Description
IST HDN0130 Hood
To ensure optimum stretch and durability, the IST HDN0130 Hood features a blend of neoprene gauge sections. For the face seal, it is lined with smooth skin to restrict water movement. While the jaw/throat area is designed to flex, thereby accommodating variations in head profiles between divers. And to prevent unwanted pressure or bubbling, the top panel is double layered. This creates a vent, which is effective in allowing air or water to escape the hood easily.
1. Should I invest in a dive hood?
We can lose a significant amount of body heat from our heads. This is why it is important to protect your head when you are out in colder conditions. You can greatly increase the thermal effectiveness of your wetsuit if you wear a hood, gloves and boots. This will make diving in cooler waters much more pleasant and will prevent you from getting cold whilst you are in the water. You can also get sudden pains in your head when you immerse yourself in very cold water. A hood will protect your head against any sudden shocks from the cold.
2. Can dive hoods protect my ears whilst I am diving?
People who dive regularly can suffer from problems with their ears. This is mainly caused by exposure to cold conditions both in and out of the water. There are several key symptoms that can reveal that diving could be causing you ear problems. These include an increased vulnerability to ear infections, ear ache and a loss of hearing. To help prevent problems with your ears when you are diving you can wear a diving hood. This will protect your ears from getting filled with cold water and will also reduce wind chill when you are on the surface.
3. How do you choose the right dive hood?
Dive hoods are mostly made from neoprene. This is available in different mixes and if you want to be able to move your head around easily then you should opt for the stretchy 60% or 100% super stretch neoprene. You should try hoods on with your wetsuit and mask to ensure that all your equipment fits together well before you get in the water. The wetsuit should fit quite tightly to your face to prevent water from leaking in but not so tight that it cuts into your skin. Make sure you can move your head around and your jaw up and down. Some wetsuit hoods are very tight around the jaw and this can be uncomfortable after a while and could make breathing more difficult.
