To Hood, or Not to Hood. That is the Question.

since most of the body's heat loss is through the skull I think I'd pack my hood

 

Yeah, winds are gonna be on it for sure...even with 60 F air, you might want it.

 

its getting close, but when I surfed last week, you definitely still wanted the hood when you got tossed around. If your just mellow cruising, then you can take it off.

Personally, I cant wait to lose the hood for good.

 

Carson get up with me if you should be coming down. You can use my extra hood.(think your the last to wear it anyhow.) I have LAX Games in lower D.E., at the shore, in the morning. I should be getting in the water around 2:30.
So call me and we'll work out the where and when.


IF THE WINDS COME CORRECT! It'll be on like donkycong Saturday!!!

 

I hope to see the ocean again, been on the road for 4 weeks and have 4 more to go. A weekend break would be nice...

 

I haven't been in the water for 4 weeks either, don't feel bad.

 

4/3

I Have Used A 4/3 The Whole Winter. Last Week On The Warmer Day I Did Not Use A Hood And I Was Out For About 4 And Half Hours. So...this Weekend You Will Be Fine. The Problem Is When You Take 4 Or 5 In A Row On The Head. Thats When You Get The Icecream Headache!

 

No Hood!!!

i have been rocking the 3/2 all winter with no hood in jersey and have managed. you be fine with out one but it will suck a bit if you get tumbled after a wipe.

 

Not smart.

From Wikipedia:
"Surfer's Ear is the common name for exostosis (abnormal bone growth) within the ear canal. Over time irritation from cold wind and water cause the bone surrounding the ear canal to develop lumps of new bony growth which constrict the ear canal. The condition is so named due to its prevalence among cold water surfers."

Requires surgery to remove the growths and hear normally again. Wearing a hood helps to prevent it.

 

ear plugs?

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We would like to go hoodless this weekend. I have a tendancy of getting water in my ears though. Will going hoodless with ear plugs suffice?

 

Ear plugs are actually better than a hood. But I like being able to hear my friends talking to me so I prefer the hood. With the plugs you talk loud like an 80 year old who can't hear cause the battery in his hearing aid died. Actually about 10 months of the year our water is cold enough to cause exostosis under frequent exposure, so ear plugs are a good idea any time you're not wearing the hood. However, the frigid water temps in the winter will accelerate the condition. I see alot of people pulling the hood off because it bothers them or they think they're cooler without it, but it's not worth the problems later in life. Some of the guys I surf with who are in the water every chance they can get wear the plugs with the hood. You see a lot more cases of it on the west coast because they can surf just about every day. Our conditions restrict us to surf less regularly and so only people who are more genetically prone to developing exostosis feel the effects. But surfing in the winter increases the chances. The surgery used to require cutting behind the ear to esentially pull the ear away and get to the ear canal to remove the growths. Now some doctors are going in through the ear, less invasive. Doesn't sound like fun to me. In the least, if the water is cold enough to give you that brain freeze, ice cream headache, you should be wearing a hood or plugs. If you are prone to ear infections, then you may want to consider plugs most of the year, but for the average person you probably ok without.

 

Have you guys tried Doc's Proplugs:
http://www.proplugs.com/

These have a liny little whole in them, which allow you to hear better.
I actually ordered some, but have yet to try them out.

 

WHAT??!?!?!....im in jersey too and ive been with a hood all winter

you are crazyyy

 

Look good. Think I might try them. Good for the motorcycle too.

 

thats just ridiculous. i hope everyone in the lineup laughs at you

 

Wait your going for a swim?

 

I've actually used those ear plugs for a long time when i had a hearing problem when i was a kid, they work perfectly i highly recommend them