cold water hood recommendations?

[tom]

OK, lots of advice available on gloves, but for some reason people don't talk about hoods very much. Surprising given the fact that lots of heat is lost through the head etc etc etc. So here goes.

I'm currently using a standard Otter drysuit hood, which is 5mm (I think) neoprene with some kind of fabric lining. It's getting on a bit, has a hole in it, and the seams are starting to unravel. So I'm probably going to buy a new one for the winter.

I've been happy with the Otter hood so far, so that's what I'm likely to buy again as a replacement, but before I do I wondered if there were any better (warmer) alternatives around I should look at.

It needs to be able to cope with a 20-40min dive in 2-3c water. Any suggestions? (other than don't be so bloody stupid, but that's a given... )

[Gareth Burrows]

Personally I think the trick is in the fit, rather than the brand. I've had a cheap job that fitted beatifully and was lovely and warm, and a couple of expensive mistakes. Everyone's head is different. for example, mine is large and elongated to encompass my excessively large ego and erroneous belief in my own diving knowledge. JAG's head, on the other hand, is very small indeed to stop his hen's-egg sized brain from rattling around.

I wouldn't worry so much about what type of hood you get, just make sure its a perfect fit.

[Paul Oliver]

They also work a lot better if they have horns on them apparently all the best divers have Devil Hoods nowadays

Makes it a lot easier to ID a buddy in crap viz and often gives a warning that you are about to smack your head on some rusty bit of shipwreck

[Brian of Aquanauts]

Originally Posted by Garf

Personally I think the trick is in the fit, rather than the brand. I've had a cheap job that fitted beatifully and was lovely and warm, and a couple of expensive mistakes. Everyone's head is different. for example, mine is large and elongated to encompass my excessively large ego and erroneous belief in my own diving knowledge. JAG's head, on the other hand, is very small indeed to stop his hen's-egg sized brain from rattling around.

I wouldn't worry so much about what type of hood you get, just make sure its a perfect fit.

True!

Waterproof via CPS partnership (TUSA) have started doing a nice line in 7mm hoods with 5mm round the face, very toasty, with two nicely designed vents. Warmest hood i've found so far.

[Andy Kerslake]

Originally Posted by Brian of Aquanauts

True!

Waterproof via CPS partnership (TUSA) have started doing a nice line in 7mm hoods with 5mm round the face, very toasty, with two nicely designed vents. Warmest hood i've found so far.

Surprisingly Wetwear in America make excellent hoods out of G231 Nitrogen Blown neoprene which basically means it does not compress that much. I have used on of these for the last seven years - its getting a bit faded, but it still does the job.

You have to send then all your head measurements and they supply a hood to fit - they cost around 100 USD - expensive but well worth it

[Scuba Monkey]

Originally Posted by Brian of Aquanauts

True!

Waterproof via CPS partnership (TUSA) have started doing a nice line in 7mm hoods with 5mm round the face, very toasty, with two nicely designed vents. Warmest hood i've found so far.

Yep, this is the hood I use too. It's toasty toasty warm and they do a good range of sizes, including extra-extra-tefal-head! The vents are added pose factor too and work well

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Garf

JAG's head, on the other hand, is very small indeed to stop his hen's-egg sized brain from rattling around.

I wouldn't worry so much about what type of hood you get, just make sure its a perfect fit.

Then again, a small brain doesn't convince me to lie about the requirement of a Large catheter, when a doll sized thimble was all that was required

I would agree about the fit though, I've tried a few and my trusty old scubapro is the best by far. I have a 5mm otter that seems to fit very snugly, but I haven't tried it in water yet.

[John Gulliver]

I second the recommendation for Waterproof's hoods. They keep my head warm in our favourite fiord in February/March, when the surface water temp can be as low as minus 1 and the temperature at 30 m plus 2-3.

[Zdu]

I get absolute crunchers of ice-cream head-aches despite trying a variety of hoods. Has anybody tried something like this under there hood at all?? http://www.chillcheater.com/products...0&p=1&pid=1375

[Diving Dude]

Tom, l've got a couple of new spare otter 5mm hoods, you can have one for the price of a beer and an apology for all the nasty agist comments you've made recently.