The best lightweight soft shell out there. Feels more like a windshirt than a softshell but it's really breathable. Used in some light rain and it beaded up nicely. Did amazing in the wind. I'll be bringing this with me everywhere hiking/climbing. Fits pretty nicely its just long enough for me in the torso and arms. The only negative would be that the fabric bunches up in the lower chest area and sticks out if I'm seated or if I'm not standing up straight. Not as bad with a pack on, a little annoying but not a big deal. I love this jacket

I bought this to wear as a rain and cool weather jacket. Being from Alabama, I will deal with rain a whole lot more than cold. First day wearing it, there was a downpour. Kept me nice and dry while I was out and about. Also kept me warm for our 45 degree morning stroll from the parking lot to the office. I cant wait to put it to the test camping and hiking.

It's 100% no Doubt the best lightweight shell on the market, hands down. I cannot describe in words the awesomeness of this jacket. Black diamond is using this Swedish company and the fabric is amazing!!! it's naturally water resistant and every time you wash the fabric it regains its water resistance so it's not a chemical that's sprayed on like all the other water-resistant jackets, that eventually wears off, this fabric is created with a natural plant based nanoparticle that is water resistant. And the winning touch, mechanical stretch...Perfect lightweight windbreaker/shell.

I was given this jacket for chilly runs and as a spring/fall light shell for hiking. It works perfectly and is wind and water resistant. The fit is great: I’m 6’1’’ at 180lbs, with longer than usual arms, and this jacket fits me perfectly.

I bring this with me any time i go climbing or trail running in cooler temps. packs down really small, extremely light and durable.

This thing is great. I love how compact it gets, how light it is, and how it zips up into its own pocket. I'm also a fan of how the hood fits over my climbing helmet. I typically have it clipped to my harness on longer climbs. I would appreciate some more pockets, but I understand why they're not there.

Windbreakers traditionally don't do much for me... too thin to be warm, yet they get clammy and sweaty the second you start to heat up. This thing is a totally different material though, actually a super thin softshell not a normal nylon windbreaker material. As a result, it is actually soft and comfortable against your skin, does an admirable job shedding heat (I use it for cool weather mountain biking mostly), and actually can shed a decent amount of water as well. To the extent that I use this is my "rain" jacket as well most of the time here in Utah where rain storms generally don't last super long.

Fit's perfect for sporty activities, at 6' 195lbs I wear a large and it's nice and trim. Can't wear much more than a long sleeve bike jersey underneath, but that's perfect for this jacket and that combo has gotten me through some pretty nippy mornings.

For some this will seem like a niche piece to have, but this may be my most used jacket. It pretty much lives in my pack for whatever activity I am doing. It takes the edge of high winds, light snow, light rain, but is highly breathable. It's also great for a little extra warmth in the fall/spring when the temp drops and your in high output mode.

If you're looking for a light weight, packable, windbreaker/shell - this is by far the best option I've tried. After using the alpine start, the patagonia houdini feels like wearing trash-bag for a shell - the two products aren't even really comparable.

$160 for windbreaker type shell is on the high-side, but given the amount I've used this product over the last year plus, I think its worth it.

Use it for spring ski touring and throwing in the pack for those colder mtb rides.

With a light baselayer underneath, it's perfect for 25-40F days when you're grinding it out on the approach or for those 40-60F days slowly climbing up a wall.

I bring this jacket out on springs days when I'm not expecting too much precip. It breathes so well you barely notice it when putting in the vert. Love it so far.

This piece is amazing for ski touring, when it is SUPER cold, a little breezy and you have a huge return hike. Rather than wearing your bomb proof shell, and possibly soaking through, throw this one and boom! Perfect temp regulation. I was wearing this in about 25 degrees F, but pretty breezy, so a baselayer would have been chilly, and I was perfect.

My son uses this for hiking/ backpacking. He says it’s warm and easy to throw into a pack for short cool hikes.

I just received this jacket today and immediately processed a return. The jacket is less of a soft shell and more of a flimsy rain resistant wind breaker. The jacket doesn't appear very tough and it is very, very thin, most likely offering far less weather proofing than I would need.

I mostly wear my Alpine Start ski touring and rock climbing.
It is super light/packable, and keeps out wind

This is quite possibly my favorite layer I own for climbing. I've had mine for a few years bringing it with my all over the US for climbing trips. Can't believe how much abuse this thing has taken. For just about any multipitch route I have it clipped to my harness. It's so light and packs so small that many times I've forgotten I've even had it back there until the wind picks up or the temps drop. And when the winds start whipping, that down jacket you carried isn't going to help much. This super light hoody it going to save your butt. I've been practically blown off routes, but still hung on to my warmth with this hoody's windbreaking abilities. Plenty warm on its own, but even better with a layer below.



Can't say enough good things about this piece of clothing. I brag about it so much I've gotten 5-6 climbing friends to pick up their very own.



I do wish it had hand pockets, but I get that's just going to add a bit of weight.