Buff

I think I have been lucky enough to finally find the ultimate travel accessory and luckier still to be able to try it on my most recent trip to Asia. We all have personal items that we won’t leave behind when getting ready for a long trip somewhere. We all have our little packing rituals and, from now on, mine definitely includes packing my original Buff. For those of you that are not familiar with this particular item, you may have seen it worn on a number of discovery channel documentaries as well as the more populist TV series ‘Survivor’.

At first glance it has the look of a neck warmer but it does much, much more than that. In the words of its maker, the Buff helps keep its wearer comfortable, guarding against the cold, sun, wind or dust in a wide range of rapidly changing outdoor settings. The item we tested was the Merino Wool Buff which keeps you warm in the cold, wicks moisture and keeps you cool when it’s hot. This natural fabric is super soft, odour resistant, water repellent and offers UV Protection. Ingeniously the Buff can be worn in a multitude of different ways and - as a result – it has become widely known as the definitive multifunctional headwear.

There are officially at least 12 different ways to wear an Original Buff on your head. Some of the most popular uses include a hat, headband, neck gaiter, balaclava, sun, wind or dust screen, bandana, helmet liner, scarf, pirate-style cap and hair band. My personal favourite on this trip was the pirate-style cap… but then again it depends on where you are and what you are doing!

The most intriguing part of the Buff is that it has attained cult status with its wearers, people will notice and other savvy travellers will nod to you in approval. The site has an incredible array of colours available, there are designs and patterns for every occasion and even a custom design and print service for clients interested in promoting their own brand.

Have a look at the Buff website and start choosing yours now, you won’t regret it!


Technical features of our test item
Material: 100% natural Merino Wool (the best eco choice for us)
Weight: 48 grams
Dimensions: 70cm or 27.5” x 24cm or 9.5”
Sizing: Standard fits most adults
Seam Free: No irritating seams, flat hem to ends
Easy Care: Machine washable. Non-iron. Merino Wool Buff® is naturally elastic and will retain its shape
Colours: MERINO WOOL BUFF® is colour fast and won’t fade