I tried it on, I'm willing to be proved wrong, but it seemed like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist, albeit quite a neat one. I'm more concerned that hoods usually need to be readjusted when you remove them from your head then replace them, just in order to get them off, if that makes sense.
If you use a stretch panel at the base of the hood, you can just slip it on and off.
The other thing with the Retract hood, is, that as far as I can see, you need two hands free to use it, though maybe you could operate one side at a time.
I think the pic shows the hood at a normal sort of retraction btw.
Sorry, the spring mechanism on the pre-production jacket I tried briefly, seemed quite strong. The problem is, with pre-production stuff though, is that you don't know quite how it will relate to an off-the-shelf production model.
Thanks Jon. I have emailed them, but have yet to receive a reply.
They said that because mail order companies have to produce catalogues many months in advance, they receive the first stock. Littlewoods online are clearly selling this jacket in all sizes, but with stocks selling fast apparently. I know that this jacket is at least already being sold in Germany as someone from the British Army bought one there.
I'm sure my hood isn't working properly, it just doesn't close that much. Problem is, mine came from Germany too and I've lost the receipt!
It does seem though that you can release one button at a time, but I'm not sure on pulling one cord at a time
I think it is to do with the amount of adjustment available: On a standard hood you just keep pulling the shockcord through the cordlocks until the hood appature is small enough...as long as the cordlocks keep gripping. The Retract system works in the opposite way so it can only tighen by the amount of shockcord it takes to full open the appature. The further apart the internal cordlock and the shockcord exit point the bigger the range of adjustment and then it is down to elastic strength for tightness.
