Hood?

[MuleyFever]

Thinking of ordering a down jacket and dont know if I want a hood or not. Wondering how most of you feel about hoods. Do you have one on a jacket you wish you didnt or wish you had a hood and dont? My thought is a puffy is for when it is colder and a hood goes a long way in keeping you warm.

 

[realunlucky]

I would rather have hoodless and use my beanie

 

[Ironman8]

I find that a hood ends up in the way of my glassing and looking around at my surroundings more times than not. I also like a beanie and add to that a neck gaiter (both merino).

 

[muleman]

I like a hood with a slim fit and good adjustments. I don't like hoods without multiple cinch points. KUIU hoods are some of the best I have used. I can totally customise them to fit me without interference. When not needed they can get out of the way and don't bother me.

 

[larryschwartz]

When it comes to staying warm in nasty weather, be it cold or rainy or both, nothing beats an outer layer that has a hood on it. The hood keeps the elements off of your head, but more importantly it blocks the wind and keeps your neck warm which you can't always do with a hat/beanie and scarf/buff combination if it is windy and damp. A hood also helps keep all of the heat inside of your clothing system, just like the drawstring closure at the top of a mummy bag keeps the heat inside from getting out.

Having said that, let's get back to your question. If you plan to use the puffy/insulating layer as an outer layer then I would go with a hood. But most puffy jackets aren't designed for outer wear in terms of durability and water repellency, so they are normally worn under a weatherproof outer layer, which is why they often do not have a hood since they are an inner insulating layer.

My preference and my practice is to use a puffy with a hood if I can, even if it is worn under an outer weatherproof layer. I don't see laying the hood flat under my outer jacket if I don't need it as a problem, but some folks don't like it that way. I will wear the puffy hood and then add the outer layer hood over it. For years in the winter I would wear an old TNF down jacket (that had a hood) under a rain jacket shell as an outer layer. Nice and warm, no wind gets in, and I am a happy camper.

Larry

 

[jm1607]

I guess I'm in the minority but having a hood is one of the most important pieces of an insulation piece to me!

In general I don't like hoods, but insulation layer is the one piece (besides rain gear) that I always have a hood on...

 

[BroodBuster]

Rain jacket yes. Anything else it just gets in the way especially when carrying a pack.

 

[5MilesBack]

I hate hoods. I hate anything around or behind my head when I'm hunting.

 

[charvey9]

I don't like hoods, except on my rain jacket. Makes it more difficult to layer when you have multiple hoods. I wear a hat when it gets cold.

 

[russ_outdoors]

I'm a big fan of hoods in cold weather. IMHE puffy jacket with a hood is noticeably warmer than a jacket without, or when using just a hat. I have Kuiu and Western Mountaineering down jackets, both with hoods. When the the hood is not needed I just tuck it inside. Like others, I personally don't like to hunt with a hood on. But when sitting down to glass in chilly weather a hood wrapped around the neck or pulled over the head can make a big difference! I also use quilts the majority of the year and a hooded jacket is often a necessity when the temperatures drop. In warmer temps I use a hood-less Montbell down jacket with a regular hat as needed.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I'm not a huge fan of hoods, some manufacturers do a better job with them than others.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm not a huge fan of hoods, some manufacturers do a better job with them than others.

Most hoods I've seen these days seem to be made for Jack-in-the-Box. Can't stand those things flopping all over the place. Then you throw it on and it hangs down to your chin.

 

[mtnkid85]

For a puffy absolutely go for the hood! For a puffy I want as much warmth as possible, Ill take the warmth of the hood over any of its little downsides.

 

[MattB]

I guess I'm in the minority but having a hood is one of the most important pieces of an insulation piece to me!

In general I don't like hoods, but insulation layer is the one piece (besides rain gear) that I always have a hood on...

I agree. When you look at the % of your heat lost through your head and neck, I think it makes great sense to have a hood on the piece that is used to retain bdy heat.

 

[BroodBuster]

There's an old mountaineering saying that goes, "if your feet are cold put on a hat." Very true

 

[LJ Buck]

I purchased a puffy w/out a hood thinking i wouldnt like it and then everytime i was out the weather went south and now i own one with a hood.

 

[luke moffat]

Hood all the way for me.

 

[gelton]

Not a huge fan of hoods but one thing that you will want to consider regarding a hood on a puffy is do your other layers have them too?

For instance, I have a puffy without a hood and wouldn't want one because I wear a Kryptek Cerdic sweater that has a hood AND my main outerlayer if needed is my rain wear, which is the Kryptek Koldo and it has a hood...I already have one too many hoods and if my puffy had one I would have two too many hoods.

On raingear hoods are a must but having three outerlayers (seater, puffy + raingear) that all have hoods is way too much overkill for me.

 

[focker34]

I was originally against hoods (minus rain-gear obviously) until I won a First Lite Puffy with a hood a couple months ago in a photo contest. After some light use I can honestly say I will never go back to a hood-less puffy ever again.

 

[topher89]

I have yet to find a down hood really like (admittedly, I haven't worn a First Lite or Kuiu hooded jacket)

I feel it is too much bulk and would only be used a handful of times. I have a merino wool neck buff that has a variety of uses and keeps my neck warm when the temperatures drop. Who knows though, maybe if and when I pick up a First Lite I may love the hood idea