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Model Tested:
Skull & crossbones model, size M.
Testing Conditions:
We gave the new surf hood alternative, the neoprene
Surf Beanie
(retail $21.95), a few test drives recently in our cold Northern
California winter
waves. On a chilly, rainy Santa Cruz day at Hook and
a semi-thumping day at Manresa, we loved how very comfortable, soft
and snug the Beanie
was
—
you hardly knew you had it on. Unlike old-school wetsuit
hoods, it was nice to be free of restrictive chin straps,
the downward pressures on your head, face-squishing cut-outs,
view-obstructing brims, and hood designs that might impinge your
hearing. Made with four-way, superstretchy 0.5 mil neoprene, the
Surf Beanie felt really natural to wear -- especially if you
were former swimcap-wearing competitive swimmers like us. The
simple, but smart lightweight design regulated our body warmth
nicely both in the water and on land. For more warmth and protection
(especially from winter rain), you can simply pull the Surf
Beanie further down over your ears, while getting added security
for keeping your earplugs in.
Speaking
of security, the Surf Beanie stayed on our heads pretty well in
frequent beach break duck-diving. However, as we experienced,
it can occasionally pop off during a large wipeout, especially
if your hair is dry underneath. For those of you who don't have
the "cover-your-head" reflex built-in during wipeouts, wearing this
Beanie will perhaps finally reinforce that hand-to-head habit,
as you will initially be more conscious of not losing the
Beanie. The Beanie does come with a short leash with a small keyring
for clipping onto your wetsuit zipper, making it very easy for
pulling the Beanie on or off while in the water or on land.
Safety-wise, when off your head, the Beanie practically lies
flat -- a nice bonus for big wave surfers who don't like the
liability of having a molded "bucket" hanging on the back of
their necks that could catch heavy breaking water,
which in some cases, have held surfers down or rendered them
immobile -- a dangerous, near-drowning situation.
Our Assessment:
Overall, the Surf Beanie is an appealing, hipper, new-school
step above regular hoods and perhaps it may become standard attire in
the lineup. Surf Beanie designer Curt Miller tells us that a number of
big wave jet-ski drivers, surf rescue teams, kiteboarders, and
snowboarders are starting to wear the product solo, as well as
even under their helmets. Our only suggested improvements for
Curt? Perhaps consider adding rubberized gripper teeth on
the band (like swim caps) for added security, and provide a more
detailed fitting guide. While the medium-sized beanie fit us
well, we'd like to test-drive a size small to see the
difference.
Lastly, while the
Surf Beanie initially elicited some chuckles from my
surfer-girlfriend, she and many of our friends all now want
their own beanie after testing it out. As they say, 30% or more
of your body heat can be lost through your head, the Beanie is
worthy addition to your winter surf gear arsenal. Plus, at $21.95,
it's a better deal than most regular surf hoods.
For more
product information, see
www.surfbeanie.com
Styles:
The beanie
is available in plain black or with a skull & bones logo.
Price:
$21.95
Warranty:
All AirBags come with a 5-year warranty on workmanship and a 1- year
material warranty.
Availability:
The Surf Beanie is available
online at
www.surfbeanie.com For
dealer inquiries, contact Curt Miller
here.
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