A hooded jacket is an essential in the UK with the constant rainy weather, however, as a hooded coat-hater I’ve found an alternative with a £16 waterproof detachable hood
As someone who lives in the UK where the weather is grey, rainy and windy 95% of the time, I probably should own a coat with a hood. However, my issue is that I can’t stand them, I’ve never managed to find one that actually looks good on me. And it would be the sensible thing to just bite the bullet and purchase a practical coat over a stylish one, but I’m not going to.
Instead, I’ve found another solution – a detachable waterproof hood. Knitted hoods and balaclavas have been on the rise recently, with 100s of trendy fashion girls sporting the cosy accesory. My issue with these is the material. They’re often woolly and knitted, which really isn’t going to protect anything from a shower or downpour. So I have turned my searches elsewhere, and luckily Amazon has exactly what I needed.
Amazon have tons of stand-alone puffer hoods available, with many under £10. I opted for the LA HUATE Winter Warm Down Hooded Scarf Hat, £16.99.
What made me go for this one in particular was the button fastening so I can ensure my neck is fully covered, as well as the tie detail, which I thought added a stylish touch to the practical item. I also liked the idea of almost a cap/hood hyrid. This design feature ensures my head and face is fully protected from the rain.
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Pros
- Kept my head/face/hair totally dry in the rain
- Warm, and keeps ears especially warm
- Can be worn under any coat or jacket you already own
Cons
- Blocks out sound pretty well so could be dangerous when crossing roads/skiing
- Ideal for UK weather, but I don’t think it would warm enough for ski trips or minus temperatures as advertised
LA HUATE Winter Warm Down Hooded Scarf Hat review
What inspired to make this purchase was actually a Uniqlo’s puffer hood I stumbled across in store maybe a year or two ago, and have been thinking about ever since. They don’t appear to sell them anymore, which I why I turned to Amazon.
When I’m working from home, I tend to go our for a morning work before starting for the day, and considering the chilly and rainy weather we’ve had this week, I thought it would be the perfect chance to try out my new hood. Upon first impressions, I was actually really pleasantly suprised with how warm and snug it kept my head. I figured considering the price is pretty affordable, it wasn’t likely to be warm, but I was wrong.
Not only that, but when I got caught in a flash downpour, the waterproof hood managed to keep my hair completely dry and protected.
My only criticism would be that the button fastenings around the neck are very snug. Although this does help retain heat, it can feel a bit restrictive after a while. And if you’ve got a thicker neck or larger head, they may not be able to fasten.
However, considering the affordability, I actually think this hood is well worth it. The main positive for me is the ability to wear it under any of my coats. It blended in seamlessky with my black puffer coat, looking like it was already a part of the coat. But I also love the choice to wear it under my more formal coats when I’m heading out for dinner or to the office in the rain and want to remain dry.
An alternative I would also definitely invest in is COS’ Padded Hybrid Hooded Scarf, £65. Falling somewhere between a hood and scarf, this hybrid accessory looks so chic and will keep you warm and dry all winter long.