Wetsuit Hood Guide
I am sure you have all heard that you lose most heat through your head. Heat loss occurs through any exposed skin, and even more so if you are wet and it’s windy. The benefits of wearing a wetsuit hood are easy to notice when you try one. When you duck dive and push through waves head first, the water passes over your body with no water flushing down the neck of your suit. Your ears are covered and protected from the cold winds and water.
Which Wetsuit Hood Should I choose
There is some variation between the hoods, materials used, linings and the thickness of the neoprene.
This guide starts with the lightweight Axis Cap, designed to take the chill away and continues through to the warmest Drylock hood, which is highly wind resistant and has a thick insulating lining to combat the coldest of waters. Xcel also offers hooded vests, which increase the warmth or thickness of your wetsuits.
Should the wetsuit hood go in or outside of the wetsuit collar?
This is a personal preference, although we would suggest putting your hood on the outside. Your wetsuit is designed to fit and create a seal around your neck. If you tuck the collar inside, you may stretch your wetsuit collar. The hooded vests have an additional flap with folds over the outside of your wetsuit collar.
2mm Axis Surf Cap
The Axis cap is designed to remove the chill on a cold or windy day. It is 2mm thick and has a basic lining. A chin strap with a pull toggle for tightness keeps the hood secure, and there is no cover for your neck. A small peak is ideal for keeping the sun and spray out of your eyes. Overall, the Axis cap will be an excellent, cost-effective choice for a surfer looking to protect their ears from cold winds while retaining some body heat.
2mm Axis Hood
The Axis hood is our most cost-effective basic full hood. It is made of 2mm thick neoprene, which is lightweight, very comfortable, stretchy, and easy to put on or take off. It is ideal for beating the chill in the winter, although without a technical lining, it will not offer the same insulating properties as some of the more high-end hoods.
2mm Infiniti Hood
The Infiniti’s Channel Flex exterior is a lightweight, hydrophobic gridded material that breaks up tension by reducing fibre and water weight. Inside, you will find a Radiant lining, a high pile cosey material offering excellent insulation. Radiant also utilizes a metal lining under the textile that blocks cold temperatures from penetrating the outer layer and reflects heat generated within the wetsuit back towards the body.
The Infiniti Hood will have no problem keeping you warm in cold waters and wind.
3mm Drylock Wetsuit Hood
Any product in the Xcel range that carries the Drylok name is designed to combat the most extreme cold water conditions. This hood is an extra millimetre thicker than the other hoods in the range, and its exterior is a smooth-skin neoprene material with superior wind-blocking properties. On the inside, you will find a Celliant lining high pile interior. Not only does it create thermo warmth from within, but it also retains the heat generated to create unmatched warmth for the most extreme climates.
This hood may be a little heavier than the others, but you don’t get warmer!
INSULATE-X Thermal Hooded Vest
The hood itself is very similar to the Axis Hood, with the addition of a thermal lining in the side panels that is comfortable and protective for your ears. The vest has a waffle texture that forms small air pockets that trap air for better insulation, making it one of our warmest base layers.
The hood will keep your head warm, and the additional waffle layer will increase the warmth your wetsuit provides.
Infiniti Hooded Vest
Can I wear a 4/3 wetsuit all year round? Yes, you can, by adding boots, gloves, and a hood.
The hood is similar to the Infiniti hood, with the addition of some wind-blocking smooth skin side panels. Attached to the hood is a 1mm neoprene vest with a thermal lining that will increase the thickness of your wetsuit.
By wearing this hooded vest beneath your 4/3 wetsuit, you upgrade your suit to a 5/3 thickness.
