There are some people who simply prefer wearing rain hats to hoods and that’s absolutely fine, you can take your rain hat to wherever you want to go and you don’t have to worry about every fiddling with a hood or be annoyed by it blowing in the wind. One of the problems with that method though is that it is an extra item to carry and also an extra item that you might forget when you’re taking all of your things.
A hood though doesn’t just provide an extra layer of waterproofing when it is raining though, as a lined hood will also act as an extra layer of insulation from the cold which is an added bonus. That layer can be vitally important if you’re in colder climates and it also acts as an extra barrier to the rain. When you’re wearing a rain hat as well, there will be a gap between the hat and the back of your neck, the dramatically increases the chances of rain getting down your back and getting you wet.
If you’re going to buy a fishing jacket and have a rain hat then it’s best to buy one with a foldaway hood as that will always give you the added option of using it if you ever forget your rain hat or if the rain starts getting a little bit too heavy. Even if you never use it, that extra layer of adding that it will provide will give you an extra layer of insulation which will help keep you warm.