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2013 Patagonia Houdini pocket size too small to stuff


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Home Forums Gear Forums Gear (General) 2013 Patagonia Houdini pocket size too small to stuff

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Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 26 total)
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  • #1301297
    daniel B
    Spectator

    @dbogey

    Locale: East Coast

    anyone purchase the latest houdini and notice that you cannot stuff the jacket into the chest pocket. this is my 2nd Houdini the first being a model from 2011 which you can easily stuff into the chest pocket. I tried but cannot get the dammm thing to zip. Wondering if anyone else had this problem with their 2013 houdini.

    thanks

    #1972718
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    I noticed that also on my one.

    #1972720
    Ike Jutkowitz
    BPL Member

    @ike

    Locale: Central Michigan

    Just out of curiosity, why would you want to? Just toss it in the pack with everything else.

    #1972723
    Max Dilthey
    Spectator

    @mdilthey

    Locale: MaxTheCyclist.com

    Ike, it's a handy feature for those who use it. It helps with protecting the jacket.

    Careful packing is always an option, but having one less thing to worry about is good.

    #1972726
    Garth Collier
    BPL Member

    @garthc

    Locale: Singapore

    Yes same issue, this zip feels like it wants to explode…way too difficult to do so i just use a zip lock to store it in the front pocket of my pack.

    #1972727
    daniel B
    Spectator

    @dbogey

    Locale: East Coast

    Just got off the phone with Mary from Patagonia and she tried with a women's model and after about 2 minutes was able to get the jacket to stuff into the chest pocket but admitted that there seems to be a problem with this years model.

    #1972730
    daniel B
    Spectator

    @dbogey

    Locale: East Coast

    If I stuff this into the chest pocket and can put it in my hip pocket, back pocket, clip it to a Carabiner or a hip pocket on my pack.

    #1972731
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Shame on you Ike, dont you realise its to see how small it packs ;-)

    It does not bother me as I would be wearing it all the time.

    #1972744
    A W
    Member

    @lost_01

    I've been thinking of making this post for weeks, with the title "How does one properly pack their Houdini into the pocket?".

    I feel I almost damaged the jacket attempting to get it to collapse down.

    *then again, the smallest I can pack my zpacks poncho downs is still 4x bigger than how they shipped it to me.

    #1972747
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have yet to be able to zip it up with jacket stuffed. Definitely too small.

    #1972754
    Greg Pehrson
    BPL Member

    @gregpehrson

    Locale: playa del caballo blanco

    Mind you, I have the old version with two hood drawcords and a velcro closure pocket, so this is not from personal experience, but on the Patagonia site under the reviews, someone wrote: "I've read other reviewers saying its hard to stuff into the pocket and at first I did have problems with that. But now I figured out how to properly do it. You need to use every space in the pocket – just keep stuffing it into the outer corners until the jacket is completely in the pouch. Then the pouch will be evenly inside and you can zip it up easy."
    Sounds like the little bit of space lost by the corners not being pushed out completely i.e. filled first could make the difference.

    #1972765
    Tad Englund
    BPL Member

    @bestbuilder

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    Greg, though I didn't write the review on the Patty website it is exactly what I found to be true.
    Stuff the corners as full as you can get them and then work on evening it out as you finish stuffing. I cup my left hand over the top of the zipper and try and even out the pressure across the zipper as I pull it closed with my right hand.
    This all might sound like a bunch of work just to get the thing in the pocket, but when it didn't work for my the first time I figured I was doing something wrong and tried the above solution- it takes all of 30 seconds to complete.
    I wear my Houdini all the time even around town and when it get too worm to wear I stuff it so I can carry it easier.

    #1972769
    J R
    BPL Member

    @jringeorgia

    Stuffing the corners fully is certainly part of what you need to do, but even so the jacket barely fits. I've actually been able to stuff the jacket into the pocket but then getting the zipper closed is another story. I have gotten it closed but it is a chore, and once done the thing is hard as a rock from being stuffed so tight.

