Neosport 5/3mm Neoprene Scuba Diving Bibbed & Vented Hood

I purchased an entire set of Neosport wetsuit gear to use for surf fishing so I'm going to review all the pieces together for comfort, fit, and function under these conditions. I like to wade out in rough surf when fishing in winter and waders are dangerous because they can fill up.I'm not connected to the company in any way, I just bought the bottoms first, liked them, and decided to go with a matched set.***FIT***Me: I am 5 foot 7 inches tall, and 165 lbs. I wear 30 inch inseam and 30 inch waist in pants, but my chest is 42 inches and I need a 16 1/4 inch shirt for my neck. I've lifted weights off and on for many years so my arms and legs are somewhat large. I need a 9.5 or 10 wide in shoes, depending on the brand and fit.Neoprene 7/5mm Vented Bib Hood: I bought an extra large hood and it fits fine. Just measure your head and use the size guide. The neck fits good as well with no constriction. There is a little gapping at the temples - where your face naturally curves in a bit - but I don't think this can be avoided.Neoprene 5mm Waterman Wetsuit Jacket: I went with a large 5mm for a couple of reasons. (1) I tried a medium in a different brand and the biceps and shoulders were too tight. I know wetsuits are supposed to be pretty snug but this was uncomfortable. (2) I have shoulder problems and am not as flexible as I used to be. I want to be able to take this jacket off and on by myself without a real fight. I'm using this for surf fishing, not diving, so if I get hot I want to remove it and then be able to put it back on if I get cold. It fits well in the leg portion, chest, and shoulders. It is definitely baggy in the stomach area so I wear a belt to keep it snugged up. The arms are a good fit but the wrists are little loose and definitely let water in. Basically, I'm a large in most places but a medium at the waist and wrists. This was the right choice for me because I've put it off and on at the beach several times without a problem. The neck opening will definitely let in a lot of water without a cowl/hood.Neoprene 5mm Waterman John Wetsuit: Medium in 5mm. Fits me great, but I can see that if you are tall - or just long of torso - you might need to order a size up. There's room enough in the crotch and the leg length is good, but the shoulder strap is pretty snug on my chest - but not uncomfortabley so. The ankle cuffs are snug. Waist is a little baggy for my 30" but with a belt it's fine.3mm Neoprene Glove: Medium fit well. I normally wear medium gloves and these fit as expected.Neoprene 7mm Hi Top Zipper Boot: 7mm Hi Top Boots in size 10. I usually wear a 9.5 wide but sometimes need a 10. these didn't specify a width so I went with the 10. They are actually too big and my foot moves around a lot. My feet get cold very easily so I ordered 2mm liner socks and they fit perfect with those.2mm Premium Water Sock: Size 8. Yep, size 8. The reviews are correct, they run big. 8 fits well and works pefectly with my boots.***QUALITY***So far, so good - for all it. I've taken the suit to the beach several times with no issues. I even walk across pavement in my boots and they seem fine. The beach is full of tiny, sharp, shells, and I sit and/or kneel frequently but the knees and elbows look new. I do rinse the whole suit very well with fresh water when I get home and leave everything hanging to dry. I've sweated a few times but no smells at all.***COMFORT***Not bad for what it is. If the fishing is good then I'm moving around a lot, and if it's slow then I'm sitting. No chaffing, blisters, etc. I do wear a long sleeve rash guard and extra long boxer briefs under the suit to protect my skin. My longest time is the suit has been 8 hours - and while I was ready to get out and take a shower, I still felt fine. The hood is the least comfortable. Very hard to eat, drink, or talk with it on over your chin - but it is what it is and wouldn't work if it were looser. I usually pull it down around my neck periodically for a break the put it back when I get too cold.***WARMTH***This is hard to quantify. I live in Florida, but get cold easily. In winter, our water temp can be as low as 55 degrees, but the air temp wil be in the 40s. I was comfortable on a day where the air temp was 42 degrees and the water was 62 degrees until the wind kicked up. 10-15 knot winds made my feet, hands, and face, cold but the rest was okay. I was actually better in the water because it cut the wind out. With the full suit I have 7mm on my head, 10mm on my torso and upper thighs, 5mm on my arms and legs, 3mm on my hands, and 9mm on my feet. With air temp in the 60s I'll wear just the bottoms and a waterproof jacket. I know this sounds ridiculous to northerners but Floridians are very delicate in the cold :-).***FUNCTIONALITY***It works for me. As the name implies, you will get wet - but I don't mind it. I got wet trying waders, dry tops, etc., as well, but then I stayed cold. You don't get soaked either, but water comes in through certain areas and spreads to others. If I go in up to my chest and don't stay too long, only my feet get wet. The large top has enough room for me to cast without a problem. I can cut bait, use snap swivels, and cast my conventional reels, in the 3mm gloves without a problem. I wouldn't be able to knots, though, and I don't use spinning rods. If I get hot, I just go in and let water in to cool off.But there is one advantage that outweighs all the others. The beaches in Florida have people on them all year around. Even in the winter, you'll have people collecting shells, families going for walks, happy Canadians in the water swimmimg like it's August - and there you are three cups of coffee into the day. The bathrooms are 15 minutes away and you have all your gear set up. You can either try to wait for break in the beach traffic (which may never come), or risk offending people (and possible arrest) by just going. Neither of these are good options for a 50 year old man. In the wetsuit, you just go and it rinses away the next time you go in the water. If you think I'm gross - you might be right - but ask any diver and/or surfer - it's just the way it is. I clean my suit when I get home and there are no stains and/or odors.***OVERALL***I'm happy with my decision both to use a wetsuit for fishing and to go with this brand and these models. If anything comes up with quality, etc. I'll update my review.

