While it is often true that items that cost more often correspond with higher performance, this is not always the case. or receive liquor (Penalty exceeds $700). Registered Office: Level 14, Brookfield Place Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000. These are easy entry points where the wind can circumvent your carefully woven nylon barrier. These small design criticisms aside, the Houdini is still our favorite windbreaker. All of these jackets give bias towards protecting you from the wind, so none of them breathe that well. A smaller stuffed size is a valuable attribute for attaching a windbreaker to a harness on a long climb or fitting in a hydration pack for a long mountain bike ride or trail run. OUR It performs exactly as a windbreaker should, packing down and stowing away until you need to break it out to protect you from wind or light rain. An ideal choice for uphill athletes, but maybe not those climbers looking at a questionable forecast, considering the Houdini Air all comes down to what you are looking for in a windbreaker jacket. The Rab Vital Windshell earns our accolades for a combination of function and value. Additionally, these many of these stuff sacks like the one on the Black Diamond Alpine Start Hoody often include clip-in loops for carrying or to easily rack up on a harness. We tested these jackets through a variety of activities, including mountain biking, trail running, uphill and downhill skiing, backpacking, camping, and climbing, as well as simple, everyday activities like walks in the park or trips to the store. No purchase necessary. FIT! 2022 Patagonia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. But this quality has been perfected by the Patagonia Houdini Air, which earned a nod for those uphill athletes looking for maximum breathability. The Patagonia Houdini is an iconic windbreaker jacket, and as a repeat winner at the top of our podium, continues to set the standard for all other jackets in this category. To test this in the field, we braved the elements and wore each jacket on a 12,000-foot summit in the Sangre De Cristo Mountains with gusts up to 35 mph and wind chill temperatures as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit. 36117384. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support, How to Choose a Wind Breaker Jacket for Men. Need it sooner? We found that this mesh backing across your shoulders on the KUHL Parajax helped wick away perspiration and keep things a little more dry when wearing a backpack. While all of these windbreakers purport to be water resistant, none of them are meant to be waterproof. this Etamin, keep you dry, as well as, hook and loop tape adjustable sleeve With all of them weighing seemingly next to nothing, does it make sense to penalize the ones that are just slightly heavier but in the grand scheme of things still lightweight? While wind resistance is often at odds with breathability the two are clearly opposing ideas The North Face Flyweight Hoodie skillfully balances these characteristics as a versatile lightweight jacket. To fairly balance out this question, we rated each product based upon its weight but then adjusted the score slightly based on how small and easily the jacket packs up. Recycled ripstop polyester shell resists abrasion and blocks wind and rain. Weve pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. We have found time and again that some more affordable items perform nearly as well as the most expensive options and therefore present a much better value overall. It is important for any outdoor garment to fit well for its intended purpose and whether all of the features work as they were intended. No ads. All of this, at nearly half the price of other jackets, makes the Flyweight Hoodie an incredible value. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Please upgrade to one of the following for a smoother, safer shopping experience with us: Perfect for everyday and the unexpected our light, packable windbreaker is also fully waterproof so you can stay comfortable and dry whatever the day brings. Just ask him, and he will happily tell you that "weather is his jam" he even holds a bachelor's degree in atmospheric and climate science. For this update, we purchased 13 of the best jackets available for side-by-side testing. He spends much of his time outside and draws on past experience as a retail buyer to dissect and discuss the nuances of technical gear. Since these two concepts accomplish the same thing removal of heat and moisture we included them together in this metric. But for other metrics, like water resistance, we conducted laboratory-style tests that could be easily recreated. However, we needed to objectively test how these jackets performed in the rain in comparison to one another, so we employed a garden hose or showerhead to simulate a passing rain shower. If you're in the market for a different type of men's jacket, we've tested everything from stormworthy hardshells and rain jackets to winter and down jackets, putting each through the paces of real-world use to find the best models on the market. Some were better suited to