A Jacket to Keep in Your Back Pocket
As the hot summer days fade away and the grocery stores start putting out pumpkins and Halloween candy, I’m eager for the changing of the seasons and the cooler weather that comes along with it. When my morning bike commute gives me goosebumps, or when I’m going on a weekend hike but can’t remember what 55 degrees and sunny feels like, I know exactly what I need to bring: my Patagonia Houdini windbreaker.
The Patagonia Houdini is a versatile, ultralight jacket that packs down to the size of a 16 oz water bottle. If I was a dude with decently sized pockets, this would for sure squish into my back pocket, but since women’s pant pockets tend to be essentially nonexistent, I have to settle with stuffing it into my fanny pack, which isn’t so bad. Anyways, for something so small and light when it’s packed down, I get so much in return when I actually put it on. I get warmth, I get protection from the wind, and I even get protection from some light rain. The best thing about it? I rarely overheat – a game changer for my daily bike commute. Whether there’s variable weather conditions where I’m headed, or I just want to bring an extra layer for when the sun goes down, I always have my Houdini with me.
Here’s a breakdown of what you should know about the Patagonia Houdini before you go out and buy one:
Pros:
- Lightweight, simple, versatile, and durable
- Packs down into its own chest pocket
- Has a cinchable hood and hem
- Cuts through the wind and handles some light rain and mist with its PFC-free DWR finish
- Made of 100% recycled nylon ripstop
Cons:
- Might be too simple for your needs – there’s only one chest pocket and that’s it
- Can get you pretty drenched when light rain turns to heavy rain – but of course, it’s not trying to be waterproof
- No pit-zips – if there was one improvement I could make to this jacket, it would be the addition of zippered vents in the armpit. But it’s not a deal breaker for me, personally.
- Packs down so small that it can be easy to misplace – but is this really a con? It does have a loop that can be used to carabiner the jacket to your pack or whatever.
- The bottom line for me is, when I need an extra layer but I don’t need a full on rain jacket or down coat, the Houdini fills that role perfectly. It adds some warmth and protection, without sacrificing my mobility during outdoor activities. I used to think windbreakers were silly, but ever since I bought my Houdini, I’ve never regretted it.
