Cold Water Hoods? I need a new hood.

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adamp69

Contributor
Messages
120
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Location
carbonear, newfoundland
# of dives
100 - 199
when I bought my first exposure suit, it was kind of a rushed decision. i was doing open water, and the rental suits didnt seem to fit well, so i said the hell with it and bought a bare farmer john style 7mm wetsuit. I have to say the suit fits me great, and i am very warm, even tho the water temp today was 4 degrees celcius. the only weak link is my hood. its a XS Scuba hood. not sure how thick. but the problem is that it has a really straight cut up around the forehead. ice headache every time i get in the water.

Anyway, whats a really good wetsuit hood. I had a fourth element hood on at my LDS, it was awesome, but it was a drysuit hood. no collar. Any Suggestions???
 
I have a Waterproof brand collared hood as well as a hooded vest, and I find them to be really good. Fit [for me] is perfect and the HAVS air venting systems works extremely well. Quality of manufacture is top notch...I just wish they had a wetsuit size that fit me [curse my huge manly chest!].

WP-H13-5HAVS_LG.jpg
 
I like the Waterproof hoods too, but if one will fit under your wet suit, hooded vests are very nice, and reduce the clutter around your neck. I use a Henderson H2 5/3 under my 5mm suit for two hour dives in the cenotes and stay warm, but they also make a 7/3, which should be better for cold water.
 
Adam, my 7mm wetsuit (Oceaner) consists of a full length 7mm suit and a shorty 7mm with a built-in hood. I retired my shorty when I acquired my drysuit but there will be times when I will dive using my full length 7mm and wear my drysuit hood (Whites short collar).
 
The best, warmest hood (drysuit or wetsuit) out there is the Otter Bay hood (aka, "the neoprene helmet).

They are custom made by Cricket at Otter Bay Wetsuits in Monterey. Just be sure to have a reg in your mouth when you get measured.


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Yup. I got one (Otterbay). really nice to have 12mm of neoprene around head. The 12mm is the portion that is the shape of a helmet then thinner neoprene for the neck and face surround. I do kinda wish the neck was a bit thicker as I had a neoprene neck seal for a while that seemed to keep me warmer too.
 
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I'm using two hoods - one on my ice west and one separate, the Scubapro "everflex hood" (5mm). I like the long collar, but it's not easy to get under my wetsuit.
 
Otterbay does all sorts of hoods for wet or dry suits. If you have anything particular I'm sure you could talk with them about it.
 
I second the Otter Bay hoods and I dive Lake Ontario in the winter!
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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