Hood or no hood?

[Gab]

Hi all,

I have been reading up on suits since I am wanting to buy a new one. Up until now I have used a shorty surfer wetsuit but it is not adequate. I tend to get cold even in 24 degree water as it is warm only until about half a meter (Mediterranean sea). I usually try to avoid summer vacation season so I go before or after, Cyprus in Sept. was too cold after an hour, Tarragona Spain early April was too cold deeper than 30 cm. The Canary Islands in January was just horribly cold.

I was thinking of getting a 5mm suit, mine is 3mm I think. I also read up on hoods and can't make up my mind. I am just afraid I will overheat if the water is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. Also, if the sea is rough and the visibility not good I get seasick if I get too warm, I just let in some cold water into my current suit, which is harder to do with a hood.

I guess if the water is too warm I can always use my shorty, I'd rather not have to pack it since it does have a certain weight.

I don't do blue water fishing, I mostly fish in reefs/rocks

Thanks,
Gabriel

 

[azapa]

If you don't like cold water, like me, you will need a hood. A lot of heat is lost through the head, the scalp in particular, in the water. It is very easy to cool a too warm hooded wetsuit - just put your fingers in along one of your cheeks and pull open, the cool water will pour in. Don't forget your body temp is 37C, water transfers heat away from the body very well. Even in 30C water you would eventualy die from cold. A good suit will keep you comfortable longer.

I only dive no hood on target dives, and even then all my warmups are with a hooded suit on top of my freedive suit.

 

[Jonny250]

dont forget you can always ask for a thinner hood than the main wetsuit [if you go down the elios route as per your last post]. stopping the flushing is well worthwhile imo.

 

[Gab]

Thanks guys! Yes, I hate cold water, I'm a real girl for that.

That's a good idea for the hood with a different thickness.

 

[Gab]

So, just for info, I ended getting an attached hood for my 5mm and a high neck and detached hood (not the shoulder type) for my 3mm since I use it in warmer water and I may or may not need the hood (I have a tendency to overheat).

Both of these are Elios custom made wetsuits (and so is the detached hood).

 

[Mr. X]

...I'm a real girl for that....

And that's a good thing
Yes, defo hood. No hood - no way
(It would really help if we knew where you dived/conditions though.)

 

[Gab]

(It would really help if we knew where you dived/conditions though.)

The Mediterranean and Atlantic. I tried my 5mm yesterday in 18°C water and I was glad I had the hood, but it still feels hot (it was sunny), I think the 3mm would have been sufficient. I guess the 5mm is for 16°C water.

 

[charlie.]

Google surfers ear eeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr