Looking at getting some sort of hood to reduce sun exposure .Does anyone sell 1mm wetsuit hoods or something similar. Are their any other products that people use i.e. rash shirt with hood etc

Hi Kevin,

I have been wearing a hat that is made by FCS ( avaliable from surfshops ), it is a bucket style hat that sits right down and comes with a chin strap, the beauty of this one ( the only decent one I found ) is that the brim is quite short and stays stiff even when wet which stops its flopping down around your eyes, I must admit that it took a bit of getting used to but it is comfortable and stays on when you come off, if you are learning and looking up at the kite it might be a pain but if you have been kiting for a while it works really well.
Anyway check it out and see how you go,

Cheers

Divo

Kevin,
You could try a motorcycle accessories shop.
Back when I rode I used a silk balaclava, as a helmet liner, for extra warmth.

I have not ridden for some time now but they may make this type of item in different fabrics which would be more "marine friendly'.

An Ebay search for "neoprene" or "Lycra hood" offered up some interesting options.

(searching for just rubber, lycra, or neoprene can be an eye opener )

Scott

What you want is a lycra hood as used for snorkelling and diving. Mirage make them plus a few other brands.

After a career in the NQ sun as a marine biologist, and a nice solar keratosis cut out of my lower lip last year, I go for a "zero sun" on the face policy.

I wear oakley water jackets for the eyes, then a lycra hood over that, and finally a gath helmet on top to keep it all in place and protect the cranium. Nose is really the only thing exposed and that gets a good dose of zinc.

Works OK, but you need to pull the hood down off the mouth when body dragging in order to breathe properly.

Cover up, kite another day......can't progress while lying in bed recovering from skin cancer surgery!

Andy

FCS also make a baseball cap with chin strap. I also has lycra over the ears, so your ears dont get burnt. ($40)

I have been using mine all season and it works brilliantly.

Makes you look like a gumby, like all hats do, when it comes to water sports. It does protect my beautiful, yet still masculine, features though......and that is cool.

I have seen the Indo rashie, makes you look like an uncool version of The Phantom.

a stocking over the head also works well.
there is no blind spot, it offers reasonable sun protection for your entire face/head, it never flops around and doesn't fog up or catch water.

they come in a great range of colours.

and don't forget to take it off after your session especially if you are going to a bank.

Just use the Tshirt you wear.