Australian Hiker

Rating

Buff Original Review

There are two types of hikers in this world; those who wear buffs and those who don’t. I fall into the former category and unless it’s a short day hike I will carry two Buffs on every hike, one Merino Wool Buff and one Original Buff.

BUFF^®, is short for bufanda, which means ‘scarf’ in Spanish – who knew? This is one of those products that is produced by a number of different companies and goes by a number of names but whoever produces it people tend to default to the name ‘Buff’ which is produced by the US company of that name.

For me my Buffs form a number of functions and this is not just a piece of clothing but in a variety of uses:

• As a sun hat
• As a scarf to protect my neck
• As a water filter to get rid of the chunky bits out of dirty water when there is no other option. The buff original is a better choice for this function than the wool version
• If I’m desperate, as a towel
• If I’m really desperate, to blow my nose (not at the same time as the above uses and I have to be really sick to do this)

My main use for my Buff Original is as a sun hat. I will use this through all but the coldest winters when I will change over the the Buff Merino Wool. During really hot conditions I will often wear my buff in conjunction with a peaked cap to provide that extra sun protection which is crucial to those of us who are ‘follicle-y’ challenged (i.e. bald). If you’re hiking in really dusty conditions it makes a great dust mask. If it is really hot, you can soak the Buff in water and it will help cool you down either around your neck or over your head.

There is no end to the uses for this handy little item and for a total weight of under 40 grams this is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment I own.

From what I see on trail I seem to be in the minority as a male Buff wearer, at least in Australia, and while we who wear them on our heads exist we are a rarity with most wearers using them as neck protection. I really don’t care what it looks like and will wear my Buff to work (it looks great with a suit). For me its all about function and the Buff has that in spades and at a relatively cheap price!

I usually wear my Buff Original with one end pulled over my head to keep my head from getting burnt (one of the drawbacks of having no hair). The Buff Original is not a flexible as the wool version so at least for me I can’t use it when I have my ear buds in am am listening to music or podcasts. When hiking, I will pull the front edge of the Buff just over the top of my sunglasses to ensure my forehead is protected from the sun

This is my main use for my Buff Original to keep the sun of my scalp and face. When worn like this I will wear it with a peaked cap

This image  shows the Buff folded into a double layer to provide extra warmth as a hat. I generally find that wearing the Buff original in this manner is a bit tight for my ‘slightly’ large head. if i am doing this I will change my Buff Original to a neck scarf and bring out the Buff Merino Wool as a single layer

Buff comparison. My two buff originals that I have had for seven years, and 5 years respectively on top of my Buff Merino Wool. The wool version is more flexible and also slightly longer which makes it more versatile, as well as hotter. There are also many other uses for buffs including as a headband

There is a huge range of colour choices in Buffs from plain colours to ‘out there’. If you haven’t noticed I like bright colours

We Like

• 100% Polyester Microfibre which stays relatively dirt free. This is also a better option as a water filter
• Extremely versatile garment with a wide range of uses. Wear it to protect you from the sun and to keep you warm. Wet it to cool you down in hot conditions. Use it to keep the dust out of your mouth and nose. Use it as a water filter
• UV protection that keeps you protected from the sun
• Very durable and will last for years so you won’t need to replace it; unless you want a new colour
• Quick drying and will keep you warm when wet

We Don't Like

• Not great when wearing earbuds as it can be a bit on the tight side around the ears
• Not as versatile as the merino wool version which is longer and a bit more flexible allowing you to be more creative in its use (see image below)
•  If you want to be really, really picky it can look at bit dorky at times

Best Uses

• One of the most versatile pieces of equipment you can carry that fulfils a number of jobs. I still prefer the Buff Merino Wool except for when its very hot

Buy One

You can purchase the Original Buff online from Snowys, Wild Earth or from Wildfire Sports

Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD$34.99 RRP – price may vary on the pattern and may be cheaper or more expensive

Other Versions

• Buff Merino Wool
• Australian Hiker Wattle Buff

Buff Merino Wool

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

Ways to wear a buff

 

Last updated

19 February 2024

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