water resistance, while others were much more lightweight. Without any features to improve ventilation, you can only push up the sleeves to cool off without full-elastic wrist cuffs, this can cut off circulation for those with muscular forearms. When it comes down to the core value of a windbreaker, it may be obvious that wind resistance is the focus feature. However, the size they pack down to is not equal, nor is the ease of stuffing them or transporting them afterward. Our head tester firmly believes windbreakers are the ideal layer for ski touring and mountaineering. At 2.21 ounces per square yard, the fabric in this packable windbreaker is among the lightest we sell. Our windbreaker jacket expert is Aaron Rice. Easily packs into its own pouch just stow and go. If you are biking, running, skiing downhill, or outside in any aggressive wind, the hood tends to catch air like a sail, uncomfortably stretching the collar against your neck. Not only is it our top overall scorer, but it is also relatively inexpensive and remarkably durable. Catch supports the Responsible Service of Alcohol. This windbreaker is built with a texturized nylon 51% of which is post-consumer recycled material that is soft to the touch and airy to wear. Privacy | Cookies | Terms, We tested the best men's windbreaker jackets from Patagonia, The North Face, Smartwool, and others to find the best options. In the few ways we have to criticize the award-winning Houdini, the Patagonia Houdini Air makes up for when it comes to fast-and-light performance. We compared our previous findings with how each jacket felt in the strong, cold winds we experienced. The Patagonia Houdini represents an exceptional value in this category. Otherwise, this windbreaker would have easily taken the top spot in our review. Aside from sporting these windbreaker jackets practically every day for months and assessing how we felt, we conducted a wind resistance test. Even though the Flyweight lives up to its name relative to most jackets, when compared directly to some of the best ultralight shells in this review, the jacket could even be considered heavyweight and bulky. Please note: All sizes are UK sizes (see size chart for conversion). It is a multifunctional jacket, well-suited to all-day alpine adventures, long trail runs, exposed free climbs, and evening mountain bike laps. But for fair-weather activity, the performance and price point of the Flyweight Hoodie will appeal to casual recreationists and dirtbag athletes alike. Buy used, trade in and fix your gear through Worn Wear. Living in a dry climate, we did not have the good fortune of frequently being drenched by real rainstorms during our testing. Our comprehensive review helps you find the best option to fit your needs and budget. Msg frequency may vary. All Rights Reserved. Still, it doesn't apply to every situation. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Because we know prioritizing durability results in consuming less energy, wasting less water and creating less trash. If you don't quite know what we're talking about, go and visit New Mexico in the spring, and you'll understand. Our farmer-tester fixes irrigation lines in a rain storm - getting hit with water from every angle, this versatile jacket puts on full display its impressive ability to shed precipitation. Let us know! Every single windbreaker in our review tips the scales at less than eight ounces. The Ortovox Merino Windbreaker is special in this case, utilizing a proprietary weave that incorporates Merino wool and nylon into a single layer, resulting in an exceptionally wind-resistant jacket. Track orders, save products, easy hassle-free returns & exchanges. However, the jacket still employs many of these key features half-elastic cuffs, a drawcord on the hem, a storm flap behind the front zipper, and an elastic hood that can be locked down to further enhance its wind resistance. While it offers a top-notch blend of wind resistance and breathability, it is by no means weatherproof even a few minutes in a light rain will soak through the shoulders. With its most recent makeover, the historically too-small chest pocket of the Houdini has been updated to accommodate the ever-growing size of newer smartphones (though it is still a bit of an awkward fit.) Aaron often finds himself in some questionably windy situations, whether in the high mountains or out in the desert. JavaScript settings can usually be found in your browser's Tools or Preferences menu. Catching wind above 12,000 feet in New Mexico. Scan this code to download the Catch app. We only weighted this metric as 10 percent of a product's final score. Why not trade it in? Designed for the harsh climbing conditions of the Scottish highlands and loaded with pockets, the Rab Vital is more than capable in a variety of environments. Create a free Patagonia account. As a trade-off for leaping improvements in breathability, a stiff wind easily cuts through the thin, single-layer nylon. We couldn't sum up the need for a windbreaker jacket better ourselves GearLab is reader-supported. Thats right the entire thing packs into a little bag just beneath the hood, inside back, so you can easily stow it in your bag, car door or anywhere you need to keep it handy. See our in-depth testing by female reviewers in our women's specific windbreaker review. U.S. Customers only. registration number FR0015518. