• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

OutdoorCrunch

  • BASICS
  • PRO TIPS
  • GEAR
    • JACKETS
      • INSULATED JACKETS
        • DOWN JACKETS
        • SYNTHETIC INSULATED JACKETS
      • SHELL JACKETS
        • HARDSHELL JACKETS
        • SOFTSHELL JACKETS
      • SKI JACKETS
      • PARKAS
      • RAIN JACKETS
      • WIND JACKETS
      • FLEECE JACKETS
    • BACKPACKS
    • COOKING
      • BACKPACKING STOVES
      • COOKWARE
    • FOOTWEAR
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Home / Gear / Jackets

StormHood vs DropHood

Last updated: October 31, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

  • This article is revised after Arc'teryx FW24 update. 
  • Don't miss out on REI's current sale - shop now and save on all your outdoor gear needs!
    • https://www.rei.com/h/deals

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: 

NameActivityBreathabilityWeather Res.DurabilityPackabilityReviewPit zips?Two way zipper?Hood?Discontinued?
Alpha FL (Men's - Women's)Climbing4/105/106/1010/10NoNoYes
Alpha SL (Men's - Women's)Climbing3/104/106/109/10NoNoYes
Alpha (aka AR) (Men's - Women's)Climbing8/107/108/104/10ReviewYesNoNo
Alpha SV (Men's - Women's)Climbing8/1010/1010/103/10ReviewYesNoNo
Alpha IS (Men's)Climbing7/105/105/108/10NoYesYes
Beta (Men's - Women's)All Round5/105/104/105/10NoNoNo
Beta LongAll Round5/108/108/103/10ReviewNoNoYes
Beta Coat (Women's)All Round7/105/104/105/10NoYesNo
Beta LT HadronAll Round5/105/104/105/10NoNoYes
Beta LT (Men's - Women's)All Round8/107/108/105/10ReviewYesNoNo
Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's)All Round10/104/104/102/10ReviewYesYesNo
Beta Insulated Coat (Women's)All Round7/104/104/102/10NoYesNo
Beta AR (Men's - Women's)All Round8/108/108/104/10ReviewYesNoNo
Beta AR StormHood (Men's - Women's)All Round8/108/108/104/10ReviewYesNoNo
Beta SV (Men's - Women's)All Round8/1010/109/103/10ReviewYesNoNo
Gamma Lw. (aka SL) (Men's - Women's)All Round7/102/106/105/10ReviewNoNoNo
Gamma (aka LT) (Men's - Women's)All Round7/103/107/103/10ReviewNoNoNo
Gamma MX (Men's - Women's)All Round6/104/108/103/10ReviewNoNoNo
Rush (Men's)Skiing8/109/109/103/10ReviewYesNoNo
Rush Insulated (Men's - Women's)Skiing4/10No dataNo data9/10NoNoNo
Sabre (Men's)Skiing8/108/107/102/10YesNoNo
Sabre SV (Men's)Skiing10/1010/1010/101/10YesYesNo
Sabre Insulated (Men's)Skiing7/10Testing6/10TestingYesNoNo
Macai (Men's)Skiing7/107/106/101/10ReviewYesNoNo
Macai Lightweight (aka LT) (Men's)Skiing7/106/106/102/10YesNoNo
Theriss Down (Women's)Skiing7/106/105/102/10YesNoNo
Sentinel (Women's)Skiing8/107/107/102/10YesNoNo
Sentinel Insulated (Women's)Skiing7/10TestingTestingTestingYesNoNo
Andessa (Women's)Skiing10/10TestingTesting1/10YesNoYes
Andessa Shell (Women's)Skiing5/10TestingTesting3/10NoNoYes
Micon HeatherSkiingNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataYesNoYes
Micon (Men's)SkiingNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataYesNoYes
Cassiar (Men's)Skiing8/107/108/103/10ReviewYesNoYes
Cassiar LT (Men's)Skiing6/106/106/105/10ReviewYesNoYes
Ravenna (Women's)Skiing8/107/108/103/10ReviewYesNoYes
Ravenna LT (Women's)Skiing6/106/106/105/10ReviewYesNoYes
Procline (Men's)SkiingNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataYesNoYes
Shashka Stretch (Women's)SkiingNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataYesNoYes
Sabre AR (Men's)Skiing7/108/107/107/10ReviewYesNoYes
Sentinel AR (Women's)Skiing7/108/107/107/10ReviewYesNoYes
Sabre LT (Men's)Skiing7/108/107/108/10ReviewYesNoYes
Sentinel LT (Women's)Skiing7/108/107/108/10ReviewYesNoYes
Incendia (Women's)Skiing8/109/109/103/10ReviewYesNoYes
Indencia ISSkiingNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataYesNoYes
Squamish (Men's - Women's)Running5/104/107/109/10ReviewNoNoNo
Nodin (Men's - Women's)Running8/105/105/1010/10NoNoNo
Incendo (Men's)Running7/104/105/1010/10ReviewNoNoYes
Incendo Airshell (Women's)RunningNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNoNoNo
Norvan Windshell (Men's - Women's)RunningNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNoNoNo
Norvan LT (Men's - Women's)Running5/105/108/106/10NoNoYes
Norvan SL Ins. (Women's)RunningNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNoNoYes
Cita (Women's)Running7/104/105/1010/10ReviewNoNoYes
Cita SL (Women's)Running7/104/104/1010/10ReviewYesNoYes
Incendo SL (Men's)Running7/104/104/1010/10ReviewNoNoYes
Norvan SL (Men's - Women's)Running7/106/108/108/10ReviewNoNoYes
Trino SL (Men's)Running8/105/107/106/10ReviewNoNoYes
Trino SL Anorak (Women's)Running8/107/108/107/10ReviewNoNoYes
Solano (Women's)Around TownNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataReviewNoNoNo
Venda Anorak (Women's)Around TownNo dataNo dataNo dataNo dataNoNoYes
Zeta FL (Men's - Women's)Hiking4/106/104/106/10NoNoYes
Zeta SL (Men's - Women's)Hiking3/105/104/105/10ReviewNoNoYes
Zeta LT (Men's - Women's)Hiking5/107/108/105/10NoNoYes
Zeta AR (Men's)Hiking7/108/107/104/10YesNoYes


