With many different types of hinged truck bed covers to choose from, it's best to asses your needs and see which design suits you best. Some hinged truck bed covers pivot from the front, the back or even in the middle giving for two different access points. Even the material that your truck bed cover is composed of can make for a good or bad experience depending upon your needs. Some hinged truck bed covers are made of fiberglass, which looks better but can be damaged easier. You can however choose to buy a less expensive soft hinged truck bed cover which is much cheaper and easier to repair.
As previously stated the more economic choice is a soft hinged truck bed cover which still protects your cargo from the heavy weather and provide a better economic profile that increases fuel economy. Soft hinged truck bed covers are also light weight and extremely easy to handle.
Hinged truck bed covers provide protection to your cargo and a fast easy access point to that cargo. The type you should pick is what suits you best and how much you want to spend.