Hi all,
Been hearing about the near miraculous piece of multi-faceted gear that is the 'Buff' and figured I should pick one up. When I went to the website I was overwhelmed by the variety of styles and choices (UV, merino wool, etc.).
Any BUFF fans care to share what they have and what's worked for them? I'm thinking of it as primarily a summer canoe trip piece of gear....
Thanks in advance.

I'd never heard of it until your post, so I looked it up ... had to do a couple different google searches before I found it.

That's not the kind of thing I'd usually wear. Looks hot and constricting. My Shelta hat with the detachable neck drape serves all the purposes that one of these things would... except a mouth and nose cover, which isn't something I've ever found myself wishing I had while on an outdoor trip.

But I do like the designs... if I did buy one, it'd totally be a fashion choice.

I've got one, though it is not that brand. It is thin merino wool, and I like it. Can use as a neckie or pull up to cover from neck to over ballcap. It helps you stay warm in cold, rainy conditions. Have sprayed the outside with permethrin for an upcoming June trip, as it can provide some cover from skeeters and maybe??? blackflies. We shall see.

I have one that I got primarily for fishing in Florida for sun protection. I used it in the B-dub last year and really liked it. I was fishing at dusk and heard bugs buzzing all around me and it kept them away (I have one with the insect shield).

They are not hot or restricting at all. Quite versatile. I'm a fan. They are really popular down in Florida with guides and fisherman.

I have a few. Usually I wear it around my neck and pull it up on my face and back of the head if the bugs get bad on a portage. Sometimes it's just nice to use as a light head cover.

My 14yo at one time was infatuated with them because of their tie-in to Survivor, those are all the really stretchy microfiber ones and from various tribes on the show.

Me & my 17yo have black merino wool ones that we mostly use camping in winter.

I'm a fan, and have a few. Light colors to stay cool and keep bugs and sun off in summer, merino for all other times. I do not have the insect shield version, and do not put permethrin on them, however.

I have one that provides sun and bug protection. It provides more warmth than you'd expect for the ounce it adds to your gear. Very versatile and light, worth carrying the weight for sure. I need to get one of the colder weather ones.

I have a couple. I generally use the Buff as a neck warmer or a head warmer, and hadn't thought about it as bug protection on portages--thanks for the tip. My most recent Buff use was when another hiker in my group got a 3/4" long by 1/8" deep scalp cut; I used the Buff as an easy and comfortable way to secure gauze over the injury after cleaning...

TZ

I wear Buffs to avoid sunburn and suntan lotion in the Texas summers. I like the "Buff UVX Mask" as it tapers out at one end to fit over your upper shoulders. I have a few from the SA Company which advertises heavily on-line. Theirs are just a stretchy tube that doesn't cover my lower neck when I am wearing a shirt without a collar. I typically wear a Columbia PFG long sleeve polyester shirt with the "Buff UVX Mask" and a baseball cap. The cap covers my forehead and thinning hair on top. The Buff UVX Mask covers my neck. If the mid morning sun or late afternoon sun is reflecting off the water while I am fishing, I can pull the front of the Buff UVX Mask up to cover my face. I then pull the back of the Buff UVX Mask up over my cap and cover my ears. With polarzed sunglasses on, I look like I am ready to rob a liquor store as my own wife would have a hard time picking me out of a lineup of similarly dressed dudes.

Buy the Buff brand UVX Mask. It's definitely worth the extra cost.
I give my unopened SA Company buffs away to friends and family as I no longer wear them.

I have a few but only like one. I have a thin Merino Wool Buff that weighs almost nothing. I wear in most of the winter and pack it all year long. It is loose fitting, worn strickly for warm and is terrific at its job. I have lost a couple but, I always replace it when that happens. I love my Merino Wool Buff.

My second iss a Permetherin coated "Bug Buff" I bought for one of the kids. It is an differnt brand and is much shorther than the "Buff" branded. The kids liked it. I should probably reapply the permethrin and keep using it.

Two others were purchased as sun protection. They are the Buff brand UV protection Buffs and very bightly colored. While they might be effective, they are too tight and I cannot tolerate them. I like the idea but, wish they came in a looser version. They never get used. Those are the ones you'll see most frequently used by guys on the fishing shows.

I have a couple snikwa (Florida company sold shirts at copia a couple years ago) shirts that have long necks like the old fashioned dickies. It will pull up over my head and face like a buff so have not added a buff, yet. Treated with permethrin it has kept the bugs away. Not hot it seems to keep the direct glare of sun off my skin and wicks away heat, but it has felt warm on windy chilly days. I look kinda geeky with it pulled up and hat on, but it is not a fashion show. Perhaps with a buff I would be more in fashion.

I have several. Great for sun and bug protection. Will keep you a little warmer or you can dunk it and it will cool you off. They can cause fogging of sunglasses until you adjust them right or breath through your mouth. I wear mine all year long.

I use one, I think it's the original (had for a long time). Works well as a headband or facemask for sun protection. I bought it originally when I lived out west and spent a lot of time floating on rivers in the summer.

use a merino wool one for winter camping.

If you use a bandanna on a regular basis, you'll probably like the Buff. I got one a couple years ago. I regularly used a bandanna around my head while backpacking or long portages. The Buff wicks away sweat and keeps my neck or my head cool, depending on how I am wearing it. Also having the insect shield on it is very handy.

See also Shemagh or kefiya

We've had an entire generation of young people rotating through Iraq/Afghanistan/Syria at this point. They picked it up from the locals, who know a thing or two about sun protection.

BobDobbs: "See also Shemagh or kefiya


We've had an entire generation of young people rotating through Iraq/Afghanistan/Syria at this point. They picked it up from the locals, who know a thing or two about sun protection."

Yep, I have a few shemaghs also. There are so many uses for a square piece of fabric in the woods. I usually have both a shemagh and a buff when I go out.

I picked one up last last summer when fishing Kabetogama. Bright sun every day was beating me up. Kept the sun off of me during the day and the bugs off in the evening. Dunk them in the water to cool off. Now everyone in the group has them except my dad...who is stubborn and set in his ways :)

I just picked up a regular one made out of light weight fabric, nothing fancy.

T

I tried one with insect shield last Sunday on Angleworm hike. Was hoping it would breathe better than my usual bandana, but did not. However it did as good a job or better at keeping bugs away.