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:

  • Best Arc'teryx Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Best Patagonia Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Best Down Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Best Insulated Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Temperature Ratings of Best Insulated Jackets
  • CLO values: Explained, compared & plotted
  • Ultimate Size Guide to Arc'teryx
  • StormHood vs DropHood

Complete list:

  • All Arc'teryx Shell Jackets sorted by performance
  • All Arc'teryx Ski Jackets sorted by performance
  • All Patagonia Ski Jackets sorted by performance
  • All Patagonia Winter Jackets compared
  • All Patagonia Fleeces compared
  • All Patagonia Rain Jackets compared
  • All Patagonia Down Jackets compared

Synthetic Insulated Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Proton LT
  • Patagonia Nano Air
  • Arc'teryx Atom LT
  • Arc'teryx Atom AR
  • Patagonia Nano Puff
  • Patagonia Micro Puff
  • Arc'teryx Atom SL
  • Arc'teryx Proton FL
  • Arc'teryx Proton Hybrid Hoody
  • Arc'teryx Fission SV
  • Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka
  • Arc'teryx Atom SL Anorak
  • Arc'teryx Kappa

Down Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Cerium LT
  • Arc'teryx Cerium SV
  • Arc'teryx Cerium SL
  • Arc'teryx Thorium AR
  • Patagonia Down Sweater
  • Arc'teryx Firebee AR
  • Arc'teryx Ceres SV

Parkas

  • Arc'teryx Thorsen
  • Arc'teryx Therme
  • Arc'teryx Camosun
  • Arc'teryx Patera
  • Arc'teryx Centrale
  • Patagonia Tres
  • Patagonia Vosque

Shell Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Beta SV
  • Arc'teryx Beta FL
  • Arc'teryx Beta AR
  • Arc'teryx Alpha AR
  • Arc'teryx Alpha SV
  • Arc'teryx Gamma MX
  • Arc'teryx Gamma LT
  • Arc'teryx Gamma SL

Ski Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Rush
  • Arc'teryx Rush IS
  • Arc'teryx Sabre LT
  • Arc'teryx Sabre AR
  • Arc'teryx Cassiar
  • Arc'teryx Sidewinder
  • Arc'teryx Macai

Fleece Jackets

  • Patagonia R1
  • Patagonia R2
  • Patagonia Synchilla
  • Patagonia Better Sweater

Wind Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Solano
  • Arc'teryx Nuclei FL
  • Patagonia Houdini
  • Patagonia Houdini Air
  • Arc'teryx Squamish
  • Arc'teryx Incendo
  • Arc'teryx Norvan SL
  • Arc'teryx Trino SL

Rain Jackets

  • Patagonia Torrentshell
  • Patagonia Torrentshell Insulated
  • Arc'teryx Beta SL Hybrid
  • Arc'teryx Zeta FL

Also see:

  • Arc'teryx vs Patagonia
  • List of Manufacturing Facilities of all Arc'teryx Jackets

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Jackets Tagged With: arcteryx, arcteryx jackets, jackets

Primary Sidebar

Crunch Search

About me

Hey, what's up? Canberk here. I try to approach outdoor gear from a scientific point of view. Here's more about me.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Featured Posts

  • Temperature Ratings of Insulated Jackets
  • Best Arc’teryx Jackets
  • Best Patagonia Jackets
  • Arc’teryx colors: Poll results

window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GDD0YD30SK');

  • BASICS
  • PRO TIPS
  • GEAR
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ABOUT
  • PRIVACY POLICY