Insulated Jackets: Hood or No Hood

Wise Old Owl · Jan 24th 2016, 10:34pm

Well call this advanced Backpacking.... today I moved 18" of snow for the second time as I knocked out the driveway both Saturday and then did it all again today... my muscles are fried. Each day I worked hours in a Dri-down jacket... and fleece beanie with a ski face mask. As I attempt to relax tonight watching some football and type some thoughts it lead me to wonder... a week or two ago I saw a sale at REI and there was a choice of similar jackets with or without a hood.

Here is the focus of the thought. If these jackets do not retain sweat; one can hike and sleep in what appears as dual purpose invested warmth in cold conditions. Huge change vs previous gear. And these jackets are all over the place on deep discounts. So you may realize that this Dri-down changes everything. You could get a 1 pound sleeping bag and a UL Dri-down Jacket with hood and effectively double the warmth on the trail by wearing the jacket to bed. So in my mind another 1 ounce hood built in would be a no brainer and you can still bring a fleece beanie.

So we have all put in our years here on the trail what would your thoughts be on this subject. would you include a hoodie?

Mountain-Mike · Jan 24th 2016, 11:00pm

I like having a hood, but not an insulated one. It gives more options for layering & venting. keep it off for hiking & when stoping for a break it's there to put on. Also great to keep the wind off your neck. When I took ice climbing lessons from EMS I had a store brand shell parka. As I was gearing up all the guides were envious of my hood. They were the tester for the prototype & their main complaint was the lack of one.

Wise Old Owl · Jan 24th 2016, 11:54pm

Yea I should put a caveat here - but I am no lawyer... Ski bums generally don't layer (my son). they wear a bib and jacket to avoid the sweat build up and then there is going back to the lodge and fire.

JimBlue · Jan 25th 2016, 12:58pm

Well, I haven't hiked in snow, only camped. My gear has been different everytime I was out and it snowed. The times I've been in snow was years and time zones apart. So its hard to make comparisions.

I do know that with a hood I don't have that ice cold air going down my back into my jacket.

LIhikers · Jan 25th 2016, 1:11pm

We've all heard that you can loose a lot of body heat through your head, so keeping your head warm is important,
But consider this, all the blood that brings that heat to your head has to go through your neck first. So keeping your neck warm is important too so the heat isn't lost before it even gets to your head. A hood can be a help with that, even though there are better ways.

jimmyjam · Jan 25th 2016, 1:24pm

I have a insulated hood that is not attached to the jacket so I can wear it without the jacket- like for sleeping. Works ok, sometimes I wake up and the hood has turned around on the front of my face.

Rasty · Jan 25th 2016, 2:36pm

Hoods on jackets, no hoods on mid layers. My down jacket and rain jacket have hoods.

Drybones · Jan 25th 2016, 9:00pm

I have three down jackets with no hood....I'll trade them all for one with a hood.

Socks · Jan 25th 2016, 10:13pm

Im a hat guy

Socks · Jan 25th 2016, 10:14pm

But that's only cause none of my jackets have hoods.

Dan76 · Jan 26th 2016, 12:00am

socks wrote:

Im a hat guy

I've learned the value of a hat and scarf. But most of my hiking jackets have hoods due to the ability to provide additional warmth or a cool down as required.

Tangent · Jan 26th 2016, 12:45pm

I've always used a hat and and when it's cold I'll add a baklava.

Traffic Jam · Jan 26th 2016, 1:04pm

Tangent wrote:

I've always used a hat and and when it's cold I'll add a baklava.

I'd rather eat baklava than wear it on my head.

(I couldn't help it)

Rasty · Jan 26th 2016, 1:12pm

Tangent wrote:

I've always used a hat and and when it's cold I'll add a baklava.

Do you find your hair getting sticky at the end of the day? Coffee

LIhikers · Jan 26th 2016, 1:30pm

There's this Greek restaurant that Kathy and I like.
A piece of baklava and a cup of their strong Coffee is a great way to end a meal there.

Tangent · Jan 26th 2016, 1:35pm

spellcheck doesn't check for stoopid...
In my defense, I'm a teacher and according to common core that would be accepted.

Mountain-Mike · Jan 26th 2016, 6:48pm

Tangent wrote:

I've always used a hat and and when it's cold I'll add a baklava.

Is this a new alternative rather than hanging your food?

I wonder if the make insulating eddible undies?

A.T.Lt · Jan 26th 2016, 8:42pm

I don't like hoods. Obviously on my shell/rain jacket I have a hood, but not on my down jacket. Im a hat guy, and I have a buff, and a balaclava.
I also like falafel.

Traffic Jam · Jan 26th 2016, 9:08pm

Back to WOO's original question (I think): Can you get by with a lighter weight bag (and I assume a higher temp rating) if you have a good jacket with insulating hood?

I am learning that my bag works better when wearing less clothing so I would think not. Also, if you rely on a coat with an inadequate bag, what about your lower half?

JimBlue · Jan 26th 2016, 9:11pm

Last November I took long john tops and bottoms, but didn't need them. I had a nice regular quilt. I put that over my partially open sleeping bag, put on a wicking long sleeve short, my thinsulate gloves, and a knit camp. Slept comfortably. Except my sleeping bag kept deflating.

edit: I meant air mattress.

Drybones · Jan 26th 2016, 9:22pm

JimBlue wrote:

Last November I took long john tops and bottoms, but didn't need them. I had a nice regular quilt. I put that over my partially open sleeping bag, put on a wicking long sleeve short, my thinsulate gloves, and a knit camp. Slept comfortably. Except my sleeping bag kept deflating.

Okay, who's first?

Drybones · Jan 26th 2016, 9:25pm

TrafficJam wrote:

Back to WOO's original question (I think): Can you get by with a lighter weight bag (and I assume a higher temp rating) if you have a good jacket with insulating hood?

I am learning that my bag works better when wearing less clothing so I would think not. Also, if you rely on a coat with an inadequate bag, what about your lower half?

My theory...up to a certain point, and to me that should be the bag rating, a bag warms you better with less clothing, past a certain point you need more cloths to stay warm...at that point I don't sleep.

JimBlue · Jan 26th 2016, 9:26pm

Dagnabbit ! Air matress kept deflating !

Socks · Jan 26th 2016, 9:26pm

Drybones wrote:

JimBlue wrote:

Last November I took long john tops and bottoms, but didn't need them. I had a nice regular quilt. I put that over my partially open sleeping bag, put on a wicking long sleeve short, my thinsulate gloves, and a knit camp. Slept comfortably. Except my sleeping bag kept deflating.

Okay, who's first?

you take it, I'm down a qt.

Drybones · Jan 26th 2016, 9:35pm

socks wrote:

Drybones wrote:

JimBlue wrote:

Last November I took long john tops and bottoms, but didn't need them. I had a nice regular quilt. I put that over my partially open sleeping bag, put on a wicking long sleeve short, my thinsulate gloves, and a knit camp. Slept comfortably. Except my sleeping bag kept deflating.

Okay, who's first?

you take it, I'm down a qt.

TJ's got a mean streak going, thought she might get'im first.

Socks · Jan 26th 2016, 9:57pm

Drybones wrote:

socks wrote:

Drybones wrote:

JimBlue wrote:

Last November I took long john tops and bottoms, but didn't need them. I had a nice regular quilt. I put that over my partially open sleeping bag, put on a wicking long sleeve short, my thinsulate gloves, and a knit camp. Slept comfortably. Except my sleeping bag kept deflating.

Okay, who's first?

you take it, I'm down a qt.

TJ's got a mean streak going, thought she might get'im first.

she's a puzzy cat.

Socks · Jan 26th 2016, 9:58pm

Why can't I right pussee cat with a y.

Mountain-Mike · Jan 26th 2016, 10:54pm

Drybones wrote:

TrafficJam wrote:

Back to WOO's original question (I think): Can you get by with a lighter weight bag (and I assume a higher temp rating) if you have a good jacket with insulating hood?

I am learning that my bag works better when wearing less clothing so I would think not. Also, if you rely on a coat with an inadequate bag, what about your lower half?

My theory...up to a certain point, and to me that should be the bag rating, a bag warms you better with less clothing, past a certain point you need more cloths to stay warm...at that point I don't sleep.

It also depwnds on the size of the bag. Insulation is bsically pockets of air & the ability of the insulation to hold it. Thats why down it so good. It has a high loft rate vs weight trapping lots of air in it. When it gets wet it clumps together with no air pockets thus no insulating value.

If your bag is spacious yeah, adding a puffy jacket will help. If it's tight & you are compressing it & pushing all the air out, thus your insulatting value & defeating your intended purpose.

Dan76 · Jan 26th 2016, 10:59pm

TrafficJam wrote:

Also, if you rely on a coat with an inadequate bag, what about your lower half?

that's when you employ your ' better half'.

Dan76 · Jan 26th 2016, 11:04pm

A.T.Lt wrote:

I also like falafel.

made with fava beans and stuffed into a pita.

EdDzierzak · Jan 28th 2016, 12:45pm

Mountain-Mike wrote:

Tangent wrote:

I've always used a hat and and when it's cold I'll add a baklava.

Is this a new alternative rather than hanging your food? I wonder if the make insulating eddible undies?

instructables.com/id/DIY-Brief-Jerky-Edible-Underwear/
:evil:

Socks · Jan 28th 2016, 9:55pm

Man that there is nasty...I prefur lickorish.

EdDzierzak · Jan 29th 2016, 12:38pm

socks wrote:

Man that there is nasty...I prefur lickorish.

Well, if you want a choice - google "edible underwear" some is NSFW

WanderingStovie · Jan 29th 2016, 12:47pm

TrafficJam wrote:

Back to WOO's original question (I think): Can you get by with a lighter weight bag (and I assume a higher temp rating) if you have a good jacket with insulating hood?

I am learning that my bag works better when wearing less clothing so I would think not. Also, if you rely on a coat with an inadequate bag, what about your lower half?

Well then we freeze our ... off. Or wear pants, wind pants, thermal underwear, insulated slippers, thick socks, ...

WanderingStovie · Jan 29th 2016, 12:51pm

JimBlue wrote:

Last November I took long john tops and bottoms, but didn't need them. I had a nice regular quilt. I put that over my partially open sleeping bag, put on a wicking long sleeve short, my thinsulate gloves, and a knit camp. Slept comfortably. Except my sleeping bag kept deflating.

edit: I meant air mattress.

Let me guess - the air mattress slips between the bottom layers of the sleeping bag? Big Agnes?

JimBlue · Jan 29th 2016, 6:05pm

Nope.

Sleeping bag.
blue foam pad
Air mattress, one I bought at wal-mart. It weighs about 5 pounds.

But apparently when I visited relatives recently it spring a small leak. Four hours and its defalted enough to make for being very uncomfortable.

So now it will just be the pad and the sleeping bag when I go camping. I have a repair kit, but I need to get used to sleeping on the ground without the air mattress.

Wise Old Owl · Jan 30th 2016, 8:38pm

Well I agree here. Balaclavas and other head gear have there place. Think about dual purpose and saving weight in terms of double up. A Jacket generally covers the butt. IF it covered the head and you add a mummy bag at a higher say forty degree bag one could could double the strength of the bag and hike in the jacket... right now the temps are so high here I cant test the jacket on a 5 mile loop during the day. Yea its Jan-Feb. oh well.

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