Comparing Wind Jackets for Men
Showing 8 products | Change
| Awards |  Best Overall Windbreaker |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.00 at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers | $69.83 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $181.09 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $77.37 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
| Overall Score | |||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Low price, simple and effective design, tiny packed-size, impressive DWR coating | Affordable, PFC-free DWR, elastic hood | Softshell fit and feel, oversized storm hood, designed for freedom of motion | Abrasion resistant, ample room for layering, underarm ventilation | Lightest in the category, tiny packed size, larger chest pocket |
| Cons | No feature to stow away the hood, thin material can feel clammy during high-output activity | Stuff sack instead of zippered stuff pocket | Expensive, relatively heavy, odor retention | Poor water resistance, lack of articulation | See-through material, under-performing DWR fabric |
| Bottom Line | The best overall value and performance in a lightweight package that sets the category standard | A lightweight, versatile, DWR-coated nylon shell, all at an affordable price | An ultra-lightweight alternative to your normal softshell, this jacket is warmer and more comfortable than many without sacrificing breathability | Despite its flashy appearance, this is a technical windbreaker and is further reinforced with abrasion-resistant fabric | An ultralight jacket purposefully built for fast and light mountain missions |
| Rating Categories | Patagonia Houdini -... | Rab Vital Hoody - M... | Black Diamond Alpin... | Outdoor Research He... | Black Diamond Dista... |
| Wind Resistance (30%) | |||||
| Breathability and Venting (30%) | |||||
| Weight and Packability (20%) | |||||
Fit and Functionality (10%)  |
|||||
| Water Resistance (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Patagonia Houdini -... | Rab Vital Hoody - M... | Black Diamond Alpin... | Outdoor Research He... | Black Diamond Dista... |
| Measured Weight (size M) | 3.9 oz (size L) | 4.8 oz | 7.3 oz | 5.0 oz | 3.5 oz |
| Material | 100% nylon ripstop, DWR finish | 20D Atmos woven nylon with fluorocarbon-free DWR | Schoeller stretch-woven: 93% nylon, 7% Elastane, Schoeller Eco-Repel Bio DWR | 100% Pertex Diamond Fuse (100% nylon ripstop) | 100% nylon ripstop, woven w/ DWR treatment (Green Theme Technology) |
| Pockets | 1 zip chest | 2 zip hand | 1 zip chest | 1 zip chest | 1 zip chest |
| Safety Reflective Material | No (company states reflective logo on left chest, too small to really be visible) | Yes, reflective logo on chest | No | Yes, reflective logo | No |
| Stowable Pocket | Yes: chest pocket | No; included stuff sack | Yes: chest pocket | Yes: chest pocket | Yes: chest pocket |
| Cuff Style | Half Elastic | Half Elastic | Elastic | Half Elastic | Elastic |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details