Looking to get a wind shell during the Black Friday sales. Suggestions?

<p>I’m a longtime fan of breathable windshirts.  I have the 2011 Houdini, but in 2012 they changed the fabric to a less breathable option.  I think the new Houdini Air is close to the old fabric and is what I would choose.  I also have an Patagonia Airshead pullover that I really like for non backpacking activities, but it doesn’t have a hood. </p>

If anyone has experience with both, how does the breathability of the Houdini Air compare to the $20 Dooey fauxdini?

I’m also looking for a windshirt but want something less breathable than the Dooey

Brad, I didn’t even know the Airshed existed until you mentioned it. They do make a hooded version now.

Just got my air shed pro hoody today. Have it on now..with my shorts on…about to make my daily 2 mile run to train..temperature outside is 44° with 7mph winds… here I go…..

The Airshed Pro should not be thought of as a wind shell. It lets way too much air through.

My favorites are the Patagonia Houd!ni Air, Arc’x Squamish, and Montbell Tachyon ‘parka’. They all fit a bit different, have different pockets and hood designs, but I find the wind-cutting and breathability to be roughly comparable; all excellent. A quick search of this site should turn up endless comparison threads.

Agreed.. its definitely NOT a windshell.. lol. It worked for my chilly breezy run just now.. but i definitely felt that breeze..  stick with tried and true Houdini for a windshell. I wear mine almost every day ( when needed),  with a capaline light 1/4 zip shirt and my vest.. I also take one with me on just about every backpacking trip i go on, year round.

I do see a future for this wind shed pro though.. I am going to enjoy this piece very much!!

Does the Airshed provide warmth then? Trying to figure out what’s the point of it.

Well define warmth? I just ran 2 miles with just that on and my shorts. 44° and said 6-7 mph breeze. At first I was chilled. But within 1/2 mile I was perfect. I would not say its insulation.. i mean, maybe slightly more then just my capaline baselayer, but with a hood! And more ventilation with double zip on front chest.  For running.. this could be perfect in these temperatures ( for me ). I did break slight sweat on forehead.. but I am a sweater.. so take that with grain of salt. When I got on train, my back was slightly sweaty, but I also ran with my backpack on.. so thats that. Rest of my upper body was great temperature and no sweat.. a few minutes and my back was dry. I would think if I stopped for an extended period of time,  I would need to layer for warmth,  no doubt. While moving, this could work well ( for me). I am definitely going to keep using it as a base layer and see how it performs.  If you want a wind shirt.. this is NOT what you want. If you want insulation,  this is NOT what you want. I dont think. Its brand new for me… so do not listen to me and sometimes I do things out of the box…

Could it be considered an “active regulator”??? Someone with extended use would know better then me.

Sounds like the Houdini air is more what I want then.

I was about to post the same question, and have some info and experience you may find helpful.

I had the pre-2012 Houdini, which was about 35 cfm. I found it perfect for hiking and backpacking in cool to cold weather, and running in cold weather. Used to wear it most often over a base layer, either thin, or thicker like a Patagonia Cap 4 Thermal Hoody and for very cold and windy weather an R1 Hoody. It was my most used shell for years. Sadly it was shredded in an unfortunate laundry accident, so I’m looking for a replacement.

I’ve had the Fauxdini Dooey wind shirt for several years, which I got for around $15. It has held up very well but I wash it carefully. It’s at least twice as breathable as the pre-2012 Houdini, so I’d estimate at least +70 cfm. It’s great for hiking in breezy mild weather or for running in cool to cool-cold weather with light wind. Strong wind is too much for it and will rob you of too much heat, so by mid-late fall I switch to a yellow hi-viz wind jacket which has a cfm that I’d say is a little less than the pre-2012 Houdini, so it handles cold wind gusts very well, but it’s much heavier than the Houdini.

Got these numbers from Patagonia this week:

Houdini Jacket will have the highest level of water resistance since it’s such a tightly-woven fabric.
Houdini Jacket: 1 CFM (windproof)
Houdini Air: 18 CFM
Nano Air: 40 CFM
Airshed Pro Pullover: 120 CFM

So the current Houdini is like wearing a plastic bag, and the Houdini Air is better but lower CFM than the pre-2012.

Read somewhere that the Outdoor Research Helium Hoody is around 35 cfm, but please verify that. Also remember from year ago that Richard Nisley’s testing showed the Squamish Hoody differed by year and even color.

Please let me know if you find something close to 35 cfm. If I can’t find anything else, I may go with the Patagonia Houdini Air.

I’ve been experimenting with the Airshed Pro and am pleasantly surprised by its hybrid fabric design. The use of capilene in the hood and lower sleeves is actually really nice. The body fabric (Pertex) does not feel high enough to be 120 CFM, though (based on my limited use of it for running).