Bizzare Claim regarding neoprene swim caps

This is particularly odd since cold water introduced into the ears is actually used to test for vertigo. In other words: Keeping cold water out of your ears may reduce vertigo:

"Vertigo is not hypothermia but it is related to cold water exposure. Vertigo is the sudden loss of balance and orientation to one’s surroundings. Vertigo is caused when one ear drum is at a different temperature than the other and since your inner ear affects your balance, different inner ear temperatures affect your balance. A vertigo study was done where they would induce vertigo by injecting cold water into a persons ear."

If your inner ears get really cold, you will lose about 99% of your balance.  Just enough equilibrium to make you queasy.

Bet you got cussed royally...   just sayin......

I think this post gets made every time the Escape snds out their guide.  I actually thought this was an old post. 

Theoretically, I suppose that if the rubber seals around one ear, causing some water pressure, vertigo could result.  But saying you'll lose a percentage of balance (not sure how that actualy works...  only tip over 1/4 way???) from neoprene caps is silly.

ETA - having lost 100% of my balance on an open water swim once due to vertigo, the statement is more than a little disturbing

I'm pretty sure that wearing one makes you 30% less attractive..... 

It also makes ones ears stick out 30% less and keeps your hair 30% dryer....

Thanks for the replies.  Perhaps the 30% change in balance will cause me to swim in a perfectly strait line?

The one I ordered will be here Monday, then as soon as the ice is out on the lakes I can test it out and see how it functions.

I remember reading that last year when I did EFA. I normally wear ear plugs on every swim, pool, open water or race. So I when down to the local quarry and used my ear plugs and my neoprene cap. Here is the only thing I noticed....now I really couldn't hear anything.

I used my neoprene cap and ear plugin during EFA, no problems what so ever.

Enjoy the race it's a blast!

Tip: look out for the vertical concrete pillars on the road ways before the first climb, about 1.5 miles into the bike!

I used my Blue Seventy neoprene cap in the New Jersey Jackrabbit Open water swim last May. The water temp was 56 degrees. I bought the cap the night before the race and never practiced with it. I had no problems what so ever using the cap and I am so glad i bought it. My feet and face felt frozen when I got in but my head was fine. And after about 300 yards or so i didn't even notice the water temp.

Good Luck

I like this...i've never had much of an issue falling over in the water   i wore a neoprene cap and ear plugs in my ironman...didn't have an issue with falling one side to the other.

x2.  Except I am the exact opposite - I get dizzy and nauseous without ear plugs.  And I hate swim caps.

Cool, now I have an excuse for my even crappier level of surfing in the winter.

"It's the neoprene hood, I swear."