Sharkskin Hood Review
Last updated: July 2024
- Comfort-first fit: Soft stretch material sits smoothly for warm water dives
- Lightweight coverage: Keeps ears and neck protected without bulk
- Missing crown vent: Traps air and creates a cone head profile
- DIY fix required: Needed a hand-sewn vent to function properly
- Brand trust concerns: Prior product issues keep Sharkskin off my buy-again list
Overall Score: 6.1 / 10 (Acceptable)
The Sharkskin Hood offers a comfortable fit for warm water diving, but a missing crown vent and poor brand support make it a disappointing product I wouldn’t buy again.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfortable and well-designed fit | No vent on crown traps air and creates a cone head |
| Ideal for warm water dives | Brand has lost my trust |
| Required DIY modification to fix flaw |
Why I Chose the Sharkskin Hood
This was an easy choice when I wanted a lightweight hood for warm water diving that still offered full coverage. The fit is excellent, and the overall comfort level is high, with no tugging or restriction. It was the right tool for the job.
However, after my experience with the Sharkskin Titanium suit and poor customer service, I no longer support the brand and would not purchase Sharkskin products again.
Verdict
The Sharkskin Hood is comfortable and functional once modified, but the missing crown vent is a serious oversight. Combined with my loss of trust in the brand, I would not purchase this hood again.
Would I buy it again? No, due to both the design flaw and lack of brand support.
Who the Sharkskin Hood Is Best For
This item is best suited for:
- Warm water divers who want a soft, comfortable hood
- People willing to modify gear to correct manufacturing oversights
- Divers who need lightweight coverage without bulk
It may not be ideal for:
- Divers who expect vented hoods to work out of the box
- Anyone concerned about Sharkskin's product support or quality control
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
| Category | Score | Raw Score | Weight | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Function & Performance | Fair | 6.0 | 30% | 1.80 |
| Ease of Use | Good | 7.5 | 20% | 1.50 |
| Versatility | Fair | 6.5 | 15% | 0.98 |
| Durability & Build Quality | Good | 7.5 | 15% | 1.13 |
| Value | Good | 7.0 | 10% | 0.70 |
| Brand Trust & Transparency | Weak | 0.0 | 10% | 0.00 |
| Total | 6.10 / 10 | |||
Rounded Display Score: 6.1 / 10 — Acceptable
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance – 6.0: Missing crown vent causes air to pool and deform the top of the hood into a visible cone shape.
- Ease of Use – 7.5: Comfortable and easy to get on and off.
- Versatility – 6.5: Useful only in warm water settings; not suitable for layering or cold dives.
- Durability & Build Quality – 7.5: Build seems solid, but the design flaw undermines performance.
- Value – 7.0: Decent materials, but not worth the price when a basic vent is missing.
- Brand Trust & Transparency – 0.0: Ongoing issues with product quality and customer support.
Performance in the Water
The hood performs reasonably well for warm water dives, but it has a significant design flaw: it lacks a vent on the crown of the head. This causes air to become trapped inside the hood while diving, creating a noticeable cone head effect. My wife had to sew a buttonhole into the top of the hood to allow air to escape. A product at this price point should not require DIY fixes to be usable.