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UV Insect Shield Buff
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High UV Protection Buff
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Wool Buff
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Neckwarmer Buff
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Polar Buff
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Polar Buff Reversible
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Hood Buff
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Cyclone Buff
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Angler II Gloves
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Fighting Work II Gloves
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Water Gloves
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MSX Gloves
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| Atlantic Bluefin Tuna design |
So after looking at all these striking patterns I was left a little deflated when I clicked on the link for the Polar Buff and there were just two to choose from! Both were Mossy Oak designs, the kind of camouflage favoured by hunters in the states. The product description for the Polar Buff is as follows ‘The simple addition of a section of Classic Polartec® fleece to Original BUFF® makes this the ultimate in winter headgear. With both the microfibre and the fleece section printed with a Mossy Oak® design you’re sure to keep warm and blend in with your surroundings.’
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| MO Break Up Infinity/Alabaster Mossy Oak |
A day or so later they e-mailed me again to say the Polar Buff had been dispatched and they also included a little video demo which shows you how many different ways you can wear the Buff. The clip is below and I must admit it was a revelation, with my limited knowledge of the product I had assumed it was basically a type of neck scarf that could also be worn bandana/Foreign Legion style with a flap to protect the neck from the sun. Yes the Buff can be used like this but it can do so much more, take a look at the demo and I’m sure you’ll be as impressed as I was, what an innovative product!
It arrived on the Saturday, just in time for me to wear fishing the following day and as it had been really cold with a frost most mornings, it should be the ideal conditions to try out the Polar Buff.
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| The design on my Buff was the Mossy Oak Break Up Infinity |
I had a play around with it and I have to admit Henry (in the demo above) made it look easy, my results weren’t quite so good (see below) but nothing a bit of practice wouldn’t put right although I wouldn’t suggest walking into a bank looking like this!
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| I look a bit like terrorist but you can clearly see how the fleece section on the bottom of the Buff keeps the neck warm |
I wore it on the Sunday and actually finished fourth in the match with 13lb of chub but I’m not sure I can attribute that to the Buff! I just wore it around my neck and it did the job, keeping any chills out and I also loved the fact that when it started to get darker and all those annoying little flies and midges, that seem intent on trying to get you to swallow them, came out, you can just pull the Buff up over your mouth to counteract them. I’m just so impressed with my Buff, what a simple idea (the best ones always are), you can just stuff it in your coat pocket as it doesn’t take up much space so you’ve always got it with you.
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| The Polar Buff catches you chub! (although I’ll try to ensure the label isn’t sticking out next time!) |
To be honest for what I’m going to use it for, the Neckwarmer Buff or Wool Buff would probably be more suited to the job but then I also really like the Polar Buff Reversible and an Original Buff will be ideal for the next time I go to Gillhams in Thailand but what design to get? (there are 211 to choose from!), decisions, decisions, decisions. Maybe they could do a perch or tench design for the UK angling market!
I do urge you to have a look at their website Kitshack, I’ve spent ages looking through some of the really cool designs, check out the Star Wars Darth Vader! Prices for the Original Buff are £15 or £16 depending on the design, the Neckwarmer Buffs are £15 or £18, the Wool Buffs are £25, Polar Buffs are £26 and the Polar Buff Reversible are £26 or £27. They also do a range of gloves, some of which might be ideal for winter fishing but I’ll have to get some and let you know. Free delivery is available for all UK orders plus the Rest of the World on orders over £25.
Whilst looking around their website I came across the Care Instructions section which made me chuckle, ‘Your Buff headwear is made of pretty strong stuff, in fact it might possibly out last you. However, if you notice a strange aroma after a few months of use, all you need do is either wash by hand using any form of detergent or machine wash at any temperature and it will not stretch, shrink or run as Buff headwear is completely colourfast. When it comes to drying all you need do is run down the street with your Buff trailing behind and after a good hour on the run it should be dry or just hang it on the line because it will dry in minutes.’
I can’t express enough how impressed I am with the product and the company (and I’m not just saying it because they sent me a free Buff!), they do a lot for charity and focus on supporting loads of the sports and activities through grassroots sponsorship. Have a look at their charity page.
Finally I will leave you with a little factoid, Buff is derived from the word ‘bufanda’, which means ‘scarf’ in Spanish.
*Kitshack sent me this product for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained in this post are my own.
