Merino 7mm Zippered Drysuit Hood

This hood is very warm and fits like a glove. The zipper closure makes it easy to don and remove without a struggle. I also appreciate that the material is easy to cut so that you can size the front to fit your face. I'll be sad when summer comes and I can't wear this thick hood. Hopefully they have a 3m option.

Absolutely the warmest hood I've ever tried in 20 years of diving. I tried it out in 48 degree water and couldn't even fell my head get wet. I had to pull it off and look at my hair when I got out just to make sure. After several dives, I have found you can feel a cold trickle if you move a certain way. However, it warms back up almost instantly.

It fits well, after a little trim uncovered my mouth, and it's easy as pie to take on and off with the zipper. The zipper can be a little tricky to get all the way down if you're geared up. But like the other reviewer said, put the hood on first, then gear up and there's no problem.

Only two gripes: First it puts a little pressure on your chin and jaw. It's not an issue with a reg in my mouth or if I keep my mouth shut. However, it does cause some minor jaw cramping if I hold my mouth open, say to breath on the surface with a mask on. The second is just a personal preference. I like my mask strap under my hood and haven't been able to pull that off with this hood. There's not enough stretch to pop your head out the face hole, put your mask on, and pull it back up. Now that I think about it, however, I haven't tried it since trimming it. I can live with it either way.

At any rate, those two are a small price to pay for a warm head and an end to ice cream headaches. I used to have to spend some time acclimating, putting my head under and popping back up a few times until that invisible gremlin quit trying to drive a spike through my forehead. Now, I just jump in and get to work.

Overall, I would highly recommended it for cold water.

Dive it in the 46 degree quarry water and never got cold. Sizing is as described in the description page. although I had trouble getting it zipped without help once I had on my drysuit, BC, etc. Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase.

Mine has a small retroreflective patch on the top, which is a nice feature.

been diving this hood for a while. It's extremely warm. Diving in 52°f my head was warmer than the rest of me in a drysuit with thick undergarments.

I used the measurements listed and ordered an XL for a 24" measurement. The fit is snug, no cold water washing in to the hood at all. The hood has been very warm in temps down to 41 degrees. I would highly recommend this hood. The merino lining is great, very comfortable . As others have noted it is a little difficult to get your mask under the lining around the face due to the 7mm thickness but that is a small inconvienience for how warm this hood is.

I like the merino lining, as it does keep my head warmer, but again I dont like the zipper. With this particular hood I dont like the open cell neoprene surrounding the outside of the hood, as although it does provide a better seal around my face, it is more prone to ripping while adjusting it which i have to do to accomodate my FFM.

Pretty easy to put on and take off. It's also very warm. Just make sure you order the right size. One of my friends didn't, and ended up with a hood that's just too large for his skull. Therefor, water comes and goes out easily, making the already cold ocean to feel even colder

Hood is plenty warm even in sub 50 degree waters. The back zipper makes donning and doffing easier. My only complaint is in the thickness of the neoprene around the face - 7mm is bulky - and it can be difficult to get a mask under it. I've experienced sealing problems with this mask. Not a problem, however, if you're willing to wrestle with it a bit.

As other as said this hood is very warm but I found two details.
If you have a long neck like myself, this hood can be too short exposing a part of your neck to cold water, I use it with my Pinnacle Evo 2 dry suit.
The other detail is that the hood is very tight in the face area and after long dives (more than an hour) you can experiment jaw fatigue.