This post sponsored by Houdini Sportswear. All opinions are my own.

Houdini Sportswear reached out to me about trying out some of their outdoor clothing. I am always up for checking out new gear, especially clothing since I have such a hard time finding things that fit correctly.

What I Tested

I was sent the Houdini Mono Air Houdi Fleece and DeSoli Tee to try out in a Men’s size Large for both. They chose the colors (I would have opted for their Terra Red). I requested that they send the men’s version due to the fact that most women’s clothing does not fit correctly on me due to being tall. The sleeves and torso length always seem to be way too short, so I have to resort to men’s clothing, which is super annoying.

As always, here are my body stats for comparison.

Houdini Mono Air Houdi Fleece

Let me first state that I typically wear a 1/4 zip fleece with no hood. That’s just my preference, however, after testing this one out I may have changed my mind. I am testing out a men’s Large in Willow Green. I have decided I will also use this to replace my fleece when I head out to the Appalachian Trail to do my flip-flop starting in June.

What I liked

Long Sleeves!!! – While this is a men’s, the sleeves are nice and long. My thumbs don’t feel like they are trying to be ripped off which tends to happen when the sleeves are too short and you place them in the thumb holes. This is honestly my favorite feature!

Torso Length! – Another amazing feature is that this is long enough to go to my mid buttocks area! I cannot tell you how much that I love that! No more drafts when bending or sitting!

Thumb Holes – The sleeves have thumb holes which are great for keeping the sleeves in place when layering or just when hiking. Nothing irritates me more than my sleeves hiking up on me.

Warm – While I didn’t get a chance to test it out in winter temps, I headed out for a morning hike with temps in the upper 40’s with breezy and cloudy conditions. I only had this and the Desoli Tee they sent me on and kept warm, even when stopping to talk to other hikers.

Versatile – Works great for hiking and even for just sitting around the house or at camp. I was happy to have the full zipper while I was hiking, allowing me to vent more than a 1/4 zip would have allowed. At home, I often get chilled (even in summer), and throwing this on is perfect (in fact I am wearing it now as I type this lol).

Cinches in all the right spots – I love that you can cinch the hood and the bottom hem of the torso. This really helps to keep warmth in and cold out, especially when windy.

Inside Pockets – I love the fact it has inside stash pockets, however, I prefer they zip (I am a clutz and would somehow manage to have whatever I put in there spill right on out)! The inside pockets are huge, which is a bonus.

Double zipper – The double zipper feature is nice, allowing you to unzip from either the top or bottom which allows for customizable ventilation.

Stretchy – It has 4-way stretch which is really nice. I do not like stiff fabrics especially when hiking. I need my clothing to move with me, and due to the 4-way stretch of this fabric, it does just that.

Repels Water – Repels water fairly decent in light rain. It was actually raining here today (and a little chilly) so I threw this on when I headed out to do some grocery shopping. I never felt dampness on the inside of the fleece, and what did absorb dried pretty quickly once out of the rain. Granted, you shouldn’t expect to go in a downpour and think this will act as a rain jacket because it won’t!

Needs Improvement

There isn’t much I found that I do not like with this fleece, but I do have a couple of “wish it was different” thoughts:

Weight – The stated weight of the Houdini Mono Air Houdi off their website for a size Large is 580g; on my scale, it weighs 620g (or 1.3 pounds)! About 6oz heavier compared to other comparable fleeces on the market.

Air Dry Only – When at home this isn’t an issue, but when you are in town on a long-distance hike and don’t have time to stay in town to let it air dry, that can be a problem. We will see how it goes if I do decide to take this with me on the Appalachian Trail in June. Also because of this, you cannot send it in to be treated with Insect Shield.

DeSoli Tee

I tested the men’s Large in Utopian Green. Made of 100% wool, it is lightweight, odor-resistant, and great for both warm and cool conditions. I found it to feel light against my skin and not itchy like others. It was great starting out my hike as it was slightly chilly. By the end, I had started sweating but didn’t feel like it was causing me to become chilled. The fit was perfect and fit like a normal Unisex T-Shirt.

I have no complaints with the DeSoil Tee after the first wear. As with all my reviews, once I have had time to put it through the wringer I will update my post.

Final Thoughts

Great quality clothing made for the outdoor enthusiast. Despite the extra weight of the Houdini Mono Air Houdi Fleece, I would take the weight penalty to have all the features this fleece has compared to others. The air dry only requirement of the fleece, however, is a turn-off.

Where to Buy the Houdini Mono Air Houdi Fleece

You can purchase either one of the items off their website.

I never accept payment for gear reviews or editorial coverage. When you buy through affiliate links on my site, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which allows me to continue to serve the outdoor community. Read my full policy here.