Outdoor Research Ferrosi Summit Hoody vs. San Juan Hooded Jacket

Can anyone give me some first-hand feedback on the differences between these two? My Ferrosi Summit Hoody is one of my favorite pieces of gear. It has developed a problem, and the Summit Hoody version is discontinued, so they offered me a credit for the original retail price of the jacket. The closest substitute they currently sell is the San Juan jacket. I would consider the regular Ferrosi hoody, but a helmet-compatible hood is one of the features I need most. 

I use the Summit Hoody for all kinds of stuff - rock climbing in every season, resort skiing on warmer bluebird days, backcountry skiing, general winter hiking. I am concerned that the San Juan will be less versatile than what I have now; it appears to be a heavier fabric and has some sort of lining, making me think that it's probably not as breathable as the Ferrosi fabric, but this is pure conjecture.

The issue with my Summit Hoody is annoying but livable. Should I just keep it?

Note: I appreciate all of the inevitable suggestions for a different softshell, but I'm definitely a) keeping my Ferrosi or b) warrantying it for the San Juan. 

I have the San Juan but not your original so can’t compare. However I resort ski, BC ski and ice climb in it when it’s the right jacket for conditions. I love it just like most of my OR kit! 

Mark NH wrote:

I have the San Juan but not your original so can’t compare. However I resort ski, BC ski and ice climb in it when it’s the right jacket for conditions. I love it just like most of my OR kit! 

Does it add any warmth? Or is it just a shell? 

Does the regular Ferrosi hoody not have a helmet-compatible hood?  The one on mine seems to work over a helmet ok.  I am thinking I do not understand this term.

Xam wrote:

Does the regular Ferrosi hoody not have a helmet-compatible hood?  The one on mine seems to work over a helmet ok.  I am thinking I do not understand this term.

Maybe you can fit it over a helmet, but that’s not the same as a real helmet-compatible hood. Also I have a long neck. 

Jared Chrysostom wrote:

Maybe you can fit it over a helmet, but that’s not the same as a real helmet-compatible hood. Also I have a long neck. 

I use my Ferrosi hoody over a Climbing helmet all the time. Works fine for me as well.
Have you tried?

R Bridge wrote:

I use my Ferrosi hoody over a Climbing helmet all the time. Works fine for me as well.
Have you tried?

Yes. They are fundamentally different, or else every outdoor apparel company wouldn't make a distinction between the two. 

My kid has a regular Ferrosi hooded jacket. I'll take some pics of it next to my Summit hoody later today to illustrate. 

Wouldn’t be a MP thread without a derail.

Here’s front and side views of the hoods on the regular Ferrosi hooded jacket and the Summit. The “helmet compatible” hood on the Summit is a good 2” taller, wider, and deeper than the regular Ferrosi hood.

Here’s both of them on my abnormally long neck / dome with a Camp Storm helmet. Does the regular Ferrosi hood physically fit over a helmet? Sure, but it’s stretched tight, and it pulls the shoulders of the jacket up a few inches (see finger position for shoulder location).

Maybe you don’t notice the difference until you have a jacket with a real helmet-compatible hood, but trust me, there’s a difference. 

Sorry about the derail and thanks for clearing it up.  Moosejaw says 'HELMET COMPATIBLE HOOD - A helmet compatible hood will fit over a helmet. Pretty logical. You should be wearing a helmet, so you should be looking for a helmet compatible hood.', which is pretty milktoast so it was nice to get a more detailed explanation. 

Also I have a small head and short neck for my height (6'2) so perhaps I don't notice it as much as others. Small hands and feet as well, but that points to other social issues for me...

R Bridge wrote:

I use my Ferrosi hoody over a Climbing helmet all the time. Works fine for me as well.
Have you tried?

Same here. It's so stretchy and well tailored that I don't even know it's there.

Jared Chrysostom wrote:

Does it add any warmth? Or is it just a shell? 

It’s just a shell. I layer appropriate to the day! Hope that helps.