BUFFering with Pizzazz

When we run and workout, it’s very important to have the right clothing/gear to protect us from the elements, not the least of which is the sun. Training especially in the summer puts us at very high exposure to heat, humidity, and solar rays that can damage our skin. One of the most important parts of the new Buff original headwear is the UPF 50 rating. What does this mean? On average, it blocks 98% of UV rays. This is a big deal. For my longer runs, I’ve been applying sunblock and carrying it with me. Although I still lean on that, it’s good to have added assurance of being able to cover my forehead, ears, and neck while using the Buff in the ideal location for that day.

I did test the Petzl headlamp on one run under the Buff headwear to show you that it blocks some of the light but the headlamp light is still visible. See below.

The Buff fabric in the new original headwear is impressively comfortable, responsive, stretchable (ultra stretch), and can be easily maneuvered (even when running with a dog on the leash). It only takes a couple seconds to move the Buff if we need to shift it.

The versatility is very impressive. I tested this Buff wearing it as a hat, headband, scarf, layering it with other Buffs/hats, and adjusting it in the back to cover the neck in what I would call the “desert” approach to protect us in heat/humidity/sun.

Another important part of the manufacture of this amazing headwear is the use of recycled materials. Each of these new original buffs is made with 2 recycled plastic bottles. So if you pick up two water bottles on your run to recycle, you’re looking at what is used to make these Buffs. It is environmentally responsible and respectful. We should be recycling as much as possible. And if a company uses recycled products like this, it’s important to consider that if you decide to make a purchase.

The fabric is polyester microfiber. It feels light as a feather. Some days I couldn’t even tell it was there. That is important because some products fit a little too tight to the head and can cause headaches (hats for example). I didn’t have that problem with this Buff.

While training for the Des Moines Marathon, I experienced stormy weather, sunny/hot/humid weather, lots of wind, rain, and some chilly weather. So I was able to test the new Buff in all of these conditions and it performed very well. The Buff stays on and stays where you put it. It doesn’t move around or fly off your head in windy conditions (like some hats made by other companies just to pick an example).

I did test the Buff covering my mouth to keep warm on a few runs and it worked for that too. It does have thermal insulation. So it’s good for covering ears too on hot, sunny, cold, or windy days.

Confession: I sweat a lot when I run and workout. And I run daily. So the product’s ability to wick moisture away from me is very important. And Buff just completely took my sweat out of play. No sweat dripping in my eyes at all when I wore this. That’s rare.

Comparing this Buff to the other ones I’ve used, this one has become my favorite, especially for year-round use and maximum solar protection. Skin cancer is a risk for all of us so think about that.

For much colder weather, I might use my Buff Thermonet instead (I have previously reviewed this on the blog for BibRave as well). Or we could layer the new Buff with the Thermonet.

During my training, I noticed I wasn’t getting sunburn like I sometimes do on my face (my nose is still vulnerable). But my forehead was very well protected. I pretty much relied very heavily on the new original Buff during my long runs in particular when I saw the UPF 50 rating. And it performed very well.

You will notice with this Buff it seems more lightweight than some others. It is completely seamless (which is amazing). And there is a natural crease so if you like to fold these in rectangles/squares for storage, that gives you a line to work from.

This Buff manages moisture better than any other headwear I’ve used.

The ultra stretch means it can stretch easily in 4 different directions. And I tested that a little bit to confirm. (You can wear it over your ears or not too.)

Any weaknesses or disdvantages of this product? Nope.

I’ve already decided on wearing this Buff for the Des Moines Marathon this weekend (either on my head or neck~or on my head covering my neck in back if it’s sunny). I’ve trained with it. It works very well. Why change what’s working?

It’s easy to wash and dry, it dries very quickly after washing.

This Buff just makes running and working out more fun and enjoyable, more pleasant.

The design of these Buffs is amazing. The colors and options available are fantastic. (I tested the Original Bering Night color scheme if you like this one.) You can truly buffer your runs and workouts with pizzazz and keep your powder dry. Who wants to carry all that sweat around anyway? Let Buff handle it. You’ll be glad you did. How can you find a Buff? Look here: BuffUsa.com

Thanks for listening.