Winter time is upon us, and with each day that passes, our UK seas get colder by the degree. It's time to hang up our summer wetsuit in favour of a thicker winter wetsuit to keep us warm, comfortable and active in the water all year.
You might be asking yourself, what is the best way to stay warm in the water this winter? There are so many winter wetsuits on the market in various designs, so the choice can sometimes be overwhelming! But if you want to stay toasty and take advantage of the quiet, consistent winter swells, a wetsuit hood or a hooded wetsuit is a must!
There is no straight answer when choosing your winter wetsuit, as it all depends on your hardness to the cold, desired flexibility and price range. If you need help deciding, our previous guide, What is the Best Winter Wetsuit to Buy on a Budget, can help.
WHY IS WEARING A HOOD WHEN SURFING IN WINTER IMPORTANT?
You lose a lot of heat from your head, and there’s nothing worse than brain freeze! By wearing a wetsuit hood, you’re protecting your head from the cold and insulating your entire body more efficiently - meaning you can surf for longer!
Whether the wetsuit is hooded or you wear a detachable wetsuit hood, they both work excellently at protecting your head from all wintery water issues. Say you catch a wave, and the lip breaks right onto your head; a wetsuit hood can be the difference between a gnarly wipeout that you recover from and a gnarly wipeout that forces you out of the water with significant brain freeze and muscle tension.
Wetsuit hoods also protect against the dreaded surfer's ear, caused by repeatedly exposing your ears to cold water and wind. The exposure causes a small bony growth to develop within the ear, resulting in pain and hearing loss. However, a wetsuit hood and some surfer's ear plugs protect you from the dreaded surfer's ear.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HOODED WETSUIT AND A WETSUIT HOOD?
The difference between a hooded wetsuit and a wetsuit hood is relatively self-explanatory. Whereas a hooded wetsuit has a hood built into the suit, connected with stitching and tape, a wetsuit hood is a separate piece of kit you put on before slipping into your wetsuit; it is not a part of your winter wetsuit.
But which is better? Well, it truly depends on which you prefer in the water. With each one being different, let’s go into the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself.
PROS AND CONS OF A HOODED WETSUIT
A hooded wetsuit is the better option for the surfer who fears no weather and is ready to chase the winter swells, come snow or shine. This is because they offer more protection from the cold water due to the minimal gaps and seams in the neoprene. The solid suit prevents the majority of the water from being able to seep into the suit and lowers your body temperature, therefore keeping you in the water for longer, even on the coldest days!
Hooded wetsuits are also often composed of much thicker neoprene, ensuring that the core of your body remains warm; however, this can sometimes result in the wetsuit restricting your movement due to the resistance caused by the neoprene.
If you surf regularly during the winter months from November to March, you can’t go wrong with a hooded wetsuit.
Pros Of Hooded | Cons Of Hooded Wetsuits |
Uncompromisable warmth | Higher price range |
Extra protection from thickness | Harder to put on than a regular wetsuit |
Very Durable | Restricted movement |
For more information about the thickness of neoprene that would best suit your requirements, check out our wetsuit thickness guide.
PROS AND CONS OF DETACHABLE WETSUIT HOODS
A detachable wetsuit hood is a fantastic option for all-around use. If the idea of cold water in the darkest parts of winter is enough to put you off grabbing your board when a swell hits the UK coast, investing in an expensive, thick hooded wetsuit might not be the most financially practical option.
However, purchasing a detachable wetsuit hood can be a fantastic alternative for those wanting to dip their toe into the wintery ocean occasionally but are going to avoid jumping in on the regular.
One of the most notable benefits of a detachable wetsuit hood is the versatility that comes with it. You can pair them with any wetsuit of your choice. If you don't appreciate the restriction that comes from a 5/6 mm wetsuit but still want to stay warm and comfortable for as long as possible, you can pair a thicker wetsuit hood with a thinner wetsuit such as a 5/4mm wetsuit like the O'Neill Hyper Freak.
Furthermore, when you buy all of the components to your waterwear separately, you can add thermal rash vests or Neoprene vests with built-in hoods, such as the Xcel Infiniti hooded vest.
One thing worth noting about detachable wetsuit hoods is that they don't offer the same amount of thermal protection as a hooded wetsuit would. This is because there are more areas where cold ocean water can flush through the suit, as the two pieces lay atop each other rather than being connected with stitching and taping.
Pros of detachable surf hoods | Cons of detachable surf hoods |
Versatile and customisable | Less thermal protection |
Offers more movement | It can be tricky to get on and off |
Budget-friendly | Susceptible to wear and tear |
THE BEST HOODED WETSUITS
BEST BUDGET HOODED WETSUIT- THE O'NEILL EPIC
So you have decided that a hooded wetsuit is the best option for you, so let's look at some of the fantastic options available from Wetsuit Centre.
The O'Neill Epic hooded wetsuit is an unparalleled option for purchasing a hooded wetsuit on a budget. This suit offers a range of professional-grade qualities without the professional-grade wetsuit price tag. The suit is constructed of high-quality UltraFlex Neoprene in 6/5/4mm, with a chest entry system and glued and blind stitched seams, as well as a FluidFlex Firewall, which is a thermal chest and back panel inside the suit - ensuring you stay warm in icy water.
BEST PERFORMANCE HOODED WETSUIT- XCEL COMP X 5.5/4.5MM WETSUIT
The Xcel Comp X hooded wetsuit is unparalleled in the combination of warmth and performance. The slightly thinner neoprene allows the wearer a full range of motion while still providing excellent thermal protection. The suit is made from fully Channel Flex neoprene, allowing for the ultimate stretch. It’s also made from Nanoprene Lite Japenese Limestone, which is lighter, softer, warmer - and more sustainable than regular neoprene!
Not sold on either of these two? No worries, we have other suggestions for the 4 Best Winter Wetsuits for Winter Surfing.
THE BEST WETSUIT SURF HOODS
So you don't fancy splashing the cash on a thick hooded winter wetsuit, let's look at some of the best options for detachable wetsuit hoods. Buying a separate regular winter wetsuit and a separate wetsuit hood can offer you more versatility and allow you to use the same wetsuit during the shoulder months of winter, too.
BEST BUDGET WETSUIT HOOD - THE O'NEILL PSYCHO WETSUIT HOOD
The O'Neill Psycho Wetsuit Hood was designed with anatomy in mind and is well shaped to the human head. Created with techno butter firewall neoprene and a smooth skin exterior, this wetsuit hood will keep you warm even in the coldest of waters.
BEST PERFORMANCE WETSUIT HOOD- XCEL DRYLOCK 3MM WETSUIT HOOD
The Xcel Drylock 3mm Adults Wetsuit Hood offers the best on the market wetsuit hood, and its engineered design and quality will keep you in the water for hours on end this winter without any 'ice cream headaches. The Drylock hood is constructed with glued and blind stitches and taped seams to ensure warmth and less water leakage. The Smoothskin seal and cinch keep you comfortable in the water.
BEST HOODED WETSUIT VEST - THE XCEL INFINITI 1MM HOODED VEST
Designed to be worn under your winter wetsuit, the Xcel Infiniti Wetsuit Hood offers excellent rebound thermal lining, which retains your body heat for longer. Due to the wetsuit vest, it does a fantastic job of preventing flush-throughs of cold water.
Hopefully, we have been able to help you decide whether you require a wetsuit hood or a hooded wetsuit for the autumn and winter swell this year. If you need more advice, feel free to contact us today - our team of friendly surfers will be more than happy to help!