Must Get Buff!

[Nuts]

I was doing some research last night, came across these buffs. I'm sure they wont suit the cutting edge of fashion but they look enormously practical.
(all eyes on the buff ): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rbsB0xMZMk

[johnw]

Yes, had one for years. They're quite useful and weigh next to nothing. I can make quite a good improvised "beanie" with it and keep one in the pack as an emergency "hat". "Buff" brand ones seem to retail for about $25 up locally. These were used on TV used by the contestants in the "Survivor" series. I've also bought imitations for less than $10. Of course my skills in tying them are not quite up to the same standard as the er, umm, instructor .

[Maelgwn]

Yeah I bought one the other week, amazed at how useful it is.

Great for under a helmet, super thin and no seams. Also great to keep the sun off your neck (eg not too hot) and easy to adjust without stopping (eg hat to wrist when getting up that hill, or off from under the helmet without needing anywhere to put it other than your wrist).

Sadly, yes you will look like an idiot, that's the problem with anything practical.

[Nuts]

Ha John, your hat has actually caught my eye a couple of times, looks kinda 'nautical from a distance?

Yes, I have a thinsulate neck buff, nowhere near as versatile as this. I had some pretty radical surgery last year to remove skin cancers that had spread almost to bone tissue. It was suggested i spend more time in the office (its probably obvious by now how that effects me..)...

Its likely too late but i have a hard time with hats and perhaps something like this would work (hmm might have to grow a beard before i try the 'bretheren' configuration....lol..).

Probably be an easy enough thing to make, from different materials. That one is a summer buff from coolmax, light fleece might be good for winter..


"Sadly, yes you will look like an idiot, that's the problem with anything practical".

Yes, that's got me concerned... looking like an idiot....

[andrewbish]

Just bought one from http://www.pinnaclesports.com.au

Reckon it'll be a right chick magnet

[gayet]

Nuts ...
Probably be an easy enough thing to make, ...

The difficulty might be in getting tubular material of different types. I notice Chain Reaction Cycles have a full range, including merino and polar fleece.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=62034

[michael_p]

I got a cheapy off Fleabay for a few dollars. Works a treat. Camping one cold and windy night I improvised a balaclava by combining the buff and a cycling head warmer.

[north-north-west]

I hadn't realised just how versatile they were. At last something that can keep the wind off the back of my neck as well as keep my ears warm. Brilliant.

[kymboy]

The cheapies work just as well as the more expensive ones imho. Really useful piece of gear on cold days to keep neck and/or bald head warm and on warm days to keep sun and sandflies at bay. I use them all the time fishing and walking. My wife thinks my buff makes me look like a complete knob but when I'm wearing long johns and shorts too, it makes very little impact on the cool-vs-tool scale

[MichaelP]

Been wanting one for years, finally getting one in the mail in the next few weeks I think.

[Nuts]

The cheapies work just as well as the more expensive ones imho. Really useful piece of gear on cold days to keep neck and/or bald head warm and on warm days to keep sun and sandflies at bay.

What about the snoz kymboy. As funky as they look i cant see any way around the full ninja that would cover the nose, that might be a bit much (even in private).. good neck cover, great in winter but I cant see it working for sun without a hat as well?

[kymboy]

Hey Nuts, you definitely need a hat of some sort. In fact they work quite well with a cap and a raincoat. You can pull them up over the back of the cap. Again, fashion is the big loser.

btw, I'm not as fat as I appear. Vest and fleece under the jacket are to blame for the Michelin man look

[Nuts]

ha ha, yes, i have to agree... hey, looks like your on to one though

[kymboy]

Yep, not bad.

[ninjapuppet]

man thats a nice trout!

Yeh, ive got one of them copycat kathmandu ones, but you cant use it to fold over the top to turn into a ninja like the real buff in your video Nuts.
Probally best to go with the real thing.

[Jellybean]

Hi All,

I looked at these for a few years but was always put off by the cost ($20 - $30 for a small piece of material seemed a bit steep!), then I saw these when I was looking at Inov8 shoes late last year - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/inov-8-wrag-30- ... wear/#more - 2 for $15 plus postage. They're excellent!

Cheers,

JB

[Nuts]

Ha Ha kymboy, well done !!

I was wondering where you were hiding JB... Wiggle have sold out. I think NP is right though, ive had a look at the other links and the real mCoy looks longer/more vesitile?
I was also thinking of these Terramar geo hoods: http://ww2.sierratradingpost.com/s/balacalava/ they look like they would do many of the (more useful) configurations that the Buff covers? They all seem like they would be warm though, the coolmax fibre would surely have the edge in summer.

[Jellybean]

Hi Nuts,

I've been on the road a lot since late Feb, and was in Europe for the last 4 weeks. Awesome trip - I coach, we were racing in Italy, Switzerland and Spain - but I am hanging to get back out in the bush again!

'Have attached a couple of pics of the Inov8 "buffs" to show their size in case you are/anyone else is interested. They're lighter weight material, not fleece. I bought them to provide more sun protection when walking (most of my walking shirts are t-shirts, no collar). Think you'll find Wiggle are just out of stock, they'll order them them in if your order, you just need to wait a few extra (2-7) days for them to arrive.

Cheers,

JB

[johnw]

Ha John, your hat has actually caught my eye a couple of times, looks kinda 'nautical from a distance?

Not as nautical as a buff tied in "pirate" configuration Nuts . That hat does have a bit of the 3 cornered look if I clip the sides up, as on Mt Tate in the photo, where it was blowing a gale and probably adds to the effect. But I assure you I didn't steal it from Captain Cook's estate, or Blackbeard. It's just an el cheapo I've had for years. It's done a couple of Tassie trips too, but gets knocked off there by the scrub too easily .

I wore one of my buff copies cycling the other night. Sometimes I use it as a helmet liner but this time decided on a face and ear warmer as it was pretty chilly (the bandit look). I also experimented a bit with the balaclava thing, which kind of worked but I'd forgotten the instructions. The cheap ones do seem to be a rougher/scratchier fabric and curl up at the ends more easily, but are probably still good value I think.

[Nuts]

but gets knocked off there by the scrub too easily .

Mar, your probably taking it to the wrong places, were you lost


I bought the real McCoy Buff in the end, nice and long.

[johnw]

but gets knocked off there by the scrub too easily .

Mar, your probably taking it to the wrong places, were you lost

Lost? Never! I just like crawling under scoparia bushes. That's the way it's done, right?

I bought the real McCoy Buff in the end, nice and long.

The cheap ones do a reasonable job but yes, it's probably worth shelling out the extra for the original. Definitely much nicer fabric in my experience. They also fold up very small and you can keep one in your pocket.

[John Sheridan]

IS pinnaclesports.com.au a decent place to buy stuff from, anyone have any problems, they just have something I want to buy there.

Thanks.

[andrewbish]

IS pinnaclesports.com.au a decent place to buy stuff from, anyone have any problems, they just have something I want to buy there.

Thanks.

I have bought a couple of items from them and have found them very helpful, with prompt delivery.