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> I'm looking for comments on dry suit hoods: attached vs non-attached, neoprene >vs latex. >eddie-brian@ui*.ed* Depends where and what you are diving. If you frequently bump your head into things and have to replace your hood, a detached hood has merit. For diving in COLD water, I prefer attached hoods. If I never dove colder than 45 or 50 deg F, I wouldn't bother with the hassle of the attached hood. (I also put on my dry gloves below 45-50) Attached vs. separate: I like an attached hood for warmth. When I had a separate hood I used to frequently have a ring of ice water around my neck, not warm. Not a problem with the attached hood. Another advantage to the attached hood is that you can trap air in the hood. Gives you a warm, dead air space around your head. Another advantage is that when you twist yourself into a wierd position and that inevitable gush of water goes down your neck, you get much less and it is already warmed up if it comes from inside your hood. Disadvantages: pushing your head through the neck seal is more of a problem with an attached hood, twice the material to get past. If you have difficulty getting past the neck seal, think twice. Until you figure out how to vent the air bubble from your hood, it can be a real pain when it pulls your mask up, flooding it and deforming your nose. Latex vs neoprene: Neoprene compresses. Down deep, a neoprene hood will lose some of it's insulating value. If you use an attached latex hood with some separate insulator to wear underneath, you can put air in the hood allowing the beanie underneath to expand and regain it's insulating value. The latex hood can be sealed on your skin so that you have a dry head after the dive, but I've seen people injure their ears when it seals too well and the hood material is forced down the ear canal. Negative point on neoprene hood is that like any other neoprene item it can eventually take on "that dive gear smell" and if it is attached to your suit, it is a little harder to wash. Another problem with the latex and beanie, is you can leave the beanie on the boat accidentally. Having said all that, I use Viking with an attached neoprene hood, and will not be likely to switch. I use this suit in the Great Lakes in temps from 34-55F, and the only time my head is cold is right after I get a haircut. My wife dives in a latex hood and beanie. Since she learned to deal with the bubblehead problem described above, she's been happy. Tim Taylor taylor@ru*.ne* Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve web page and 1997 FSUPC Photo Contest winners http://www.rust.net/~taylor -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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