Buffalo

It's a Pertex, I think, windproof. It'll keep the wind off, but has little insulation value and won't be as breathable as people often think because it's a very closely woven fabric with a calendared finish. It's pretty expensive - £160 - for what it is and the design's basic and kind of dated and there are lighter more packable, more bike-friendly alternatives that do the same basic windproofing gig, but won't be made in Sheffield. Ben Fogle now part owns Buffalo, if that makes any difference to anything.

I love my Buffalo, I wouldn’t ride in it, but they’re great bits of kit. I have the Belay jacket (or smock) and it’s been used in the mountains in winter-, dog walking, post ride, pretty much anytime it’s cold. Mine is ancient and still going strong. 

I have an Alpkit Jura jacket (smock style) which is almost the same as a Buffalo jacket, but at a much lower price, currently £129 on their website. I picked up mine in one of their sales at £99. It is very warm, I would only use it for cycling in very cold weather, but I live in south Dorset and the winters here are not very severe. It's a great jacket which I use thru the colder months mostly with just a base layer underneath.    

I think my Buffalo is over 25 years old. It’s the Olive Green one and it’s still going strong. It was great to put on after I fell through some ice in Svalbard (it was my uncle’s spare jacket) on an expedition and I basically just kept it after that. 

Yep, 30+ years here too - gets used throughout the year more or less but especially autumn and spring

The Buffalo active lite a good alternative to basic  windshirt. A very fine pile lining , so much more versatile than the heavier piled winter tops.

Size it to go over your riding jacket/ jersey  A nice extra layer. Side zips and velcro cuffs to vent or keep your self snug on a cold descent.

A great walking outer layer or wear on its own for running as well.  

Dries very quickly.

Not cheap to buy ,but mines lasted 15 + years .

I also wear it over a softshell when i get chilly walking or if it rains a bit heavier. 

A good top when u go away and ride and walk and wamt to pack minimum kit that can be used in a variety of activities.

They’re also really good when they’re absolutely soaked through as well unlike some jackets. 

You cant wash your hands in a buffalo.

Weird, you can in a basin

Yes. But also take a look at the Rab Cinder Vapour Rise jacket. It's the next-gen Buffalo Active-Lite.

I wear mine in everything from -9C to 15C. Sometimes with just a t-shirt, other times with a long-sleeve merino thermal and t-shirt.

Note - I haven't worn my Buffalo Active-Lite since buying the Cinder. Several of my friends now have them too and rave about them.

I also carry a lightweight Ron Hill Pertex jacket for putting on when on top of the hill.

Alpkit Jura jacket

I have the alpkit copy. For a ride or walk on a truly shit winter day they are awesome. Wear nothing or a light summer top underneath.

I've used it for winter bike packing trips when I know it's going to be grim.

100% recommend, and on that basis the buffalo will also be awesome.

There's some confusion going on here. The windshirt is just a pertex windproof top - essentially the face fabric with non of the underlying bonded pile/fleece featured in the garments most of you are talking about.

It's a very versatile top. I've been using them for mountain biking for 35+ years and, despite trying other companies, always end up back on these. It ticks my boxes: lots of venting, smock design, big zipped chest pocket (early ones just had velcro), velcro rather than elastic hems/cuffs. Worn all year round with whatever insulation (or non) is required by the weather. It's not perfect: I'd like it to be ripstop, and have a decent hood for off-bike use. I'm hoping the change of ownership might address that.

You can pick them up for £125 if you shop around. Fit is everything; I'm 6'4" and the 46" fits me right - gibbon like arms without the flapping torso that some companies think an XL size needs. Just don't buy it in purple! April this year on the summit of Cross Fell:

My bad, when I hear Buffalo i just think of the classic one. 

Actually, I might look at one of these next time I need to replace the Buffalo windshirt:

https://paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/explore-range/product/fuera-windproof-smock-classic/?attribute_pa_colour-t=cobalt&attribute_pa_size=xl&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=x&utm_campaign=22972277889&utm_adGroupId=&utm_term=&utm_creative=&utm_device=m&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22982622649&gbraid=0AAAAA-iLEwlPrQ-OSf9VXko1KWbOzTyb_&gclid=CjwKCAjw89jGBhB0EiwA2o1On4oxaJ_rzoAvv8mfmTRePprKWPtWjr_BC6udixrM9JV65MSl31dBmBoC8FgQAvD_BwE

Although one good thing about the Buffalo top is the lack of requirement for special washing regimes.