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible experience. Enjoy exclusive offers, the latest on products, and new ways to get outdoors. Others include underarm vents this is perfected by the Smartwool Merino Sport UL, which puts the naturally moisture-wicking power of Merino wool to use by incorporating it into its large, body-mapped ventilation system. An essential aspect of any purchase is the value it offers. Balances wind resistance and breathability. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The high desert of the American Southwest provides a perfect testing ground for our field research in one day, we can easily travel from chilly alpine ridges down to sun-soaked desert landscapes. The new standard for breathability, the Houdini Air kept us completely dry long after our legs gave out on this training run. Find a complete list of retail store locations, departments and store hours. To test key criteria like wind resistance, we sought out windy mountaintops and coastlines to evaluate these jackets in the field. The lightweight package easily clips to a belt, climbing harness, or stashes into the smallest corner of your pack it even squeezes comfortably into the tiniest seat bags, making it a great companion for long bike rides. It simply means that it didn't perform as well relative to the competition. However, some jackets performed better than the rest, but often for different reasons. The tighter the fabric is woven together, the less space between individual fibers, and the less air-permeable the fabric becomes. Windbreakers are a great choice for keeping us dry and protected from the elements on ski tours, with the ability to breathe on the way up and block the wind on the way down. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Growing up on the Atlantic coastline, learning to ski in Vermont and Maine, and living up and down the Rocky Mountains for the past decade, he knows about all different types of wind and weather. Lightweight, packable and waterproof for hiking, biking, camping and everyday casual wear. The Salomon Agile also uses large, polyester/elastane panels to advantage to thermoregulate effectively. We recognize that price is a factor affecting every gear budget and that sometimes even a few dollars can make or break the bank. Many of these stowable jackets feature carabiner loops, but not all are particularly designed to be hung from a climbing harness, including The North Face Flyweight Hoodie. Wind resistance and breathability are often contrasting ideas in terms of fabric weave and performance. Since these jackets are most often used as an alternative, lightweight outer layer for high-intensity activities, we chose to weigh breathability and venting as 30 percent of a product's final score. All along the way, we continually made notes on special features and nuanced differences in fit, evaluating and re-assessing each jacket's relative strengths and weaknesses. For single-layer jackets, the DWR coating applied to the Patagonia Houdini is effective against passing showers the interwoven treatment of the Black Diamond Distance is not. The trick to figuring out which jacket to buy is to figure out how you'll use it. Details, (Most orders will arrive in 2-5 business days), L.L.Bean is a registered trademark of L.L.Bean Inc. The Outdoor Research Helium Wind Hoodie is a shell featuring Pertex Diamond Fuse technology. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Water resistance is a nice feature in a windbreaker but is certainly not what these jackets are designed for. cuffs for a secure fit. Read review: The North Face Flyweight Hoodie. Truly incredible in terms of breathability, this super lightweight shell works as a running jacket and doubles equally well as a mid-layer for ski touring. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Overall, we weighted this metric as 20 percent of a product's final score. That doesnt mean its flimsy, though. Share your opinions with other L.L.Bean customers. We're a proud partner of the National Forest Foundation. Choosing the right wind jacket for your needs might not be Best Windbreaker Jacket For Women of 2022. It performed just behind the front runners - built with significantly more material - in our hose test. availability and can be searched on Catch using the product ID: AB454 *. Over the past 8 years, our experts have reviewed over 30 of the best windbreakers on the market. To supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years (Penalty exceeds $17,000); For a person under the age of 18 years to purchase Often point deductions came from features that annoyed us: hard to manipulate zippers; hood stowing systems that don't hold; drawcords that are hard to pull or release with one hand; or elastic cuffs and hood liners that aren't tight enough to keep the weather out. Even though there are thoughtful additions to