Houdini air questions

I absolutely love mine! Have had it for several years and use it year round. It’s the best windshirt I’ve had, it’s very breathable and the textured inner prevents it from feeling clammy. It also makes excellent bug protection. I’m 6’ and 190 pounds and where the large. It fits true to size with a fairly regular fit.

George W:    Stephen Seeber did a comparison of a Houdini air and a Montbell Tachyon a couple years back that’s on this site here

I’ve used a Tachyon anorak for years and the shorter zipper just does not cut it for venting when I’m working hard but then I always want it when things, usually the terrain, begin to level off so whatever you do I’d advise a full zipper or be prepared to shed it when the aerobic level goes up and stays there. I think that’s the conundrum of wind shirts. The thing that makes them great can also make them a problem. A full zipper helps delay that point or avoid having to shed the garment entirely. It seems to me that relying on MVTR might be a tail-chasing exercise. If there’s enough MV to TR and the fabric will some how TR enough of it fast enough then it’s not really going to be a ‘wind’ shirt.

YMMV

Thanks

I’ll be in Denver next week so I can try on the Tachyon.

The Houdini Air color I wanted to buy was in-stock yesterday, but now is on backorder for a month or so. This means I still have more time to choose a wind shirt.

I don’t like dark colors because there is less chance of being comfortable when you step out of the shade and into full sun.

I have both the Huodini Air and the Tachyon jacket (full zip with pockets). The Tachyon is the newer, more breathable fabric. I like them both, but I would lean towards the Tachyon because the pockets are nice and it packs smaller/is lighter. The hood adjustment is really lacking though. That’s better on the Patagonia. Both do well under exertion.

^^ yes besides the short anorak zipper my old version tachyon has no pockets. That has proven to be another substantial inconvenience.

Those Houdini hoods are really well designed but not sure if that is a choice changing factor.

I’m not really in a position to advocate one over the other but I sure wish I had a full length zipper and pockets!