32 replies to this topic

[lynnlchan]

After the Belize trip, I've decided I need yet more gear. I'm considering a hooded vest, or a hood and a vest. I'd like to hear (read) the pros and cons. I'm also open to other suggestions. I have a 5/7mm wetsuit, a 5mm wetsuit, a 5/7 mm hood, a 3mm beanie and some other pieces that probably aren't relevant. I should have taken the 5/7 on the trip but only had the 5. I warmed up with a loaner hood (thanks to Cmdr. Clownfish) and a 3mm shorty from the dive shop.

[Greg@ihpil]

After the Belize trip, I've decided I need yet more gear. I'm considering a hooded vest, or a hood and a vest. I'd like to hear (read) the pros and cons. I'm also open to other suggestions. I have a 5/7mm wetsuit, a 5mm wetsuit, a 5/7 mm hood, a 3mm beanie and some other pieces that probably aren't relevant. I should have taken the 5/7 on the trip but only had the 5. I warmed up with a loaner hood (thanks to Cmdr. Clownfish) and a 3mm shorty from the dive shop.

,Lynn.Personally I have a Farmer john 7mm 2 pc & the hood is separate.i don't think there is a right or wrong here.Imo,I would have the hood separate,that way ,should it not be necessary you can remove it.Unless theres something I'm not aware of.I peronally don't care for the heavy duty mm. Rather be in a 3mm shorty ,"THINK WARM THOUGHT'S".I'm gonna try my luck in Lake Michigan this year,"SUMMER"= WARMER.Being a, sorry Tammy,"Landlocked Midwestern'er".Trying to open my option's locally,until $$ can fly me south etc. crossing my fingers on north Carolina Wreck trip..Good Luck with your opinion poll.

Edited by Greg@ihpil, 18 January 2010 - 03:14 PM.

[finGrabber]

it depends on how cold the water is

if it's in the 80's, I use a beanie; if it's lower than that, then I prefer a hooded vest; the hooded vest keeps water off the back of my neck and adds a little more neoprene to my core; I also don't have to worry about water running down my back either;

the down side to either a hood or hooded vest is I can't hear what the dive boat crew is saying to me when I'm climbing up the ladder, with a beanie, it's much easier to pull a side away from the ears

and then there is the whole debate of putting the mask strap under the hood or over the hood

[lynnlchan]

,Lynn.Personally I have a Farmer john 7mm 2 pc & the hood is separate.i don't think there is a right or wrong here.Imo,I would have the hood separate,that way ,should it not be necessary you can remove it.Unless theres something I'm not aware of.I peronally don't care for the heavy duty mm. Rather be in a 3mm shorty ,"THINK WARM THOUGHT'S".I'm gonna try my luck in Lake Michigan this year,"SUMMER"= WARMER.Being a, sorry Tammy,"Landlocked Midwestern'er".Trying to open my option's locally,until $$ can fly me south etc. crossing my fingers on north Carolina Wreck trip..Good Luck with your opinion poll.

I should have mentioned - living in MN I'm fully suited for diving here with a 7mm core warmer for over the 5/7, the 5/7 hood, gloves, full booties, etc. I'm looking for options to warm up on trips to warmer climates. Belize was the first trip I've been on that I had a hard time with the water temp of 78 and the air temp below that and no sunshine to warm up in.

[UP Diver]

Lynn -

Sounds familiar.... I start with a 2/3 mm shortie and pretty much dread going to a full 3mm. I haven't needed to take the 'final step' lately (shortie under the full) to act as core warmer. I too have a hood, but realized that it really limited my field of vision. To look left and right I have to spin my whole body! Although the hood is a 3 or 5mm Hyperstretch, it still, well, is too confining.

For most instances, if I think I am going to chill I go with a beanie (but have a backup Scap in a 3X ugly red paisley color so you always know it is me...). Kimmie is on the money with the advantage of a hood keeping your neck warm, too. For me it is my Opie-style ears, not my neck that chills.

Regarding keeping warm when you are in the air during surface intervals, as you exit pull on the legs of your wetsuit to release any trapped water, then just leave the suit on. A 3,5,7 mm wetsuit is a whole lot of extra insulation, even to you svelte Scandahoovians from the Cities! You might want to check out a dive coat, too (overkill for this guy)!

