Hood versus Rain Hat

[mtnmutt]

Has anyone opted for carrying a rain hat rather than using a jacket's hood?

I do not like hoods because they can cause feedback for my hearing aids and an unworn hood gets caught on branches. My $3400 hearing aids need rain protection, so I have always bought jackets with hoods.

My family gave me a generous Cabela's gift card, so I am looking for a lighter jacket as an alternative to my Cabela's bulky rain jacket for those warmer days with little to no rain. I need to decide if I buy a jacket with or without a hood.

If you use a rain hat, please let me know which one you own and if you like it or not.

I am looking at the Stika Jetstream Light as a new jacket to use for the days with little or no rain.

[Elkduds]

I have some light rainjackets w hoods that store in the collar. Would that work? I like that hoods keep my neck and shoulders dry.

[>>>---WW---->]

Go with the hood. I have never seen a hat that would keep the rain from running down the back of my neck yet unless it was a wide brim Stetson. Just turn your aids off and pull up the hood. If it's raining that hard you most likely won't hear elk anyhow.

[mtnmutt]

I have some light rainjackets w hoods that store in the collar. Would that work? I like that hoods keep my neck and shoulders dry.

Forgot about neck warmth.

Can you tell me the brand and models please? In March, I will start checking them out. I only have a Bass Pro and Sportsman Warehouse locally, but the drive to Cabela's is within an hour

WW, very good points. My hearing aids are the most expensive things I carry into the woods, so I should just go with a hood. I have never liked hats or hoods. I just need to get over it that a hood is the best solution.

[cnelk]

Patricia
I use a Natural Gear rain jacket - got it on Camofire
It has a full length zipper and a hood
I keep it strapped to my pack
It was within my budget and keeps me dry

Here is a link - its not a full zipper tho

https://www.naturalgear.com/products/12 ... r-170.aspx

[Elkduds]

Here's one from online, will add others I come across.

http://bdu.com/511-multicam-tac-dry-rai ... Mwodll8ATw

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/ ... MgodF2oAGA

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/ ... MgodbwcACA

[Swede]

I can't relate yet to your problem, but I do like a baseball cap under my hood so I can see through my glasses. When I get as old as WW, I will probably have to start a few threads like this so I can learn to deal with hearing aids , false teeth, bunions, gout and arthritis in the elk WWoods.

[cnelk]

I know that some do not favor the Frogg Togg gear, but I do have some of that too.
It works well to stay dry for the afternoon showers - but its not real durable, and kinda noisy.
But if youre wanting something to put on to wait out a rain storm, it works

[WapitiTalk1]

I agree with most others, the hood is the way to go even for those with hearing aids. I hate to wear a hood as it messes with my hearing even without wearing bionic ears but they are necessary when the skies open up, in snow, and just to keep warm when sitting. Here's a "very" good deal on a quality rain top. Russell Outdoors went out of the camo business last year but there are still some of their articles floating around. The link below is a very, very good buy on an excellent rain top. Looks like they have it in small and medium. These are men's sizes but I'm guessing one of these would do the trick for you. I paid almost $300 for my set two years ago and really like it. Happy shopping whatever you decide. RJ

http://www.kingscamo.com/Russell-APXG2- ... p_693.html

[Still Hunter]

Sticky point in Colorado. We have to wear a blaze orange hat in all seasons, except bow season. You could get a ticket for covering it up with a hood. The same thing for covering your vest with a backpack.

So, I waterproof my hat, and use a blaze orange backpack. I'm friends with the local warden, but I don't want him to have to give me a ticket. He'd give his mother a ticket if she broke the law.

[G Posik]

Patricia,

I wear a boonie hat that I treat with water repellant. I have worn this in some really bad rains and it works well. It is US MIL SPEC. As for the hearing aids like mentioned above just take them out when the rains are pouring down. I do not like a hood on any jacket.

Glenn

[mtnmutt]

Thank you all!
Swede, your baseball cap is blaze orange right? For the Broncos

Glenn, I do have a boonie style rain hat for around town and on walks. It works well as long as the rain isn't horizontal. I didn't think about what elkduds and WW mentioned about the neck getting wet out in the woods. However, you did give me an idea to try the boonie hat while out scouting and see how it does. A hood limits your side sight if they are too big.

Before this right ear surgery, there is no way I would take out my right hearing aid. I couldn't hear anything without the right aid. Plus, hearing aids get lost if not in your ear. In over 30 years of wearing them, I have never lost one or damaged one from water. Also, my ears stay warm with them in. I have never had any potential for frost bite for my ears even when walking in -41 windchill. My behind the ear hearing aids are kind on like little heaters.

Still Hunter good to mention that about orange head cover, however, I only do archery tags. I have an orange hat and vest in my pack in case I pack out during ML season. Just to be safe.

I looked through everyone's links and decided to stick with my Cabela's rain jacket for days that predict steady rains for long durations. It has gotten me through 6 seasons. Mostly my pet peeve is the bulk and weight for backpacking which I only started doing the last 2 seasons.

