by BOX » Thu Mar 17, 2022 3:34 pm
I’m an adult learner without the decades of gear experience that others have, so feel free to take this testimonial with a grain of salt/drop of saltwater…
I wear a 2mm Billabong squid lid and I like it. I wear it year-round, but in theory, I could feasibly get away with wearing one wetsuit all year and choosing to put on the hood/lid when I want/need it, vs. having to buy multiple suits and/or having the hood flapping behind me on warmer summer days. I don’t have a huge budget for gear, so this helps out.
I’m a perpetually cold person in and out of the water. I’m freezing right now sitting in my office. I wear a 5/4 with boots and gloves all year round even on the warmer days. I can’t compare to the warmth of a fully hooded suit, but I don't recall having any issues with warmth beyond the initial full head dunk in the water. It’s certainly warmer than going with nothing, IMO, and definitely helps with the wind. I don’t think that little bill is blocking much sun, though.
It has been ripped off my head a few times in rough wipeouts, though. It’s a rare occurrence considering the amount of times I spectacularly wipeout each session, but it does happen. Once I thought I had lost it for good but it apparently floats. Or at least it surfaced a few feet away from me that day and I was luckily able to grab it before it washed away. Other than that, only good experiences. Best of luck in your decision.