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PSA: Switched from a standard neoprene hood to a crushed neoprene one for a winter job in the Great Lakes.

The water was 38 degrees Fahrenheit and we were down for over an hour. The old hood felt cold and heavy after twenty minutes, but the new one kept my head warm the whole time. It was a bit more money upfront, but not losing heat through my head made the dive plan way easier to stick to. Has anyone else made a specific gear swap that completely changed your cold water tolerance?
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3 Comments
noahjenkins
noahjenkins2mo agoTop Commenter
Yeah, it's wild how one piece of gear can be the weak link. I've seen the same thing with boots, where cold feet ruin everything else. Good gear in the right spot just makes the whole system work.
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the_max
the_max2mo ago
Totally get what you mean about cold feet ruining everything, @noahjenkins. It's like your whole brain just shuts down and focuses on that one freezing spot. I had a cheap pair of socks once that made a whole ski trip miserable, even with a good coat. You're right, it really is all one system.
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black.beth
black.beth2mo agoMost Upvoted
Gloves made the biggest difference for me, hands down.
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