RJ, that Russell jacket looks like a steal. I usually buy Men's medium because small is not usually available or I want more room for layering. Only downside for that jacket is lack of a chest pocket.

I will still search for a jacket for more of a wind/light rain jacket that is more form fitting. Suitable for early September.

I do need durable. I bushwhack through some thick stuff at times. I have been fortunate not to damage any of my clothing or outerwear, yet.

[itsnlkthing]

If you are looking for something new, Cabelas has their Goretex MT050 rain gear on sale in their stores for 30% off. That price isn't on the website but it is running in the Lone Tree, CO store.

[Swede]

Swede, your baseball cap is blaze orange right? For the Broncos

Actually I am no football fan. It is 9:30 PST Sunday and the game is all over. I started hoping just a little bit that the Seahawks would win after I saw the Yahoo video of the lady in Seattle getting tickets for the game from her son. That touched my heart, and I am pleased for her, but saddened for everyone that was hoping the Broncos would prevail. I could wear a Broncos jersey if there was no number or "Manning" on it. I have nothing against anyone on the Bronco team. I just like the horse head symbol. It looks cool.

[Bowhunter]

I wear a boonie for two reasons. Keeps the rain off and the sun. With a regular cap my ears and neck get burned. I treat it with water repelant usually but am going to try a Gortex one this year. I carry a fleece lined rain jacket for two reasons it is my warm outerware and rainware. I like to use things for more than one task and try to keep it simple and cut down on the weight.

[mtnmutt]

The cabela's goretex is tempting to get the breathability that my current Cabela's rain jacket lacks.

Since I have gotten sunburned on my face, I carry a French legion style hat for warm sunny days. In summer at the outdoor range, I shoot while wearing it. For hunting, I only wear it if trekking back to the car midday. I am mostly in medium to heavy timber while hunting.

Not sure if the Boonie would be in the way for shooting. My bright red Boonie hat allows you to snap up each side to get either side out of the way for shooting.

[G Posik]

I shoot with my boonie on all the time. So you need not worry about that. Like Bowhunter said keeps the sun off the neck as well as the rain.

Glenn

[Swede]

I shoot with my boonie on all the time. So you need not worry about that. Like Bowhunter said keeps the sun off the neck as well as the rain.

I agree completely. It is easier to shoot a bow while wearing a boonie than a baseball cap.

[>>>---WW---->]

Patricia, you mentioned your French foreign legion hat. This is a little off topic but I'm going to slip this little tip in here anyhow. Hope you don't mind.

This will work for just about any hat or cap. Those legion hats had a piece of material that hung down the back so your neck wouldn't get sun burned. Well, if you sew in a piece of camo netting it will do the same. But if you cut some eye holes in it, when you get in close to game and feel the need for face camo, you just turn the hat around backwards and WA LA! instant camo.

[Z Barebow]

I shoot with my boonie on all the time. So you need not worry about that. Like Bowhunter said keeps the sun off the neck as well as the rain.

Glenn

My choice also. I bought a lightweight boonie hat from Gander or Sportman's. (It was for fly fishing, so it was black under the brim) I found the black seemed to spook critters, so I glued some fleece underneath. It made it customized and it worked in heat or cold. When it is cold, I wear a fleece beanie underneath. It keeps snow from falling down the back of neck as you hunt throw the pine trees. (HUGE benefit).

Worked great until this season. I bailed off a ridge with wind 50-60 mph. Slid through a hell hole of deadfall on a 45 deg slope. About 1/2 way down, I realized my camo hat was gone. I couldn't feel it missing because of beanie). No way was I going to try and backtrack through deadfall/upslope.

I will be duplicating this hat in the off season to give you an indication of how much I liked it.

RE: Brim. I don't like anything touching my string. I pinned it up slightly in the front and I had zero issues.

[mtnmutt]

This will work for just about any hat or cap. Those legion hats had a piece of material that hung down the back so your neck wouldn't get sun burned. Well, if you sew in a piece of camo netting it will do the same. But if you cut some eye holes in it, when you get in close to game and feel the need for face camo, you just turn the hat around backwards and WA LA! instant camo.

Cool tip. I bet I could even fit my camo head/face netting head cover over the hat since my hat is a small. I will try shooting with that combo.

[G Posik]

Except when you have those two red dots on your neck. You would not really be called a "Red Neck"(JK). I have hunted with a boonie got many many years because of a couple of reasons. 1 because you get equal sun/rain protection all a round. 2 when you move your head your profile does not change as much. With a ball cap the bill is only one side and as your turn the profile changes. This is why spec ops wear them.

Glenn

[Ridgernr]

I use a rivers west bucket boonie hat when rain is a problem, It works great and has a fairly big brim to keep rain off my neck, I will also use a LT WT neck gaiter if I get a little chill in the neck.