New Zpacks hooded windshirt

del

Well,

I love my Houdini so I won't be buying another windshirt soon, but fit is definitely subjective. There are some slim folks walking on the trails.

The ZPacks Windshell has a hood, the Tachyon Jacket doesn't. The Tachyon Anorak has a hood, but it doesn't have a full length zipper. So the ZPacks Windshell is not directly comparable to either Montbell product.

They all look like great products.

Interested as a flame just burnt a hole in my 2012 Houdini sleeve (not to mention oily due to touching skin that's not washing off). Since it's made from " .75 oz/sqyd Pertex GL ripstop nylon fabric", shouldn't we be able to get a breathability stat from somewhere? My google searches are turning up many unrelated BPL threads though.

del

The Pertex GL fabric sample I tested was .53 CFM. See Here for my post entitled, “Re: how breathable a wind shell is on 11/26/2012 13:08:41 MST”.

With a full-length zip, water will collect and seep at the intersection of the pack belt. For this reason I prefer the Montbell Tachyon Anorak on wet climbs. It also reduces bulk around the midsection. Cold weather or dry climbs I prefer the 2012 Houdini even if it has a full zip.

Recently purchased this and have used it for two backpacking trips. It it very warm and UL. I was toasty warm. Can't imagine winter camping without it. Love it!

I've worn mine (with 150 merino base and light fleece) on about a dozen quick 12-mile day hikes now in 20-30F, ~85% humidity. Sweat seems to go right through it and evaporate if I wear it under my fleece. It's probably a little warmer and vapor-trapping when I wear it over fleece.

The fit is perfect for me (better than any other jacket I own) but that might be because I have a perfectly tube-shaped body. I can't wait to try it out backpacking this year.

Am I the only one that finds the look of the fabric hideous? Or at the least, too garish for me.

I've worn mine with 260 merino base, then wind shirt, a layer of 320 merino and a down sweater in 27-35F around camp. Didn't need all that to hike in. Joe Valesko wears his over his base layer so I'm doing that as well. I suspect it is somewhat of a vapor barrier, so I'm keeping it as the second layer to keep insulation dry. Have promptly removed it while hiking when hot.

I can't say it fits me well, nothing flattering about it at all. While I sat on a ridge top last weekend watching the sunset with others around me wrapped in their sleeping bags, I truly appreciated the toasty warmth I was feeling. For the weight and warmth, it's the best piece of gear I have bought in years.

I agree, the look of the fabric is hideous. I look like I'm wearing a plastic bag. It's my second layer and I cover it with a 320 merino layer. It hangs out the bottom a bit and I get questioned about it. One of the other ladies is now purchasing one because she saw me so cozy and warm and she was in her sleeping bag. It doesn't matter what it looks like to me, it's light weight, very warm and I can cover it up. Saves me from carrying something heavier.

It is certainly gossamer in weight. However, the functionality as a wind shirt is questionable.

Well, I read it will be used as the basis for use as an insulated jacket with Climashield Apex. Might be interesting.

I don't get these barely-breathable windshirts. You might as well your rain shell for use in camp. Given the 0.5cfm rating for this fabric, I think it is a poor choice for active use on the trail.

IMHO, for best efficiency your insulating layers should go under the shell. I could see throwing a fleece on top for a quick rest stop, but not for camp or long meal stops. The vapor barrier issue is important for lofted insulation in very cold temperatures, but layers like fleece or wool should go under the shell to keep the warm air in and the cold wind out. Wearing a down jacket on top of a wind shell is a little different as down proof fabric is windproof anyway.

+1 Dale. I am of the same belief.

I have been using a NF Verto for the last couple of years. I had a 2012 Houdini, but just sold it because I prefer the Verto over the Houdini, and part of the reason is because it is a little less breathable than the Houdini… I know this sounds crazy for a wind jacket, but for me, the less breathable Verto is just better.

On the trail while hiking I will wear it over my Cap 2 base layer and my Cap 4 hoody "mid layer" and this is excellent for me. On a recent hike, I actually wore my Ex light Anorak while hiking, but it went over the wind jacket… again, for me, it worked great! I prefer to carry/use my win jacket on cold hikes, so the wind seemed to cut through the Houdini more than I liked. True the Verto is less breathable, but with the full front zip, it ventilates as much as I would need it too…

Also, I have found that if I get cool at night, I can slip the Verto on and be just as warm as if I were to slip my down jacket on, which to me saves the life of the down jacket too.

I dunno guys, RedBeard sure liked his on the AT….if my Houdini wasn't good any more I'd get one.

I think there is a way to use a wind jacket and a way not to. Most don't use them correctly. If I want less wind I wear my rain jacket.

This jacket seems like the worst of all worlds. Not breathable enough to be a highly effective wind jacket and not water resistant to be a highly effective rain jacket.

I wonder if RedBeard is a sponsored hiker?

To each their own, I guess.

"Not breathable enough to be a highly effective wind jacket and not water resistant to be a highly effective rain jacket."

My thoughts too. Seems like it would be better to leave it at home & just wear a rain jacket. You don't lose any breathability, but you gain water resistance. With that said, I do have two wind shirts for different conditions. A highly breathable one for spring & summer, a less breathable one for fall & winter. The less breathable one is ~10cfm though. They're Ventum fabric might be a good choice.

Ryan

There seems to be a lot of wind shirt expertise on this thread. I currently have an Arcteryx Squamish that I love, but is over-kill for a lot of my summer hiking (start of July – early September) in the PNW and occasionally the Colorado Rockies. I use my wind shirt on cool, windy days, and in camp in the early morning and late evening for a bit of extra warmth. Sometimes, when caught in really cool, wet weather, I have worn it under my poncho. I really don't expect it to handle any significant precipitation. I was looking at the Zpacks as light weight summer alternative to the Squamish, as I would save about 4oz. What would you all recommend if not the Zpacks?

"What would you all recommend if not the Zpacks?"

An older Houdini, but the Squamish is an excellent choice. Weight is meaningless if it doesn't work. It is a dangerous path to add heavier options, but one item won't break your spreadsheet and moreso for an item that is a core part of your layering system. Wear it out and pray that Patagonia comes to their senses on fabric choices.

I want to try the new Sierra Designs windshirt.

Dale – Good advice, sometimes no move is the best move. I could save 2 oz with a Houdini, but that does not see like it is worth it. It is just the idea of being able to shave 4oz off any piece of kit right now looks so attractive. Are these light weight options that useless?

Edward, that sounds like a good set up. You have the more breathable, heavier, and more durable squamish for when you are using it a lot more.
Then you have the lighter less brethable zpacks. I prefer less breathable for milder weather because it works better as a warm up jacket. You put it on when you get cold to warm up quickly. My black diamond alpine start doesn't work as well as a warm up jacket, takes me a lot longer to heat up, but better when its cold enough to be wearing mid layers.