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You’re supposed to unzip the sides if you feel hot.
That’s one advantage of the Highlander Halo I posted up 👆🏻. Buffalo jackets, and I assume they’re all the same, have a zip that runs from the hem to the armpit, with a zipper at each end, the Halo has a longish zip up from the hem, but a separate zip up in the armpit that unzips down the inside of the arm, which allows a bit more control.
I did wear mine the other afternoon whilst shooting, and it was ideal. I had a single layer underneath, but I was in the shade with quite a strong Easterly wind from directly behind, so I had no sun at all, and with the neck zip down, and the pit zips down as well, I was perfectly comfortable. If I’d been shooting on the opposite side, I’d have been in a tee shirt and shorts.
Just to emphasise, the Halo is microfleece, not a Sherpa-type fleece, like the Special 6 has; that makes all the difference if you’re being fairly active - a Helly or similar would probably be ideal if you’re doing something fairly active, and not just out for a stroll or walking the dog.
You’re supposed to unzip the sides if you feel hot.
So the cold wind blows on your bare skin? Seems a bit of an uncomfortable business.
So the cold wind blows on your bare skin? Seems a bit of an uncomfortable business.
That sounds like theory looking for problems.
The lining is pile rather than fleece and aggressively hydrophobic, which is why it stays dry - basically water just runs out of it rather than fancifully wicking its way to the surface and evaporating. I had climbing mates in the 1980s who swore by the stuff and it hasn't really changed since then. To be fair, it works pretty well in typical cold, damp, Scottish winter mountaineering conditions as a fabric system, but the cut and design are archaic, it's crap for mobility, and for a lot of people it's way too warm for active use unless they run really cold or it's way sub-zero out.
It's the technical clothing equivalent of a Series 2 Land Rover and what would have happened if Land Rover had never bothered to move on from that.
That's all fine if what you want is a Series 2 Land Rover, but personally I'd rather not look like someone wearing a Pertex potato sack with a hood and some zips tacked on and pay more than 300 quid for the privilege. Polartec Alpha Direct in various weights is a lighter, more effective modern take on a similar concept and, ironically given how expensive that stuff is, a more affordable one too. Not as durable tbf.
I kind of think Buffalo has missed a trick in a 'it's fine as it is, why change it?' sort of way, which means it's always going to be a niche clothing system aimed squarely at people who sigh wistfully at the memory of times when everyone wore soggy RonHill Tracksters and had special mirrors at home to convince them that they looked good in them. YMMV.
Ben Fogle? Self-publicising, floppy-haired posh boy. Maybe he'll change the brand for the better, who knows.
I have a montane extreme jacket which is a better looking version of a buffalo. I got it cheap which is a good thing, otherwise it would have been a waste of money. It is good for a very small range of conditions and either get soaked or too hot for the rest of the time.
I don't want to imagine how sweaty it would be to use for biking (would have to be about -10)
So the cold wind blows on your bare skin? Seems a bit of an uncomfortable business.
Weird though it sounds, it's actually pretty effective.
I've worn my P&P Buffalo twice in the past 12 years. Both times it was ideal, but I'd carefully chosen it due to the conditions. Given I'm out walking, running or cycling almost every day, and that I live in the Cairngorms, that'll give you an idea of how useful it is. Yeah, the theory is that you stay dry under it but that requires that you keep moving and generating body heat to "pump" it through. Stop for any length of time and you'll still need a hardshell outer.
I have a fairly old Mountain Equipment "softshell" too. That has a Pertex later over a microfleece inner, and also has zip-off sleeves. That's a lot more flexible.
Deleted, double post
I have a montane extreme jacket which is a better looking version of a buffalo. I got it cheap which is a good thing, otherwise it would have been a waste of money. It is good for a very small range of conditions and either get soaked or too hot for the rest of the time.
I don't want to imagine how sweaty it would be to use for biking (would have to be about -10)
Have to agree with this, exactly matches my experience. For me, the newer breed of jackets with a Pertex outer and a Polartec Alpha Direct lining take the same concept but improve it dramatically in most conditions (PAD developed for special forces to be light but still offer insulation when wet)...and better for higher intensity activities.