I’ve never owned the Windshirt but I’ve had about half a dozen other Buffalo things over the years (and only one has been worn out - which took about 20 years of frequent use, and I’ve still got it in my car in case of emergencies).

If you’re ok with it being a smock rather than a jacket (I get annoyed with overhead stuff when wearing helmets and/or glasses) then the Windshirt makes a lot of sense. The big side vents and velcro cuffs give great venting.

I’ve been impressed with the more modern dual weave stretch fabric tops like the Rab Borealis because they manage to stay cooler and warmer as needed vs Pertex but as a shell layer over insulation they’re definitely not as windproof, and they don’t pack down as small, but that’s now become my cooler weather MTB jacket.

I’ve been using the heavier weight Paramo windproofs for a lot of my MTBing and bike commuting. Like other windproofs you can forego some water resistance and wash them normally or you can use tech wash or soap flakes and reproof as needed. They’re heavier and tougher and warmer than the Buffalo’s Pertex. The Fuera doesn’t have enough venting for my liking so I moved mine on after a while.

I’ve worn the Enduro Windproof until the zips and velcro have given up and bought a replacement (kept the old one for emergencies) because I couldn’t find anything better. Eight years of most commuting and MTBing seems pretty good going! I appears my new one is already 18 months old… In the winter rain if I keep it proofed and wear it over a Powerstretch Pro fleece it’s pretty damned weatherproof.

Yes the windshirt is a great top. A bit bulky compared to some but the features are good-plenty of ventilation with the side zips and chest pocket. Only real negative is that you can’t get it off over a helmet as the zip is too short due to the chest pocket 

I had a Mountain Shirt back in the early 90s but I have to say I prefer the layering approach and didn’t rate pretext for the money tbh. 

Reading comprehension fail. Which is why the windshirt, and the layering approach it facilitates, is more applicable to mountain biking in a range of temperatures. I was out in mine on an overnight trip to the Dales and back yesterday/today. Remained comfortable throughout, changing base layers early on as the days warmed up.

My Buffalo Curbar https://www.lansdaleuk.com/buffalo-curbar-windtop (a windshirt version with a softer cloth like inner face - "the soft matt Pertex® Equilibrium is highly breathable and extremely efficient at moisture transmission, and surprisingly tough.") is my go-to for biking in wind, for cool days and for damp days, I rerely need anything else, yeah, if it rains hard the sweaty Goretex comes out.
I can get my Curbar off past my helmet, it just takes technique. I've had it 30+ years. Pertex is clever stuff SUPER wicking. I believe it was invented by Mr. Buffalo: Hamish Hamilton https://buffalosystems.co.uk/pages/about

Better get one fast, it's no longer on their website "The Buffalo Curbar Windtop is named after a Peak District crag where it is always windy. It has an adjustable integral hood that folds away into its own collar, and is designed for any high energy activity where rapid moisture dispersal is essential."

I love my Buffalo kit. AND it's made in Sheffield. 

Buffalo's Techlite (thin fleecy lining) might look tempting, but it would have to be bloody cold to need that. Walks in the snow, great, maybe very easy biking if it's below zero.

The Super 6 (original thick pile lined Buffalo - mine's been good for 40 years) is for sitting around in real cold (or mountain rescue etc). I use it post cold rides, if you're wet it wicks you dry. Lovely for bike washing.

But I'd NEVER ride in it as I dont ride near the North Pole. 

There was another buffalo thread last week. I've an alpkit Jura - as above I wear it with a base layer and use it all over winter when it's cold for relatively lightly active stuff like walking

Simpler times!

That’s the bugger I have. Probably from around the same time. 

Windshirt you say? I've a Pertex-like Dare2B which cost £12(!) and is better than some of the previous Montane, Berghaus or Patagonia tops I've had. 

And I said it on the other thread, but the various Rab Vapour Rise tops are my absolute go to when it gets cool and grey out, even down to snow with extra layers. It's much much better cut and featured than Buffalo, better fabric, better performance. There's the cycling Cinder stuff and mountain stuff. On balance I bought the lighter weight running one - and just put thin layers below if I need or big puffy over when I stop. It's like someone has had 30+ years to perfect a Buffalo....