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The difference between StormHood and DropHood is that with the DropHood the hood is separated from the collar, whereas with the StormHood the hood and collar are sewn and move together.
90+% of Arc'teryx jackets are equipped with StormHood.
Summary
The consensus with StormHood vs DropHood is that the DropHood is more comfortable than the StormHood when the hood is down and vice versa.
One is not better or worse than the other.
They simply have different best uses and different people like different hoods, which is why they manufacture both.
The best way to settle this is obviously to go ahead and try each of them on. But if you can't do it for some reason, then follow this advice.
Pros of StormHood:
- Higher comfort when using the hood
- Better coverage of your head
- Simple design and lighter weight due to leaner nature
Pros of DropHood:
- Higher comfort when not using the hood
- More protection with the hood down
- Makes up a better mechanical ventilation during high output activities
Most people get their hardshells with a StormHood because most people use their hardshells when it's really inclement.
StormHood vs DropHood: Arc'teryx jackets breakdown
Here's a list of the Arc'teryx shells with/without these hoods:
| Name | Activity | Review | Breathability | Weather Res. | Durability | Packability | Pit zips? | Two way zipper? | Hood? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha FL (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | 4/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 10/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Alpha SL (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | 3/10 | 4/10 | 6/10 | 9/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Alpha AR (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | Review | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 4/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Alpha SV (Men's - Women's) | Climbing | Review | 8/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Alpha IS (Men's) | Climbing | 7/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | No | Yes | StormHood | |
| Beta (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 5/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Beta Long (Men's) | All Round | Review | 5/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | No | No | StormHood |
| Beta Coat (Women's) | All Round | 7/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | No | Yes | StormHood | |
| Beta LT Hadron (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 5/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Beta LT (Men's - Women's) | All Round | Review | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 10/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 2/10 | Yes | Yes | StormHood | |
| Beta Insulated Coat (Women's) | All Round | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 2/10 | No | Yes | StormHood | |
| Beta AR (Men's - Women's) | All Round | Review | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 4/10 | Yes | No | DropHood |
| Beta SV (Men's - Women's) | All Round | Review | 8/10 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Alpine Guide (Men's - Women's) | All Round | 8/10 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Gamma SL (Men's - Women's) | All Round | Review | 7/10 | 2/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | No | No | StormHood |
| Gamma LT (Men's) | All Round | Review | 7/10 | 3/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | No | No | StormHood |
| Gamma MX (Men's - Women's) | All Round | Review | 6/10 | 4/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | No | No | StormHood |
| Rush (Men's - Women's) | Skiing | Review | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Sabre (Men's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 2/10 | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Sentinel (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 2/10 | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Macai (Men's) | Skiing | Review | 10/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 1/10 | Yes | No | DropHood |
| Macai LT (Men's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 1/10 | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Andessa (Women's) | Skiing | 10/10 | Testing | Testing | 1/10 | Yes | No | DropHood | |
| Andessa Shell (Women's) | Skiing | 5/10 | Testing | Testing | 3/10 | No | No | DropHood | |
| Theriss Down (Women's) | Skiing | 8/10 | 6/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Rush IS (Women's) | Skiing | 5/10 | Testing | Testing | 9/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Sentinel IS (Women's) | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Ski Guide (Men's - Women's) | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | DropHood | |
| Micon Heather | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Micon (Men's) | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Cassiar (Men's) | Skiing | Review | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | DropHood |
| Cassiar LT (Men's) | Skiing | Review | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Yes | No | DropHood |
| Ravenna (Women's) | Skiing | Review | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | DropHood |
| Ravenna LT (Women's) | Skiing | Review | 6/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | Yes | No | DropHood |
| Procline (Men's) | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Shashka Stretch (Women's) | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Sabre AR (Men's) | Skiing | Review | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Sentinel AR (Women's) | Skiing | Review | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Sabre LT (Men's) | Skiing | Review | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Sentinel LT (Women's) | Skiing | Review | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Incendia (Women's) | Skiing | Review | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 3/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
| Indencia IS | Skiing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | Yes | No | StormHood | |
| Norvan LT (Men's - Women's) | Running | 5/10 | 5/10 | 8/10 | 6/10 | No | No | Standard | |
| Squamish (Men's - Women's) | Running | Review | 5/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | No | No | StormHood |
| Norvan SL Ins. (Women's) | Running | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | No | No | Standard | |
| Cita (Women's) | Running | Review | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | No | No | Standard |
| Cita SL (Women's) | Running | Review | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | Yes | No | Standard |
| Incendo (Men's) | Running | Review | 7/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | No | No | Standard |
| Incendo SL (Men's) | Running | Review | 7/10 | 4/10 | 4/10 | 10/10 | No | No | Standard |
| Incendo Airshell | Running | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | No | No | Standard | |
| Norvan SL (Men's - Women's) | Running | Review | 7/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | No | No | Standard |
| Trino SL (Men's) | Running | Review | 8/10 | 5/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | No | No | Standard |
| Trino SL Anorak (Women's) | Running | Review | 8/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | No | No | Standard |
| Nodin (Men's - Women's) | Running | 8/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 10/10 | No | No | Standard | |
| Solano (Men's - Women's) | Around Town | Review | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | No | No | Standard |
| Venda Anorak (Women's) | Around Town | Testing | Testing | Testing | Testing | No | No | Standard | |
| Zeta FL (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | 4/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 6/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Zeta SL (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | Review | 3/10 | 5/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | No | No | StormHood |
| Zeta LT (Men's - Women's) | Hiking | 5/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 | No | No | StormHood | |
| Zeta AR (Men's) | Hiking | 7/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 4/10 | Yes | No | StormHood |
Are StormHoods uncomfortable when skiing?
I felt like answering this because I started to see it more often. I don't agree with StormHood coming uncomfortable when skiing or snowboarding, and I honestly never saw anyone having any problems with it.
From what I can see, the usual complaint around this is StormHood getting in the way of your eyesight. But since you'll have goggles most of the time, this doesn't become an issue.
The only scenario where I can imagine this being a problem is when the person wearing the StormHood doesn't do any adjustment at all by tightening any of the cords.
What about helmet compatibility?
Both are helmet compatible and both are very comfortable with the helmet. When wearing a helmet, the DropHood again gives a bit more coverage around your neck when the hood is down.
So I recommend disregarding helmet compatibility in this regard.
I hope this post was helpful for you to learn more about the jacket(s) in your mind.
Feel free to ask me any questions or provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below.
Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets
Start here:
Complete list:
Also see:
Thank you for reading!