I was reading some manufacturer copy the other day, and it literally claimed, "It is a myth that heat escapes from our head." They clearly meant to say it is a myth that most heat escapes from our head, but thanks to a lack of proofreading, I was left picturing my skull as some sort of heavily insulated, everlasting furnace.
It got me thinking about that old statistic your mom probably yelled at you while shoving a winter hat on your head. You know the one: "You lose 80 percent of your body heat through your head!"
Let us look at the actual science before you inevitably unlearn it during your next three-minute scroll through Facebook.
Where the Myth Started
The myth originated from an old military study in the 1950s. Researchers put subjects in heavy arctic survival suits but left their heads completely exposed to the freezing cold. Shockingly, the heat escaped from the one place that lacked insulation.
The truth is that heat escapes from whatever part of your body is uncovered. If you are fully bundled up in a winter coat but your feet are bare, that heat is taking the southern route. And as we all know, we do not show off those feet for free.
Why Divers Still Need Hoods
This brings us to scuba diving and why we still force ourselves into tight neoprene hoods. Water robs your body of heat 25 times faster than air. Your head also has a massive amount of blood flow right near the surface of the skin.
If you are rocking a thick wetsuit or a fully sealed breathable drysuit but leave your head bare, your body is going to aggressively vent your core warmth straight into the ocean. You are essentially turning your exposed head into a highly efficient radiator. To stop the heat leak, you need to plug the gaps.
Cap the Heat Leak with Proper Gear
Dive Right In Scuba has a massive selection of exposure gear to keep your entire body, including your premium feet, completely covered and insulated. Here is what you need to look for to lock in your body heat.
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Hoods: We stock everything from 3mm warm-water beanies to 7mm cold-water hoods. Look for specs like double-glued and blind-stitched seams to prevent water seepage, skin-in neoprene face seals to stop cold water flushing, and one-way vented tops to let trapped regulator exhaust escape without letting water in.
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Boots: Keep those feet under wraps. We carry 5mm to 8mm neoprene dive boots featuring heavy-duty vulcanized rubber soles for rocky entries, rugged YKK zippers with interior gussets to minimize water exchange, and molded fin strap cleats to keep your gear locked in place.
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Drysuits: If you are diving locally and want to stop heat loss entirely, check out our premium trilaminate drysuits. These suits are highly breathable and lightweight. They feature replaceable silicone neck and wrist seals to ensure absolutely zero water intrusion while allowing your natural body sweat to escape.
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Gloves: Do not forget your hands. A good pair of 3mm to 5mm Kevlar-reinforced gloves will keep your dexterity high and the freezing water out.
Hopefully, this clears up the great head-heat debate. Cover up your exposed skin, keep your body heat where it belongs, and stay warm out there.