I don't want to imagine how sweaty it would be to use for biking (would have to be about -10)
Mine kept me going through a cold* edition of the Puffer
*cold enough that I had to see an optician afterwards, turns out the moisture on my eyes had frozen causing superficial scratches to the eyeball surface
Common critique of Buffalo stuff is that it's too hot for owt other than extreme conditions. The vapourise stuff seems much more useable for the opposite reason. The first buffalo I had eons ago was a very thin pile and pertex top and was excellent, not too heavy either. Great for canoeing under a cage. Modern one was just stifling and on me a big bungle suit.
Nowadays there are so many good bits of kit to choose from - warmer/lighter/more packable/sexier , and arguably better value
I've got an alpkit Jura buffalo copy. It's a bit lighter weight than many others, by all accounts. I think it's ace for being active in cold conditions e.g. when out walking around zero degrees c. I also like the venting options, particularly if lugging a big backpack around - means you don't have to take the pack off to adjust layers/temperature. It's been great for winter backpacking expeditions.
I've generally worn it with a base layer rather than right against my skin.
I haven't tried it in any properly orrible wet conditions though.
I haven't tried it in any properly orrible wet conditions though.
That’s what a cheap Peter Storm is for, an outer barrier that keeps the worst of the water off. Worked for me through several winters.
I do have another Buffalo, one of their earliest, an MTB Wind Shirt. It originally had a strap between the legs, but the click buckle, which may have been fine for climbing, which it was originally designed for, really wasn’t much fun when sitting on it, so I had a seamstress cut it off and re-hem the bottom.
It was perfect for wearing on the bike today, it was warm in the sun, but the wind was fairly cool, especially later in the afternoon.
Packs down pretty small, ‘cos it doesn’t have a lining.
I’ve got a Buffalo sleeping bag that must be over 30 years old. Grey shell, bright red pile. Big and bulky when packed but fine from out the back of the car. What I do like about it is the central zip and shaped hood. I find that much better than a left or right handed zip on so many other bags. And I am less worried about getting it dirty as it’s easy to wash.
I expect that Buffalo may sell well to the new demographic: older e-bikers who won’t boil up under normal pedalling conditions, but who want to stay cosy when they stop for a cuppa.
something that’s easy to wash and offers a myriad of venting options?
Another one here who wore Buffalo endlessly from about 1992 to 1999. Heck my first ever Christmas present to a new girlfriend, unknowingly soon to be mrs_oab, was a grey outer/red pile inner Buffalo found in the Outside sale... They have their place. They do work.
I've even used Buffalo salopettes, sleeping bags and bivvy bags (all universally awful...).
But, the cut is awful, the price daft, and 'old tool' in performance.
I would say my current Rab VR's or old Montane version (Phoenix v1?) knocks spots off the Buffalo. It's better cut. Better pockets. Better fabrics. Better judged for moving outdoors. Drier and even more wicking. Better colour and image (shallow, but important when you're selling £250 bin bag like jackets).
I would even say my 'pertex knock off' Dare2B windproof jacket with a good baselayer and/or thin gridded fleece are better and more adaptable. And that cost £18...
Heck, I've even met Hamish a few times and was good pals with his daughter for many years....but what he designed while great in the 1980's and 1990's from a military background needs to stay there.
myriad of venting options?
A grid fleece or suchlike with a windproof over the top can be vented much more easily and effectively than a buffalo. It's just old tech so unless they do some sort of thrudark style marketing bollocks and/or find a new clientele then I suspect it's doomed as a brand.
Our SAR team has a couple of Buffalo casualty bags that we use with our stretchers. Awesome for snuggling around some poor soul who’s been stranded out in the cold and wet for hours on end.
I’ve not worn one of their smocks since the 90s as so many better layering options exist nowadays.
Fit is such a personal thing. My Buffalo shirt fits me as well as anything I own. It's certainly a better fit than the Rab VR I've got.
I bought the montane one 25 years ago for deploying to Norway. As I was mostly outside on the vehicle park, I wanted something warm and found the issued dew liners a bit restrictive when climbing in and out of BV206'S all the time.
It was awesome for the job. Regularly down to -20 and all I'd need was a t-shirt underneath with windproof trousers and low alpine floppy hat.
It was far too warm for ski touring but it was kept in the top of the bergen and was a god send for quick brew/fag stops.
It's still in great nick and used for winter dog walks and pub visits when we end up sitting outside. Dont use it for bikepacking (down jotnar for that) as its far too bulky.