No more cold hands & feet !!!

[kathydee]

Look at it this way; it's 2lbs of buoyancy you can add to your head, and 2lbs of ballast to add down low... It's like the secret head-down trim-fixer

Also I doubt anyone needs to tell me to keep my head up anymore

Peter C, TSandM, Camerone, dannobee, limeyx, and hoyden." Now how did your name get into the mix if you do not own one?
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/exposure-suits/216794-otter-bay-12mm-hood-review.html

I'll add in BenV, DocWong, and Don to others that recommend the hood . Have seen it on at least a dozen other local tech divers that swear by it.

1/2 way through the dive I noticed a small air space in the hood. I pushed it to release the trapped air - as the bubbles moved around my scalp, the trapped air felt like warm sauna air - really nice

 

[ligersandtions]

The helmet is great!! My neck is small (much smaller than my head), so I can't get it on without lubing it up somehow. It used to be like a torture device, ripping hairs out and straining my neck just to get the stupid thing on....a little water/conditioner mix and it's great.

Keeps my head so warm....even keeps my head dry most of the time (one of my buddies was so surprised when I pulled the thing off and he saw dry hair! ).

 

[kathydee]

Hmmm. My friends have been telling me for years to do this, and I haven't because my 7/5 fits me well. Maybe I should just pull the trigger. (Although adding two MORE pounds of weight sounds dreadful.) There's not much else I can do -- already in drysuit with Pillsbury Doughboy undergarments, dry gloves, and argon . . .

I'm a bit curious if the added warmth from the new hood will eliminate the need for some of the other insulation? I can check it out in a few weeks.

 

[kathydee]

Glad someone turned you on to keeping your head toasty. That's why I use a dry hood (an even better solution, I think).

Did your previous hood fit you well ?

I was diving the Bare 7/5 zipper tech dry hood before - which fit like a glove, but I was still freezing.

BARE Tech Dry Hood with Zipper

 

[Peter_C]

1/2 way through the dive I noticed a small air space in the hood. I pushed it to release the trapped air - as the bubbles moved around my scalp, the trapped air felt like warm sauna air - really nice

Some people put holes in their hood to let the air out. The Otter Bay does not flex or expand so the size of the air bubble can not get big. I find the air keeps my head warmer, and like you if my ears get a chill I push down on my hood to cover them in warm air

 

[ae3753]

After seeing Kathy's new hood, I think that I need a new one as well. Of all the drysuit expenses, the Otter Bay hood is definitely the best bang for the buck. I always liked how the top of my head was dry afterwards.

I wonder how many of Cricket's customers will now claim they have TMJ...

 

[Thalassamania]

I use the Viking latex dry hood with the plastic dog collar and throwaway neck seal.