I was thinking about getting something to keep my noggin warm this winter, and was tossing up between a helmet or just a hood. I don't really kite near any solid objects like a wharf or reef, and the majority of my kiting is beach breaks with surf (sometimes quite large).

In addition to wanting to keep warm, I have been starting to play around with tricks and have come off badly a few times and slapped the water hard resulting in a bit of hurt for my ears. Suggestions? I would prefer to keep things minimal and just use the hood, but if just neoprene will not solve the ear owie, then I'll look into helmets.

This is what i use, i find it a little hard to get used to at the start of the season as it muffles the sound of the water.
my one has a little cloth part at the bottom which sits under my wetsuit to prevent water getting under.

I USED Ion bennie Two winters and found them to keep me warm , and they do not look half bad aswell

harden the F@#$ up.com would be a good start

Forgetting the cement advice. If ur not cosy its just not fun anymore.
Chilled ears in winter are a huge negative. And its a proven given that heat lose through your head is the greatest chilling factor.
The absolute best advice I have for everyone coming in for wetties is Poly Fleece.
Used on their own when its not cold then used under a wetty when it really chills is, IMO, by far the best way to go.
Like most in WA I kited in the past in a 3/2. But I hate wetsuits with a passion. Cumbersome, incredibly frustrating to get in & out of and restrictive & fun spoiling on the water.
Last 2 x seasons Ive used my year round poly fleece under a 2/2 during winter. This is the cosiest & warmest option Ive ever known. This winter Im planning on a 1.5 super stretch springy with my short sleeved poly fleece and Im thinking this will be even better again.
Poly fleece offers full wind break - unlike lycra which actually chills you once you are out of the water. Its also a stay-dry fabric so when water seeps into your wetty you dont actually feel that body chill till the water is flowing out below your rashie - weird but awesome.
Havent tried them yet but I have sourced a balaclava made of this same material. Will give one of these a go asap & do a review. But my bet is they will solve the heat loss & ear-chill perfectly without all the disadvantages of neoprene hoods.
Should be available in stores for under $20. Bargain.

stop landing on your ear?
move north

Well I ideally would like to land on my feet, but I appear to be top-heavy.

Here U Go - the poly fleece Batman Hoody.
And if you dont have built in chin insulation it can cover there as well - just looks even doorkier.


All that comfort & good look for just 10 bucks -

I am 55 and have been a water baby all my life. 6x extosis ( bone growths in the ear) operations each side i am due for my 7th on the right one. Get a hoody( wear it all the time in snow or cold wind. Get a helmet for winter water sports.
Every time you get them drilled it comes back quicker. And f----k it hurts.
Let alone the pain of not surfing on an indo trip cause u have a bee sting on youre ear drum for 24 hrs or so.

I have also been thinking about something to keep the good old head warm and also my feet. but with those booties does anyone know what its like to use with like feel on the board and grip. or do my feet need to just get a can of harden the F)#k up

I have recently started using booties. It's a weird sensation at first, but you get used to it very quickly (first 15 mins or so).

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Joshuakite said...
I have also been thinking about something to keep the good old head warm and also my feet. but with those booties does anyone know what its like to use with like feel on the board and grip. or do my feet need to just get a can of harden the F)#k up

IMO booties suck most of all. And,unlike hoods, they do nothing much to help overall body temp. I doubt if poly fleece option would be much better? IMO dont even try.
Ive worn hard soled ones before, and will again, when I might have to walk over coral or really sharp rocks but otherwise they are the worst possible option. One tip - if you do have to wear them adjust your straps so your feet are well and truly wedged in. Otherwise you will forever be coming out of your straps & have next to no feeling with your board. Hate them. But I know others who wear them - some year round - so go figure ??
A few (very few) I know wear ripple soled booties whenever going strapless on a SB. They reckon it improves the feel & grip ??? I wouldnt know - perhaps others have an opinion on this one.

I can't feel the board anyway when my feet go numb and white (winter in Vic) so I'm a bootie convert. Seems to help keeping water out of wetsuit leggings as a small bonus.

I HATE booties. However, I have lived in cold places where my feet went numb and I couldn't feel my board. Booties were fine once I dialed them in. What I don't like is that when you surf you can't slide your feet around to make micro adjustments, you almost have to lift your foot off the deck to move them.
That said, I have not lived in those environments for nearly two decades....yay!
I would go the hoodie or beanie though, ear problems suck and cold and wind compounds it exponentially.

booties are cheating when going without straps...
grip is insane, ian alldredge is not a pussy when it come to cold water. he just loves the grip booties give.
bring on winter!!!

^ and that is precisely why I hate surfing with booties. But then I am not a strapless air guy. I have not learned those skills with any degree of proficiency :)