improve water resistance, like fully taped seams on the chest pocket, the DWR finish is not enough to stop anything more than a quick passing storm. The Arc'teryx Squamish Hoody, the Patagonia Houdini, and the Houdini Air are slightly heavier than the Distance, but all pack into their own chest pocket to relatively the same size. Through research and our own personal experience, we developed a series of comprehensive and mutually exclusive tests. Every jacket tested manages to stuff into one of their own pockets for easy portability. Not our favorite for running due to a lack of vents, but did a solid job if temperatures were lower and we stuck to shady slopes. Immerse yourself in the outdoors with the latest Epiq, * Keep out the chills of winter with a new Sydney Swans, Protect yourself from the elements in this Swerve, Zip up and stay protected in Animal's Wilder, Step out and stay protected in Animal's Wilde, Style and functionality come together with Animal's Marin, Lightweight and ready for the trail, Animal's Vale, the product ID: TP4547 *, Reliable, warm and comfortable - the Gorge, . Once you have enabled JavaScript, please refresh (or "reload") this page. In side-by-side bike climbs with other top-ranking windbreakers, we were much more swampy inside this jacket. Learn more about our environmental and social responsibility program. We offer various windbreakers in this review to accommodate all situations but be sure to carefully consider your own preferences before settling on a particular jacket. With all of the benefits of the Houdini Air, there have to be a few sacrifices. Welcome to llbean.com! Quite the opposite. The results spanned the range from impressively good to very bad. >, We also find that the fit is more athletically cut than the original, both more flattering to wear out on the town and more comfortable to layer underneath a harness. Learn More. All of the jackets pack into their own pockets in one way or another many have zippered pockets that double as stuff sacks. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Your current browser is no longer supported on llbean.com. Well give you trade-in credit and make sure your gear is in goodhands. All of the products we reviewed here certainly did a good job of protecting us from the wind. The Ortovox Merino windbreaker uses a revolutionary process to combine nylon and Merino wool into a single-layer piece of outerwear. In the market for the best synthetic insulated jacket A solid base layer is at the core of keeping you warm Overview Enjoying the mountains to the fullest extent series of comprehensive and mutually exclusive tests, some criteria are more important than others, the world's most carefully tested and objective gear reviews, Low price, simple and effective design, tiny packed-size, impressive DWR coating, Ultimate breathability, next-to-skin softness, Lightest in the category, tiny packed size, larger chest pocket, Well-ventilated, body-mapped Merino panels, Lots of zippered pockets, ease of packing, elastic brim, No feature to stow-away hood, thin material can feel clammy during high-output activity, See-through material, under-performing DWR fabric, Goofy looking brimmed hood, swampy, lack of DWR treatment, The best overall value and performance in a lightweight package that sets the category standard, An ultralight, breathable, versatile layer for those who live by the mantra of fast-and-light, An ultralight jacket purposefully built for fast and light mountain missions, Packable weather protection that skillfully incorporates Merino into a well-ventilated shell, Best-in-class storage in a lightweight, ripstop-nylon shell, all at an affordable price, 90% nylon (51% recycled) / 10% polyester double weave, DWR finish, 100% nylon ripstop, woven w/ DWR treatment (Green Theme Technology), 100% nylon outer, 54% Merino wool / 46% polyester liner, DWR coating, No (company states reflective logo on left chest, too small to really be visible), Yes reflective logos on chest, back, right arm; stripes on cuffs and seat hem, Our Editors Choice for its simplicity, price, and solid performance in a lightweight package, A breathable shell that works equally well as a mid-layer for fast-and-light missions, Made for the mountains, this ultralight jacket will help you push your limits, Perfect for adventure runners looking for packable weather protection, If you love pockets and still want solid wind protection, this jacket is hard to beat, Unique Diamond Fuse fabric adds extra durability and longevity to this clean, technical shell, The benefits you love from you Merino baselayer, re-designed as an alpine outerlayer, A fine offering from Arc'teryx, but more expensive than some higher performing models, More weather than wind resistant, this runners shell can breathe and shed light rainstorms, A clean, technical piece that splits the difference between windbreaker and softshell, A slim, European-fit jacket designed with features not included on other lightweight options, A price-point jacket whose core performance is comparable to the those at the top of the list, A classic windbreaker thats a steal-of-a-deal.