After only 12 years of regular misuse, my Buffalo Active Lite Shirt is needing replaced (due to multiple massive rips).
Is there anything equivalent I should consider before buying another one?
Any good deals - they appear to be coming in at £135. Eek!
Well worth the money in my view.
A tough bit of versatile kit.
Covers a range of temperatures too which alternatives may not do so easily without layering up.
The side zips really handy to cool off and surprisingly warm when active down to low temps fully zipped in and trapping heat inside and dries so quickly too.
Great in drizzle, not good in heavy rain.
Just wish they did some better colours.
I use it alot for Mtb and running,normally wear a mesh merino base layer so not quite next to skin use!
And often chucked in pack as an extra layer to go over more conventional mtb wear in winter for descending if cold.
Very windproof.
Used the Belay Jacket for years on construction sites too.
One for 10 years used practically everyday!
Warm, tough, breathable, dries quickly.
Shame they do not put hi viz straight on them. They are missing something there.
I never seen an alternative for an active lite , but it fits my need perfectly.
never heard of it but it sounds great so I googled it! 🤮 Looks like some space force uniform from a shit 70s TV show 😂 Is it really as shiny as it looks on the photos too?
Montane Extreme Jacket is the same sort of pertex+pile jacket but a lot thicker/warmer. Not sure if they make a lighter version. Polartech Alpha fabric is similar, lighter for the most active stuff or less arctic conditions and gets good reviews from those who like the pertex+pile idea.
Looks like some space force uniform from a shit 70s TV show 😂
And bike lycra doesn't? ; )
haglofs do one proteus can be had fro around £80 on offer
Never tried one but it seems like it sits nicely between my 90s purple wind shirt (good for fellrunning in lousy weather) and the mountain shirt (too hot for fellrunning even in really foul weather).
Not much love for Buffalo shirts nowadays and I can see why, they are butters but they do just work and no-one ever sees me where I go running anyway
I have the fleecy insulated one its superb. Purchased from a military surplus shop. Perfect for cold drizzle days with a t-shirt underneath.
Do paramo do anything similar. Tbh I’d suck up the cost and buy another. Its £12 a year if it lasts as long as your old one.
The proteus is a mega funny jacket. I have one and not really sure what to do with it. The outer layer is so so fragile feeling! Not sure it will last 10 years!
...and you really must run in the cold. I tent to wear a running vest all year round and maybe a houdini type jacket in deepest darkest winter!
Yes, I probably should have said I wear it mainly when out for an early morning winter run in Scotland when it's cold and just chuck it on and head out the door after waking up rain or shine below 5 degrees and , I can unzip the, sides as I warm up , or one of those winter/autumn epic rides where I will meet no one and see no one and maybe a drizzle in the air/showery.
Or a quick hours evening spin and see no one and just chick it on. No faffing with stuff and unlikely to see anyone or visit a cafe.... 🙂
7 Mesh my main go MTB wear, the windproof front jerseys are really good. LS and SS.
Would never not have an active light for just chucking on and going out.
Good for trail building in winter too
Not worried about catching it or Damn aging it when clearing branches in the forest.
I suppose its like a Land Rover, just gets on with it, but has its drawbacks.
Stylishness /colours.and lack of flattering shape ..:)
Cheers all.
Pulled the trigger on a new Buffalo Active Light. Same colour as the old one. Will be back in 15 years to ask a similar question....
My wind- and mountain- shirts must be 30+ years old. I didn't know they made this new, slightly less warm version of the Mountain Shirt, and now I want one. I even like the new colours, especially the 'Bark'.
£135 you say? Hmmm.
I remember doing an Autumn Polaris in my windshirt once, long day of rain, wind and ice/snow flurries, on a hike-a-bike I started to feel distinctly weird and recognised the early signs of hypothermia. Remembered I was wearing a cotton t-shirt under the Buffalo, and the t-shirt had become wet and freezing; so I whipped it off quick, put the Buffalo back on next to my skin as designed, and within 30 minutes I was warm as toast again.
Good kit.
It's always been great kit, it's just a shame it didn't evolve more. There was the Montane Krypton, Marmot DriClime, Rab VapourRise and many others had a lightweight jacket that was similar but not quite the same.
One problem is that the Buffalo kit lasts a long time so you don't replace it often so why would they evolve? Also, it tends to be worn by more serious outdoors enthusiasts, you wouldn't buy one to walk to Aldi, so they have a limited target audience - climbers, mountaineers, cavers etc.
Very One flew over the cuckoos nest...
Modern fabrics are far superior IMO - Polartec Alpha and Pertex Quantum is an awesome combination, a fraction of the weight, far better wicking and packs down really small. I have a couple of tops / jackets and they're very versatile for both running and cycling.
“Modern fabrics are far superior IMO – Polartec Alpha and Pertex Quantum is an awesome combination, a fraction of the weight, far better wicking and packs down really small.”
I wonder how the durability and thus lifespan compares though?
It seems painfully ironic that gear made for enjoying the great outdoors is becoming more and more of a problem in terms of its impact on the environment from manufacture, use and disposal.
These are good if you don't mind olive / khaki. Used mine a lot in the winter.
Pertex quantum/microlight/shield etc. is all rubbish in terms of durability when compared to Classic Pertex6.
The one Mattbike linked to is a great smock at that price
Paramo do do something similar but it’s more expensive. The Velez adventure smock.
The Buffalo fleecy mountain shirt really too warm for cycling unless really cold.
So not a good investment in my view.
Mines not been used very much.
The active lite abit more versatile.
I emphasis its used alot, but more conventional modern fabrics used alot more, but the active lite has earned its keep ten times over.
Over 10 years old and great to chuck on faded but as new.
The elastics on my 7Mesh gear looking worn already and its not cheap kit!
I wonder how the durability and thus lifespan compares though?
I've had / got a few pertex quantum jackets and had buffaloes and paramo in the past.
Tbh it is durable but not as durable as the older stuff. That said weight and performance is night and day so works out better for your average use.
I have a Rab belay jacket at the moment which is sort of a modern day Buffalo shirt I guess. It's great but would it stand up to use on a construction site or 10 years in an outdoor centre? No way.
I've an old cycle buffalo, pockets on back and fits hood,mask etc. Very nice and very 3 season.
Being older its the older colours so maybe not everyone's taste Bright yellow, with purple arms and hood/mask and red fluffy lining. A 1980/90's colour extravaganza.
It's a shame Buffalo do not refine the cut abit or modernise colours.
And the front pouch pocket is useful but adds to that unique look.
But who cares if out on your own....
I got my Buffalo S6 shirt as a 16th bday present and only finally retired it after about 20 years of use. I couldn’t bear to get rid of it, despite the fact it was falling apart, so it now lives under the boot of my car in case of emergencies. It’s quite a neat fit though, I was a rather skinny teen.
I think even the Lite version would be too hot for MTBing 99% of the time, as I live too far south! Windproof jacket and base layers now instead.
I bought a new Buffalo windshirt a couple of weeks back, the latest in a 30+ year series. I always look around to see what else is available, and have in the past tried out Montane and Haglofs offerings - but always end up coming back to the Buffalo because it has the features I want. A hood and ripstop fabric would be nice.
Re: looks: I like them specifically because I don't want to look like a MAMIL or somebody who's forgotten to take off his jim jams in the morning.
So I bought a new Buffalo Active Lite Shirt.
It's the same but different.
Liner in particular is different. Worn it walking the dog a few times and it appears to be more breathable. Will report back.