3 Ultralight Packable Jackets - Pond Beaver 2020

 Nicest fitted-trashbag around

 Kil-Tec level 3 water/windstopper $5 at thrift shop brand new, unbeatable.

 @iggzdaloc: No doubt. Alternatives also include a tarp with a few holes cut in it.

 Yeah I am sure none of those brands will replace a destroyed jacket like Patagucci.

 Yep- just broke a zipper on one and bought another on-line to replace it. Once Patagucci is back up to regular functioning I'll have it repaired and will be stoked to have two. The Houdini is one of my most used pieces of outdoor gear. Awesome jacket for a fair price.

 I just got one of these awhile ago. Such a clutch piece and so dang small. When you get to the top and its cold and windy, this thing cuts the chill to be comfy going down. Love it. It doesn't look so ugly like these jackets too.

 Check out the Patagucci Dirt Craft, it's the next step up and not as packable but it actually breathes! My favorite riding jacket ever! It quite expensive though...

 Came here to say this

 Had the Houdini but switched to the black diamond stormline and wouldn’t go back. Just as light and then with about the same breathability but actually water resistant. The Houdini can only handle a light mist.

 I’ve been wearing the Sombrio for a few seasons now. Thought I should give them a shout out. Great quality stuff

 @jorgeposada: Pro Bass Fish Shop sells a $6 PVC Poncho. Which doesn't squish down that well, but near as makes no difference saved my life in BFE Idaho on a bikepacking trip. Been my trusty companion on dig days since, best value in the world.. I'll have to keep an eye on for that Kil-Tec!

 @joshroppo: I feel you on that, I usually just wrap the 30ft by 40ft painters tarp I got at home depot around my handlebars and ride in circles in my backyard making fart sounds with my mouth so the PVC poncho totally tracks on my end.

 crazy as soon as I started to read this article, I was like I need to spread the good word about the Houdini jacket. It's the best. Absolutely love it.

 @lowkeyokeydokey: good value for money in that painters tarp.

 @nyles: You need both tho. One is a rain shell that's nearly 3x heavier, the other an ultralight wind breaker. The Houdini will keep the chill off of you when you unexpectedly get the end of your climb and find the sun has started to drop on the mtn and you still have 2000ft of decent or whatever. I can take it on nearly every ride and never notice...that's the big difference. You whip out the Houdini (which fits in a little pocket) and rip. There is no way I can do that will the full on shell unless I make a bunch of extra room in my pack for a big jacket bundle.

 @beirge294: I haven't had their jackets yet, but the Sombrio jerseys are excellent

 @topherdagopher as they say in Wayne's World, I was not aware of that. Is the tear replacement thing worldwide? You just send it back to Patagonia?

 @howsyourdad: In Europe they do that "worn wear" tour around shops and other locations. You can bring one piece of gear at a time (not just Patagonia) and they will repair it for free. I think you can find the dates on their EU Facebook page!

You can also send stuff to them to repair:
eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/repairs-returns-form.html

The Patagonia shops itself also can do some small stuff, like I had a zipper pull exchanged there. But there is not so many shops in Europe, so I guess sending it in will be the best option.

 @likehell: cheers, top info!

 That’s what I use! Patagonia customer service is second to none!

 currently trying to destroy my TLD wind breaker so i can justify getting one of these.

 @nyles: BD is another company I really trust. I would argue that this jacket is a different thing though than the Houdini. A more comparable BD jacket that is excellent is the BD Distance Wind Shell. Also a great jacket. Super light... as in you barely even feel it. I just prefer the fit of the Houdini. Another rad one is the Arc'teryx Squamish Hoody but they cost a fair bit more and don't pack down quite as small but is a bit more jacket for the money and still in the ultralight windbreaker category. I was disappointed with the OR, but tried it years ago, as the zippers on them felt flimsy and the one I had failed. I will say though that OR has some of the best service and warranty in the game... right up there with Patagonia and Arc'teryx and replaced it with a different product: my slightly heavier "go-to" cold stopper movable jacket the Ferrosi soft shell. I never go wrong throwing the Ferrosi and Houdini in the backpack. Great combo.

 @snl1200: OR kind of failed me Warranty wise this year. Had some nice ski gloves (which I LOVED) that opened up at one finger when stitching failed. Sent pics and everything, it took them like at least 2 weeks to get back to me (pre-corona). They said to send them in and I'd get a credit. Which is total BS because what would I freaking ski with for 2 weeks? I asked if I could just buy something and then get credit when they I send my existing ones back...or they send me some and give me 30 days to send the others in or charge my cc if I don't. They refused and said they couldn't do that. So I was left with busted gloves or having no gloves. Pretty crappy.

NOW, a neighbor burned a hole in her Patagonia jacket around camp fire...they just sent her a new jacket, which seems over the top but still. OR doesn't look as nice to me anymore.

 @lowkeyokeydokey: PVC poncho hahaha, this is windstopper, waterproof, extremely tear resistant mega quality $230 jacket for $5. Don't like wearing garbage bags.

 @Svinyard: That is a bummer! I'm sure there is a lot of variability in response. I pulled a zipper past the catch on a pair of OR ski touring pants last year (also LOVED/LOVE them). I called them to ask about their preferred warranty/repair process. The person that took my call asked me to cut off the tags and email them a picture of the pants with the tags cut off and asked size/colour preference and sent new ones out that day that arrived a week later. Maybe I got lucky but it was the second item I had to replace via warranty through OR and both were smooth. Both Arc'teryx and Patagonia have historically been a really good warranty experience for me also...the best in the game IMO- makes it way easier to drop the big $ when you know they have your back.

 That's the goal - glad you're enjoying it!

 Yep, i would be packing to fly to SC tomorrow, hook up with the US office and get some Cali sun and trail time. Sucks is probably selling it short.

 Yeah Pond Beaver is awesome. We should do this kind of thing twice a year to cover the various release cycles. The manufacturers can schedule around it easily too. Plus global manuf can more easily show up digitally.

 I was hoping someone would notice and appreciate that. Thanks, D!

 @danielsapp: BOJANGLES

 You beat me to it. Without that, there´s not much more info here than what you can find on the producers´ websites.

 I'm a bit disapointed about this too.

 @evildos: Sorry folks, I added one in, of course...that's necessary.

 the last photo....

 @danielsapp: giving you guys a hard time. I appreciate the content, thanks.

 Thanks dude...zip-offs are actually pretty practical but I'd probably skip the cargo pockets.

 That's the harshest insult I've heard in years

 @felimocl: For real. We're just trying to do our job and get you guys some stuff to check out while we're all a little more locked down than we're used to and dude-bro goes off and throws that one at me...what gives

 @danielsapp: Some people just want to watch the world burn...

 @hardcore-hardtail: Meanwhile, I'm just trying to burn some brush in my yard.

 That is a good one - really good. In comparison, the Houdini doesn't breathe quite as well as the three here and it has a somewhat boxier fit.

 @danielsapp: totally true. On the flip side its incredibly wind resistant for its weight.

 @danielsapp: Hey Dan, you prop the Swat for breathability but don't discuss that for the other two. How do they compare in that dept?

 You wear a $400 jacket in the trees?

 @CircusMaximus:
Hard to argue with lifetime repair policy...

 @CircusMaximus: Norvan is only like 250. Not too far of from the offerings of some bike apparel brand jackets

 @Connerv6: not in Canuckistan it isnt

 @CircusMaximus: yep, I also ski with it in the trees asswell

 That was an intermittent off-and-on project for a few weeks over winter...had to block out the methy neighbors and make a playpen for the pup we didn't have then but do have now!