To hood or not to hood

[nelsonvet]

Is the pilgrim hood worth bothering with or shall i buy a coat.
I am intending to do some fairly big trips though,scottish borders, europe .... the world!

[stevee8]

I'd say you need both. The coat (and thermal beenie & gloves) are great if the weather is chilly and dry but will be of little use if it rains/snows - a not uncommon occurence in the Scottish borders.
The hood, whilst fiddly to fit, does give more protection against the elements.
:thumb:

[David Large]

If you are travelling a long way in reasonable rain at 50mph and above, my experience is that you need a hood to stop the rain build up on the cockpit side of the windscreen. The aerodynamics of a cobra (and other open cars) suck the rain from behind your head and it hits the inside of the screen and that is what will eventually prevent you from driving. You could of course put a second pair of wipers on the inside of the screen!

[nbracken]

As you are planning trips get a hood - you'll need the coat as well - but for long trips its so much better just knwing you have weather gear in the boot ready to use if its really naff conditions. For this reason its also worth getting decent sidescreens.

In 2001 I drove to Le mans and apart from the journey there it pissed it down for about 3 days solid, Having the hood and sidescreens made travelling around while there and the 500 mile journey home bearable.