    #1972776
    Sean Passanisi
    BPL Member

    @passanis

    I struggled the first few times but finally got it. Definitely not as easy as the Spring 2012 model, but it is possible.

    I have a much easier time folding the new Houdini pants into the pocket.

    #1972780
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    +1 on don't bother. I haven't used self-stowing features on any clothing that had them– more trouble that it's worth. The Houdini stuffs into any little nook in my pack, most likely in an outside pocket where I can get to it easily.

    @ Sean: give us a thread on the new Houdini pants. I'm surprised Patagonia didn't make more noise about them.

    #1972788
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    its a pretty useful, even critical feature to be able to do this easily when climbing

    the jacket stuffed clips to the back of your harness

    #1972802
    Maris L
    BPL Member

    @ablaut

    The 2013 Houdini is my first and only windshirt… I thought I was the only one who cared about this when I never read any complaints! Larger hands definitely help, I'm able to sort of cup the whole thing shut and zip it up. Silent grumbling and cursing only aggravates it. You have to sort of sing a short lullaby and then it gives in.

    Yeah, in the pack it's easier to just stuff it in any space, loosely. But in the city, or on long Greyhound travels, I appreciate the pocket when I'm trying to keep a small backpack organized. I've even avoided coat check at a few shows when I can stuff the thing in my girlfriend's purse (though I'd never brag about this anywhere else).

    #1972803
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    I like a large expanse of solid ground under my feet ;)

    #1972859
    Nancy Twilley
    Member

    @goodcaver2

    Locale: STL

    That is strange — I found the new women's version a little tighter of a fit than the 2012 one (ended up returning the 2013, and keeping the 2012) but definitely not difficult to stuff — maybe the women's pocket is larger?

    edit: also the 2012 women's pocket is on the side, instead of the chest, where I guess it has a little more room to roam.

    #1972872
    Sean Passanisi
    BPL Member

    @passanis

    Does anyone use a carabiner to clip their Houdini (or other gear) to their shoulder straps? I recently bought a Circuit and I'm evaluating whether to keep my Houdini in my belt pocket or clipped to the shoulder strap.

    #1972888
    Dale Wambaugh
    BPL Member

    @dwambaugh

    Locale: Pacific Northwest

    I put mine in a side pocket if I don't have a water bottle in there. A belt pocket is a great idea– if it fits.

    I wish it would fit in my ring, like The Flash's costume:
    Flash costume ring

    #1972893
    Tim Zen
    Spectator

    @asdzxc57

    Locale: MI

    Go to REI and ask them to demo storing the jacket in the pocket.
    If they can't, tell them you would like to buy the defective product for 40% off.

    #1972898
    Franco Darioli
    Spectator

    @franco

    Locale: Gauche, CU.

    I suggest you try to, as much as you can, fold and roll before stuffing it into the pocket.
    (I don't have it so I cannot try that but generally it works…)

    #1972955
    Paul Andronico
    BPL Member

    @jakesandwich

    Locale: Lake Tahoe

    It's doable but REALLY difficult. The key is to make sure you have stuffed the ends (all four corners) completely so that you can pull the middle together enough to get the zipper going. I am not sure why they didn't make the pocket just a tad bit bigger.

    #1993928
    Bart Kempny
    BPL Member

    @plasmation

    Hello All,
    I have another question about the 2013 Houdini. I ordered one online (never had one). I have just read a comment on the Patagonia site that says the fabric used in the new model is different from older ones.

    This is the comment:
    "For 2013, Patagonia changed the fabric. The new Houdini is significantly less breathable than the old Houdini (about 10x less, per lab testing). The new Houdini is not even close to as comfortable to wear as the old one when hiking, backpacking, running, or cycling. You'll quickly overheat wearing this new Houdini. It's not much better than a rain jacket – so why bring both?"

    Can anyone confirm this??

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