I do understand your need for layers though. The coldest August I have ever experienced was the one I spent on staff in Detroit Lakes, MN after my sophomore year as undergrad! I get cold thinking about mornings it was 32F in the first week of August! Let's just say I knew I was a LONG way from Texas!

UP Diver

[Jerrymxz]

I like the options approach. I do not own a 7mil wet suit of any flavor. My new Whites fusion dry suite fills that nitch very well. I have a 3mil one piece and a 5mil hooded vest. I wear that combo down to about 68 F then go to the dry suite. if I get warm in the 3mil and 5mil hooded vest combo I can pull the hood down in the back. I can wear my beenie as well for a bit of protection and warmth if I want to. the last piece I have is a .5mil skin. So with combinations of these 4 pieces I am comfortable from 68 to 85 F. I also keep notes in my dive log as to the water temps and what I was wearing and whether I was cold or not.

[Jerrymxz]

The only real advantage I can see to a hooded vest over a hood is it is one less piece of equipment if you want both so its easier to keep up with. I tried a hooded vest first and hated it. A separate hood is hard to get in an out of but a hooded vest seems like its about 5 times harder to me. That made up my mind real quick. Plus you can take a hood off without removing half a wetsuit real easily.

Then again what do I know... apparently I dive naked now

Sorry I forgot the fact that my hooded vest is a hyperstretch type!! makes a huge difference between hyperstretch and straight jacket!!

[ScubaPunk]

I like the hooded vest for the same reasons Kimmie mentioned. It keeps cold water from getting down the back of your suit. Then sometimes a beanie is all you need.

As for the mask strap, I've tried it both ways. When I wear my mask over the hood, there is more of a tendancy to break the seal and get water in my mask. It's no fun if you have to clear your mask several times throughout your dive.

[UP Diver]

The only real advantage I can see to a hooded vest over a hood is it is one less piece of equipment if you want both so its easier to keep up with. I tried a hooded vest first and hated it. A separate hood is hard to get in an out of but a hooded vest seems like its about 5 times harder to me. That made up my mind real quick. Plus you can take a hood off without removing half a wetsuit real easily.

Then again what do I know... apparently I dive naked now

Scott -

I have never been in the true Comando mode diving, but don't try to tell me you have never gotten to the lake and found you are missing your trunks! Being resourceful, you take the fallback position of diving in your underwear. Only when you get out does the realization strike you that an hour drive home in wet undergarments (and NOT dry suit underwear) does the 'comando' mode come into play...

Come on now, fess up!!!

UP Diver

[scubaski]

Belize was the first trip I've been on that I had a hard time with the water temp of 78 and the air temp below that and no sunshine to warm up in.

So water temp this past week 78', what was the air temp??.

I just returned from Aruba water temp 79-80 '. Air 85. Most dives 45 mins. and I was cold end of every dive, Wearing my standard 3mm with beenie. I'm going to try my 5/4/3 this weekend in Rincon. Funny how only 3 or 4 degrees can make a big difference at 83' I'm comfy.

[lynnlchan]

Belize was the first trip I've been on that I had a hard time with the water temp of 78 and the air temp below that and no sunshine to warm up in.

So water temp this past week 78', what was the air temp??.

Air temps started in the low 70s on Sunday warming up slightly each day. On Friday we had full sun and much warmer temps probably mid 80s. The Blue Hole water temp was 73 according to my computer, others registered even cooler.

Great input everyone. Keep it coming.

[Landlocked Dive Nut]

Best advice I can give you is to go to your LDS, and try them all out in the pool! That will tell you which setup works best for you. If your LDS does not let you "try before you buy", then find another LDS!

[Bubble2Bubble]

Scubaski

So water temp this past week 78', what was the air temp??.

I just returned from Aruba water temp 79-80 '.

Really "I'm just saying"

Kimmy those are really good points

the hooded vest keeps water off the back of my neck and adds a little more neoprene to my core; I also don't have to worry about water running down my back either;

the down side to either a hood or hooded vest is I can't hear what the dive boat crew is saying to me when I'm climbing up the ladder, with a beanie, it's much easier to pull a side away from the ears

You can put holes in the hood around your ear area to help solve that problem.

Sandy and Tammy those are good points as well !

Me.... I like having the option to switch to a hood or not wear one.. it all depends... O ya mask over the hood.

I hope this helps Lynn

Edited by Bubble2Bubble, 18 January 2010 - 09:24 PM.