Down jacket - no hood?

[Neil]

I'm looking for a new down jacket and most of the ones I like don't have hoods. In fact it seems most of 'em out there are hoodless. You'd think that if you needed the jacket you'd need the hood too. I almost always throw the hood up when wearing the one I have now. Such an increase in heat retention for so little weight. Anyway, anybody got thoughts on that?

 

[Oldsmores]

Actually, one of my favorite pieces of gear is an EMS down sweater without a hood. I can use it alone, with a hat, or with my shell hood and a hat in really cold temps. I find the flexibility nice, without a bulky hood in the way.

 

[JimB]

Neil, I always carry a down jacket(hoodless) with me in the winter. The only times I wear it are when i already have a wool hat on around the campsite, or I already have on a wool balaclava, a softshell jacket with the hood already up and the down jacket is the last piece of gear i have left to put on to stay warm in those extreme conditions .

 

[bobmak]

I have both a North Face down and a Campmor down, both with hoods. I think hoods are the way to go, especially when the temps dip below zero. Having the hood attached to the jacket adds much more warmth. When it's real cold I leave the down on top of my pack. When I stop, the down goes on and the hood goes up. I might leave the hood behind if I am day hiking and the weather is looking good, but for an overnight trip the hood always goes.

 

[spider solo]

I have a hood on my down jacket though the hood itself is not down just nylon to keep the snow and what not from falling down my neck.
One thing I do notice is if I put a hat on over the hood it can have a tendency to slip off though as yet it hasn't been a big problem ..just something I'm mind full of.

 

[Jasonst]

My brother just bought a NF down jacket WITH hood, 650 fill for 50$ at TNF outlet in Freeport. What a steal! Went back to get me one and they were sold out! I agree that they would be more useful with a hood!

 

[SherpaKroto]

I've never been a down hood fan. By the time I needed it, it was always full of snow, and getting wet. I do like the nylon hood, and put it over my had/balaclava when I need it for additional wind protection.

 

[spaddock]

Hey Neil,

Check out this jacket from Campmor:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=32339201&memberId=12500226

About 1.5lbs but look at the price! (no hood though)

I also went to a site called www.prolitegear.com they've got a lot of ultralight options similar to the Golite you keep salivating over.


-Shayne