieces of gear as well.

An awesome lightweight piece. Don't expect it to keep you dry, but it'll supplement your layering system nicely. I always have mine in the lid of my pack as an extra layer just in case. It's light enough that I don't even notice the extra weight.

I haven't owned it long enough to give it a full 5 stars, but it has been very good so far. It does a great job blocking the wind while running (no significant rain fail encountered yet). I've run with it and a fitted base layer (not a thermal or UA type shirt) in 50* weather and been very comfortable. So far happy with it.

Just enough to keep you from shivering at a shady mountain belay station. Packable enough to let you clip it on your harness without carrying any extra bulk. It the perfect piece of gear for this.

I've had this jack for three years now. Its lightweight material is super versatile...I use it for backcountry skiing in the winter, wearing it over a mid-weight base layer for ascents even in super cold temps then stash in the pack for the descent. Also, Fall mtb rides it's easy to stash in jersey pocket if I get too warm. Same for trail running...if I get too warm I can wrap it around my waist and not even notice it. The fit is a bit baggy but I don't think Patagonia could make it any more form fitted because of the material they use. Anyway, it's a keeper.

Great jacket. My first experience with the jacket a one night/day summit attempt on Granite Peak in MT. lightweight doe not even begin to describe the jacket. "Wind resistant" I would say more like "windproof" we had some sustained winds on 30-40 mph and gusts higher and I felt little of it. I look forward to many more adventures in this jacket. I am sure for a steady rain or in a wetter environment would not be my first choice but for lightweight in the mountains, awesome.

Love how small this gets, its light, and an over-all nice jacket. The hood has a tightening system so instead of squishing the front so you can't see out, it tightens it around your head and to the back of the jacket so in high winds the hood will stay on your head and you'll still be able to see!

This, however, is not a rain jacket. It'll be ok for sprinkles or flurries, but not actual rain. I am thinking about washing it with Nik Wax to try and waterproof it. Other than the no protection from the rain, its a great layer, and if you're in buggy season, keeps the bugs from eating you alive without making you sweat to death.

Also the picture is a little misleading -- it looks bulkier and puffier than it actually is.

I love my old Houdini, but alas, Patagonia has changed the off shore location of the manufacturer, and the new sizing is kind of a mystery. The large, my normal size, is large enough for two people, whereas the medium is kind of a tight fit. I have no idea what I am going to do other than try milk some more use out of the Houdini I have and hope than when Patagonia again changes manufacturers that the sizing is more like "it was". This is a great product if it fits, however if it does not fit it is not so great.

This is a great shell when you need to carry a shell, but don't need bomber protection. I carry this on mountain runs when you need to be protected from afternoon thunderstorms. The light weight and compact size fit easily in a small hydration pack or under a bungee on a hip belt. The shell does not breath the best, but it serves it's purpose. I wore this jacket for the 2008 Leadville Trail 100 where it rained for the entire race. The jacket kept me dry enough to stay warm in the 40F temperatures.

Well, the stars are neither here nor there. At 5'9" and 170lbs and quite wide in the shoulders a lot of Patagonia gear is hit or miss. This may be a nice jacket, but as the medium is too small and the large is too large, I'll never know. As usual, I'm left with Arcteryx as a reliable medium for us chunky types.

This jacket is so light I have to keep looking down to make sure i am still wearing it. It packs down to virtually nothing, and provides some darn good wind and water protection while biking or hiking. Solid buy.