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I think they call them mouth breathers? 😀
Realistically rebreathing a few cc's of air inside a buff along with a few litres of cold air, further chilled by the evaporation of moisture from your buff isnt going to have much positive effect, all<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> you end up with is a wet buff.</span>
Buffs as a skull cap or to keep the wind off your neck on the other hand is indispensable when the temperature drops below zero.
@thisisnotaspoon - whatever the mechanism it is surprisingly effective. Last week I was working above Saddleworth and it was chuffin' Baltic - Wednesday morning's snow line was just above where I was working. Pulled the buff I was wearing around my neck up over my mouth and nose and within half an hour I was too warm (same level of effort as before). I spent the rest of the day moving the buff over then away from my face to keep me in the right temperature band.
Ride in the Arctic in the winter and taking several buffs is standard practice - you keep rotating them as the moisture from your breath freezes up. Of course in this instance they also serve to keep your skin from freezing in the severely sub-zero temps.
I live in my 7Mesh Strategy Jacket this time of year and just tailor my base layers to suit. It’s made from various forms of Gore WindStopper and heavy rain aside it deals with everything, nothing seems to phase it. So good I got another on sale from them recently as it’s that good, the pockets on the back are genuinely useful too. Definitely one of the best investments in cycle clothing I’ve ever made. The 7Mesh Recon is also really good, is even cheaper at the moment (£80 down from £200-Ish on their site) and is a bit more casual if you want the same performance with a more casual look/fit.
I just got a MT500 Jacket for £129.99 fit is excellent unfortunately not been out in it yet but was so impressed with fit. I tried in store ended up getting small as medium to baggy on me.
^^^ my reference to the MT500 was to the jersey, which, coupled with a gilet is good to sub zero. I do have the MT500 waterproof jacket too - an awesome piece of cold weather kit IMO. Also have an Endura Windchill, which I often wear on cold dry nights rides.
Thought I'd pitch back in with an update: Ton knows I am not a small fella, so I went for a fat lad at the back 'Jacksey'. Whilst I was there I also got a new pair of thermal bibs, they had a very good Black Friday promotion. (also nice to be in the middle of the size range for a change!)
All I can say is: it's absolutely excellent. Windproof front, fleecy back and provides a spot on balance between warmth and breathability. The pockets on the back are huge and V useful, wee zippy pocket for keys is easily accessible. Easy to layer up underneath and its got a great range of motion so you don't even know its on.
So much better than wearing a waterproof coat (which was my default as it kept the wind off), which generated coldness through sweatiness.
It's perfect, thanks all for the multiple inputs.
FWIW, the bibs are also superb, warm, great fit (long enough), and very comfy pad.
How this works is largely down to how hot you run.
For the conditions you describe, I'd stay away from membrane jackets, (gore windstopper or otherwise) go for a woven windproof like pertex of Berghaus air foil. They have loads more breathability, are shower resistant and still windproof.
Generally, I find merino good, but it's fragile, and more importantly it sags, holds onto its moisture and is horrible against the skin when it gets wet, even if it does keep you warmer than wet synthetics, against your skin it won't feel like it, and it won't wick moisture like a synthetic base layer either.
So. Synthetic base layer with a light merino mid and a woven windproof.
This setup is way more versatile than just the conditions you describe. Personally I often find the windproof with the synthetic is often sufficient down to about 3 or 4 degrees.