Pinnacle Merino Lined Drysuit Hood anyone tried one ?

[bowtieman427]

Hi, thinking of getting a Pinnacle 7mm Merino Lined Zippered Drysuit Hood. Marketing states it is super warm with the Wool lining. Most dives a are in cold MN water and last time in Superior my head got pretty cold. NEED WARM HOOD : )
Currently use DUI vented hood with warm neck.
Thanks in advance

 

[ae3753]

If you're looking for the warmest hood available, then I recommend the Otter Bay 12mm hood. Custom fit and worth every penny.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/norcal/315528-no-more-cold-hands-feet.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/exposure-suits/216794-otter-bay-12mm-hood-review.html

 

[bowtieman427]

I will check it out. Did you have to add anymore Pb for the 12mm hood vs 7mm : ) ???

 

[oldflounder]

I recently purchased the hood you mention. I like it better than my Henderson 7mm Titanim Hyperstretch. In water below 40 the Henderson gives me an ice cream :icecream:headache so I need to wear a beanie under it. I have used the Pinnacle for the past month on about 5 different dive days. It is a very comfortable fit. Very snug but I don't even feel I have it on. I bought it because it is bibless. I have trouble zipping my wetsuit up with all that bib material under the collar. I don't have any trouble zipping and unzipping the hood. I can exit the water and tear it right off no problem instead of pushing it off to the back of my head [with it on I am deaf so when I get on land it comes off]. Because it is bibless there is a water entry point at the neck. I wear a dive skin and I just pull the neck material up around the bottom of the hood and it seems to work. I wore it on a couple dives this past weekend. I was at 85' with 42* water and was warm as toast on my head. I have not worn it below 40* yet so I can't say for sure that it is any better than the Henderson as to the ice cream headache [but I'll bet it is.] I enjoy it and recommend it. Oh - by the way - the merino lining is only over the ears and sides of the face.

 

[Vampyre]

I got the 7/3 merino hooded vest and I dive wet. The only thing that gets cold on me are my hands and feet and thats at around 80 feet when the waters around 39-40 . Currently dont have merino in thoes 2 areas but will in the next couple of dives. Looking forward to see if the merino in the gloves and boots helps those to areas stay warmer.