[Closed] Anyone using a Buffalo top?

I have been using Buffalos for over 15 years.
I am small and skinny so need the incredible warmth.

I have a Rab Vapor Rise that is the same as a Buffalo Lite for down to +5C.
I have an original yellow and purple Buffalo cycle shirt with the crotch strap (that can catch or damage a saddle) for down to 0C.
I have a Buffalo Mountain Shirt (with crotch strap) for down to -5C.

Below -5C I wear an extra layer-1 such as a merino or decathlon LS vest.

Buffalo are not waterproof but for an hour in the rain, they resist very well and will dry out in no time once it stops (I live in the SE, not Manchester).

I will replace each of these with the same when the time comes...despite several crashes, I have been able to sew up the rips and continue using them.

Simply brilliant.

PaulD

The DP ones are very very warm - my heavily used 18 year old S6's pile is just over half as thick as when it was new and it's still too warm for MTBing when it's much above freezing. Active Lite Shirt is probably the one to go for.

Had one for donkeys years and they're great when it's very cold, anything other and it's too toasty. I have a Special 6. Which I'll be be replacing soon with a smaller one (smug: after losing some blubber). They're a cracking piece of kit. Never needed anything other than a base layer below freezing.

ive got an active shirt

its great when its really cold

never really got into the whole "next to skin" thing but love it with a merino underneeth on cold winter morning commutes.

Its also one of the first bits of kit i stick in my offshore bag in winter.

I have their pertex shell for fell-running & I love it dearly. It's 15 years old ish, been stitched together uncountable number of times and still going strong.

How 'proof is the pertex shell?

Was thinking of one of these with a Buffalo shirt.

How 'proof is the pertex shell?

Was thinking of one of these with a Buffalo shirt.

as in where a shell on top of the shirt? that would just be two layers of pertex wouldn't it?

Pertex isn't really very waterproof compared to more modern goretexy stuff, its more of an old-school fabric that is fast drying and keeps a good degree of its wind-proofness and breathableness when wet. Its not 'technical' or layered like goretex its just a single layer of very finely woven cloth. It tends to be used for activities where you are active and generating a lot of heat and that activity drives the damp out.

keeps nearly all its windproofness when wet

ive given up trying to stay dry ..... staying warm is the main objective ! roubaix and pertex pile are the way forwards ....

alll my waterproofs lead to sweaty sweaty wet from the inside out ...

I have one. It took me a while to get one after the first time I wore one (lent to me during an exercise in Yorkshire three/four years ago) but now that I have one it goes everywhere with me. If you need warmth, it will provide it.

they are the biz..

Great pieces of kit. Had mine 10yrs.

I've had a couple and they really are good. They don't keep you bone dry in really heavy rain, but they do keep you warm, which is what matters. If you are going to wear a layer under it it needs to wick really well and for most UK conditions there isn't much point. First time out I wore a cotton t shirt under it, going up a Welsh 3000er [Tryfan] on a wet winter day got wet and clammy. Then the penny dropped, found a bit of shelter and took the T shirt off and it worked a treat.

Mine is nickwaxed but still not very waterproof but that's not really the point. I most often wear a helly or merino (smartwool) top with the buffalo over the top. I get sweaty & dry out. I get rained on and dry out. I'm always warm enough.
I run with a pack too so it's really nice to be able to clip the waistband through the jacket. The hoods are rubbish so I tend to take a polypropylene hat and gloves if it's cold.

Really my preference for that sort of garment is a Paramo smock. That comes from there being buffalo, montane and paramo smocks all in the same shop. Went in planning to buy a buffalo but trying them all on I found the pertex/pile ones too stiff and restrictive - more of a struggle to get on and off, and tight under the armpits and around the shoulders, just generally bulky feeling. Maybe they break in, but off the peg I just didn't find them comfortable. The paramo just seems to be a much better cut and the material moves and hangs better, and makes less noise to - feels less anoraky. Costs a lot more though. Left the shop feeling I couldn't pay money for the buffalo having worn the paramo but couldn't want to shell out for the paramo either. Bought a paramo one later from their ebay 2nds shop (absolutely no idea what makes it a second, its perfect as far as I can see). its indispensable and for the OPs purposes - much more waterproof.

Not that you really need another recommendation, but what the hell! Mine is 13yrs old this winter and still the only jacket I'll think about riding in in the middle of Swedish winter. I wear it either with nothing under or a synthetic base. As has been mentioned, being wet doesn't make much difference since it still retain the heat.

I have a windshirt which is great piece of kit.

Been thinking about one as well, anyone tried an Active Lite?

I find my paramo stuff to be perfect - but it does a different job. It keeps me dry and warm when hiking and long biking when being dry for camp makes a big difference.

Buffalos aren't meant to be waterproof. I've had 300 quid hard shells soaked through in torrential scottish rain, buffalo's are meant to act a bit like a wet suits in that kind of weather. Love em to bits, If I was to be caught out in the middle of nowhere in a god awful storm I'd want a buffalo on me.

I have a Velez smock too but it's a very different animal to the Buffalo - it's a waterproof with very high breathability and a small amount of insulation. A Buffalo shirt needs to be a snug fit to work well and the pile packs down a bit from new - and if you're trying one on you need to do so without anything underneath.

Brilliant bits of kit but way too hot for biking for me personally in the uk (unless it is a long way subzero).

I lost my Montane smock at some point when we moved house... I've never found anything which comes even close to the warmth that this style of top gives.

But, unless it's well below freezing they are probably overkill, but they are great for hanging around on the side of a Scottish mountain in winter!

For biking I tend to plump for my Paramo Velez and a merino shirt for the winter...

Far too hot - not a good cut for cycling.

ive given up trying to stay dry ..... staying warm is the main objective ! roubaix and pertex pile are the way forwards ....

alll my waterproofs lead to sweaty sweaty wet from the inside out ...

Aye,me too. Always thought a Buffalo would be the answer. Might give one a go this winter.

I commuted in a Special Six in winter 2010-2011 (the really cold one) where it was -18 in Edinburgh. Nothing under it and I was still too warm so had the side vents open. Brilliant piece of kit.

Do you guys complaining about them being to hot realize they do lighter piles and more breathable pertex options, for example their active range?

Why would you want to commute in a Special Six LOL!? It's designed for nutters with guns to keep warm lying around in muddy ditches on some god awful rain soaked moor for days upon end to keep tabs on IRA members etc.

I've used one of these for 15 years or so:

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Not totally waterproof but will always keep you warm. Not the best if you're (not that fit) a hot sweaty person, but awesome as a mucky weather all day top. Side vents, crotch bit keeps the crown jewels warm, saves shorts too. Highly recommended here 😉