Neoprene hoodie review. 9 Beaufort Intense 3mm hoodie gold

At the beginning of April it was freezing cold at the sea with a northeast wind and about 5 degrees. It was already cold at home, let alone at the sea. Still, we were looking forward to a nice kitesurfing session. No sooner said than done. We went to kitesurf spot Ouddorp with a slanting onshore wind and an excellent winter spot with northeasterly winds. It was a good day for testing the new Intense Gold wetsuit hoodie from 9 Beaufort (9 Bft)† It was cold enough for that. Check out this neoprene hoodie review. We'll start with some background on isolation and how layering works.

Cold or not?

I'm not going to act tough, but I think I can say that I don't get cold easily. Of course I also wear shoes in the winter. I don't believe you can do without it once the water temperature drops below 10 degrees. This is often the beginning December† But with gloves you never see me on the water. A neoprene hat has been used recently but I don't like it when my hearing is limited. That's why I only wear the hat when it's calm on the water. I would have to wear special earplugs, especially in the cold months to reduce the risk of a surfer's ear to counteract. A neoprene jacket previously seemed cumbersome to me. It now belongs to my regular kitesurfing equipment for kitesurfing on the coldest days of the days.

Best insulation kite surfers

3 layers system for outdoor athletes

Outdoor athletes know all about this and the 3-layer system is still popular. It goes like this. The base layer wicks away moisture and keeps the skin as dry as possible. The intermediate layer ensures subsequent transport of the moisture to the outside and insulation. The intermediate layer should be a stationary layer with air around the body that becomes warm and thus gives a comfortable feeling. The outer layer protects against weather, wind and the cold. For example, against the harsh reality of radiation cold, the so-called wind chill factor that de wind chill indicates based on wind force and temperature.  

Layers system kite surfers

Where we used to go out on the water with double wetsuits in the cold to create extra layers and therefore insulation, this is no longer of this time. The best wetsuits these days are so good that they can be considered as a kind of hybrid undergarment and wetsuit in one. Due to the combination of a lining and different types high quality material The best wetsuits are made up of a combination of layers. A lining can be recognized by a fleece on the inside. This is meant to keep your body nice and warm.

The best wetsuits nowadays are so good that they can be regarded as a kind of hybrid underwear and wetsuit in one.

Neoprene hoodie works 100%

As mentioned, I tested the new Intense hoodie from 9 BFT. This is a 3mm wetsuit hoodie that is worn over a wetsuit. It works 100%. On the coldest days, a jacket over your wetsuit makes your session a lot more pleasant. Normally I feel the radiation cold on my wetsuit on cold days. The outside of the wetsuit is therefore ice cold. With this sweater over your wetsuit you still have an extra layer so that the layer between the wetsuit and the sweater feels warmer. You only feel this well when you take off the sweater. Then it immediately feels a lot colder on the chest and around the neck.

Neoprene hoodie review: 9 BFT Intense 3mm

These are my findings of the 9 BFT Intense neoprene hoodie:

• The extra layer immediately feels wonderfully warm and comfortable. The radiation cold described above is much less. The Intense also has some sort of fur on the inside. 9 BFT calls it a 'heat sheald' that provides extra insulation.
• It is a 3mm thick neoprene hoodie that is even more flexible than its predecessor. There is a lot of stretch in the fabric so that it fits well but does not feel or feel constricting. Contrary to what I expected, the jacket has minimal freedom of movement.
• Because there is so much stretch in the fabric, putting on and taking off the neoprene hoodie went fine. No fiddling. I have a whole ritual with my waist harness to prevent it from sliding up during a session: wet at home, put it on at the car, tighten it again before the kite takes off, etc. In my case, the neoprene hoodie has to go out on the beach. However, this went well and again says something about how much stretch the hoodie has.
• With my 1.88 meters tall and weight of about 85 kilos, I tested size L. This one was cast. Even with a few extra pounds or with my thin impact vest underneath, an L would still fit well.
• The neoprene hoodie has a not too high collar. That's nice because your chin doesn't rub against the collar. This so-called 'gold' version also has a hood with holes in it for drainage.
• The drawstrings of the hood are long and can of course be shortened as desired. My approach was not to use my neoprene hat and to use the hoodie of the wetsuit sweater instead. As can be seen in the video, this was not a success. For that, 9 BFT could learn something from technical outdoor sports jackets. These have more adjustment options of the hood which would make the neoprene hoodie perfect in my opinion.
• I think the further finish of the neoprene hoodie is very good. The 'gold' version is finished with golden details and reflective parts.
• There is also a version in bright orange. You fall within the scope of visibility and findability in an emergency even better on. Of course, you should not assume that such a jacket will save you in the event of a problem. That is false safety. Still, it is good to stand out even more during the cold months.
• The hoodie has an opening at height for a trapeze hook. This one was perfect for me when using a waist harness. This way you can easily use your trapeze hook with your trapeze under the jacket. Of course, this is not as clear as without a jacket. I also had to check that my leash and associated safety could be easily found.

Conclusion 9 BFT Intense 3mm Neoprene Hoodie Review

Thanks in part to the Intense of 9 BFT I had a wonderful sports moment at sea on a really cold day. The extra layer really works! What is striking is the enormous stretch of the hoodie, which makes it easy to put on and take off. In addition, the finish is good. That can be seen in this neoprene hoodie review. Of course I can only really judge after more sessions. However, the first impression and experience is promising. Finally, I see, critical as I am and as mentioned, an improvement for 9 BFT for the hood so that it can also be used as a hat.

Should you also use the Intense 3 mm neoprene hoodie from 9 BFT or another jacket over your wetsuit. Please let us know your findings and/or additions.