Back in mid-January I was sitting around the dining table at the Red Mountain Alpine Lodge in Colorado after a long day of backcountry skiing with Primaloft and San Juan Mountain Guides and casually brought up the subject of jacket hoods. Never in my life have I created such an instant and intense conversation about outdoor gear. People all around the table immediately chimed in with loud and passionate opinions, advice, preferences, and stories.
Patrick Ormond, the head guide for the San Juan Mountain Guides who’d been leading my group of skiers that day, was unequivocal about his stance:
“The more hoods, the better,” he said. “Did you see me today? At one point I had five hoods stacked together up on the ridge. When I’m belaying ice climbers, I’ve had eight hoods all stacked on top of each other.”
For Ormond, who finds himself in sub-zero temps all winter long, hoods equal essential warmth.
Former ski racer Colin Suszynski said his approach to hoods was “OCD.” If he’s wearing multiple layers that all have hoods he’ll spend the time to pull them over his head or helmet one at a…
