Designing a raincoat and got stuck on the hood shape.

I was making a waterproof jacket for a friend and had to pick between a big, floppy hood that looks cool but catches wind, or a tight, fitted one that works better. I went with the fitted style using a pattern from a 1970s sailing manual, and it turned out great in the downpour we had yesterday. Which do you think is more important for outdoor gear, good looks or pure function?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_jenny7d ago

Oh man, function wins every time. A hood that flies off in the wind is useless, no matter how cool it looks. That old sailing pattern was a smart call, it's built for real weather. Getting soaked just isn't worth it for style points.

tessa9227d ago

Yeah, the part about the sailing pattern is so true. I read this article about how those old designs have way more stitching and reinforced seams in places that get the most strain. It's not just about the hood shape, the whole thing is cut differently to move with you without catching wind.