I bought the 7/5mm version in size Large, because I previously bought the 5/3mm in Large, and I am satisfied with the product's quality and sizing.The reason I purchased the 7/5 item was to have a 2nd hood which would be dry on my second dive in cold water/air temps; I truly don't enjoy putting on a cold wet hood for a second dive while wearing a drysuit...Anyways, I found the 7mm hood, though the same size as the 5mm, fits quite a bit tighter, almost uncomfortably on my first few dives. I know I do not have a overly large melon, as most hats I wear I must tighten up quite a bit. I'm willing to keep it, I believe the hood will stretch out a bit to eventually be comfortable.For the cost, the hood is fine. No frills, zippers, linings; just a thick warm hood.Just be cautious if you wear a size Large, you may want to order the XL, as the 7mm Large is very tight, at least with the product I received.

It’s not the best quality but it’s decent and it’s fairly inexpensive.

Update to my prior post:I ordered out of Leasure Pro as the shipper, it was shipped out and delivered to me quickly.It arrived packaged well and correct size.I highly recommend Leasure Pro as a vendor, I also purchase some steel scuba tanks directly from them, it was on sale, free shipping and arrived in 2 days via Fedex.The hood is an excellent buy for the price, I recommend this brand and will buy again, if you are not sure of your size go one size up to be safe.The first order I made came too small, so I requested a larger size. I ordered 7mm Large and it was out of stock, a week later they shipped it to me. I got it and it was in the box labeled Large 7mm but I got a 5mm Medium.I returned the item and ordered from Leisure Pro as a shipper.Warning if the item is shipped from Amazon, there is a good chance you may get something different.Amazon has been pushing their labor hard and I been buying from them forever and I been noticing quality of their staff picking parts has gone down hill.I recommend this product but not Amazon as shipper for this item.Going forward I will no longer order my scuba equipment from Amazon.

I like this hood and the price is right. I went to the manufacturer's website and looked at the sizing recommendations. As a point of reference, I am 6ft 2in tall, on the thinner side of average and have a larger than average sized head for my height. In oxford shirts (American Sizing) I wear a 16.5 neck because I don't like things too tight on me, but I could probably wear a 16 and be a bit less comfortable. Based on the manufacturer's recommendations and the opinions by some here that this runs a bit small, I got the Extra Large, which turned out to be too big for me. I ordered the large and it fits better. Both actually were fine on my head and face, but the neck was too baggy on the extra large. In fact, I might even be able to go down to the neck on the medium, although I have not tried it, as there is still a little bit of space in the neck for me in the large, but I don't think that my head would be able to go down a size, so I didn't bother trying it out. Just throwing my experience into the mix here to help others pick the right size. From my perspective, if you go to the manufacturer's website and are between sizes, I would order the size down rather than the size up as that is what turned out to be the best for me, but of course YMMV depending on your own head and neck. Cheers!.. and happy diving!

Used for the first time today and was great! Easy to put on and quite comfortable. It was a little 'bulgy' at the top, but I think it will be fine. Didn't get to go far b/c I had west suit issues, so will have to see how it is on a longer swim for comfort and chaffing...but I like the thicker head part and thinner neck part.

The hood is a good value for the money

I bought this hood because I was looking for something to keep my head (mostly forehead) from freezing in my open water swimming. It works perfectly! The low brow on the hood covers all the way to my goggles, and the high chin covers up to my mouth. The rest is open for sight and breathing obviously. Even swimming in 3 degree celsius water (37-38F) doesn't bother me now! I couldn't be happier with the performance, condition upon arrival, and shipping speed (it arrived early).

Bib could be a little longer in the back

Very good fit. Sizing is right. XS for 5foot tall was perfect. Good quality.