Buffs any good?

FOAD

As a baldy who also leaks through the head far too much, I am looking for a light weight and cool wicking solution to be worn under the helmet.

I am considering getting a Buff UV or Buff headband.

Has anyone used either of these who can comment on them? I guess the alternatives are a bandana or a very lightweight skull cap (I can't find one).

nasahapley

I'm a sweaty git and use a buff for both running and cycling - though I suppose they are a bit pricey for what they are they do work well and are fairly versatile.

R_T_A

I think they're great for summer/autumn, although I'm sure that there other things on the market. They're great because of their versatility (as mentioned by nasahapley), but the big plus for me is they're pretty quick drying so if you commute they're bone dry for the journey home.

GyatsoLa

Buffs are great for that. The lighter the better.

I'm not sure if its a climate or a fashion thing, but over the winter I was cycling in Taiwan and virtually every cyclist i saw was wearing a buff under his or her helmet.

FOAD

I have one on order from Wiggle, but as it as an "original" I guess it may be too thick for summer use. Anyone know how thick/light the UV ones are compared to the original?

ColinJ

I'm a buff fan (I have two). They are great for cold through to warm conditions, but I find them too thick for mid-summer use. I have a lightweight bandana that I use for bald-spot protection and sweat-mopping duties on hot days.

Even the banadana feels a bit much on the rare days when temperatures get over 25 degrees or so. I soak it in cold water then and it is okay until the water evaporates.

PS I should add that I still have most of my hair. If I was fully bald, I reckon that I'd be okay with a buff up to temperatures in the high-20s.

FOAD

I just ordered a summer (High UV) version of the Buff which is apparently thinner with coolmax and some anti-bacterial stuff in it (technical me). Should do the job and will report back on how I get on.

LittleB0b

First things first - they are not cool in any way.

BUT (and i hate to admit this) they are uber useful - I have never bought one, but have manged to aquire 2 now, and wear them all the time in winter.

They are great under helmets; I wear mine in a kind of nun/hajib like way, and it's been keeping my neck and ears warm when all other extremities are frozen.

I also use it on the hill all the time either folded into a headband or under a hat, to plug the gap around my ears.

(apologies for the grossness) they also make a hand snot rag when all alse fails.

jimmcdonnell

Buffs are genius, indispensable kit. Hat, scarf, sweatband if you wrap it round your wrist, under your road helmet if it's chilly or you're too sweaty, headband, hairband if your gf loses hers, boob tube if she's skinny (no really, look on the Buff website videos) - I've amassed a collection of about 15.

Chaz.Harding

+1 for Buff's.

People will say they're for MTB'ers only, but no way.

Mine are awesome when it's cold (only have 2, not 15 :shock: :shock: )

scottgeniusltd2005

endura do a pack of 3 for £6.99 according to their site. yet to see any in lbs, i'm sure they would order if i asked. i have 3 and think they are great.

bikeboff

I discovered just how useful they were on my LeJoG last year. I spent the first two days constantly wiping sweat out of my eyes, and decided to try a Buff under my helmet. Problem solved.

I've worn one on all long rides ever since.

sylvanus

They are unbearably naff and should be worn only by style-challenged overweight Germans. No self-respecting roadie should be seem dead in one. Don't do it - the much better alternative is a peaked cotton cycling cap which can be obtained from almost anywhere, If you want the RR version then look at Rapha but Wiggle or Prendas do loads, all of which are fine...

In winter a thermal cap or peaked cap works even better. Do not ever wear a buff - its like wearing a g-string on the beach or allowing your trousers to sink below your crack - too horrible for words. I'm lobbying Gordon Brown to tax them into oblivion...

nickwill

sylvanus wrote:

They are unbearably naff and should be worn only by style-challenged overweight Germans. No self-respecting roadie should be seem dead in one. Don't do it - the much better alternative is a peaked cotton cycling cap which can be obtained from almost anywhere, If you want the RR version then look at Rapha but Wiggle or Prendas do loads, all of which are fine...

In winter a thermal cap or peaked cap works even better. Do not ever wear a buff - its like wearing a g-string on the beach or allowing your trousers to sink below your crack - too horrible for words. I'm lobbying Gordon Brown to tax them into oblivion...

I must ride with a bunch of style challenged incognito Germans then, because nearly all of the people I ride with use buffs. Cotton caps get sweaty, and thermal caps get itchy. Buffs just work.

ColinJ

Nickwill wrote:

I must ride with a bunch of style challenged incognito Germans then, because nearly all of the people I ride with use buffs. Cotton caps get sweaty, and thermal caps get itchy. Buffs just work.

Also, buffs fit large heads like mine whereas I have yet to find a cap which does.

PS I would quite like to own a cycling cap or two for wearing off the bike on cool evenings. Does anybody know where I can buy large-sized caps (to fit a 63 cm head)?

nasahapley

sylvanus wrote:

They are unbearably naff and should be worn only by style-challenged overweight Germans. No self-respecting roadie should be seem dead in one. Don't do it - the much better alternative is a peaked cotton cycling cap which can be obtained from almost anywhere, If you want the RR version then look at Rapha but Wiggle or Prendas do loads, all of which are fine...

I am a style-challenged overweight German, and you're bang in trouble if I ever catch up with you! But then I see you're advocating the wearing of Rapha, so we can safely ignore anything you say

popette

I have a cap - it always leaves a really nasty groove in my forehead. I look like a mad woman when I take it off.

I've recently started wearing buffs - I have a winter weight one and a lighter one (pressie from Cheshire Cat ride) - if there is an even lighter UV one, I'm going to get one of those too. I think that they're really handy and for me and my head, are much more flattering than skull caps or cotton caps. I like looking like a nun 8)

bompington

I wear mine in the old fashioned military "cap-comforter" style off the bike, I find it suitable for everyday use (fluoro orange / hi-vis stripe makes a great fashion statement, Sylvanus) as well as skiing & mountaineering down to about -10.
When I'm on the bike it's much more useful as a scarf / face mask when the temperature gets below about +5 (that's most of the time in Scotland); pulled down for sweaty climbs, pulled up over the chin & ears for into-the-wind descents.
I'm not German, I am overweight but I've never been overtaken by someone wearing an old-fashioned cotton cycling cap, possibly because all the riders I've seen wearing them have been over 80. Naff? Who gives a monkey's?

don_don

Buffs are fab, summer and winter. I've used mine under a bike helmet, as a hat, scarf and a face-cloth / towel on an Alps trip!

I recently cut 1/3 off mine and used the short bit under the helmet on a trip to Spain, which was perfect. I'll use the rest as a winter 'top-up' if I can ever get it back off my mate!

To be fair, another good suggestion is cutting the sleeve off an old T-shirt to do the same job. Seems sensible but I didn't have one to hand in Spain.

I didn't know about the summer UV ones - will definitely look into buying one of those.

Nuggs

ColinJ wrote:

Also, buffs fit large heads like mine whereas I have yet to find a cap which does.

You are a large headed style-challenged overweight German with a penchant for naff headwear AICMFP

sylvanus

Cotton caps get sweaty, and thermal caps get itchy

Not in my experience and apparently not in the experience of the pro peloton who all wear cotton caps under their helmet from time to time. Its only the pikey old pros of the 90s like Pantani or Brochard who wore a buff - presumably Brochard found it useful to keep his mullet under control and Pantani was mad as a bag of ferrets so we have to forgive him. There really is no excuse for wearing them now.

sylvanus

Does anybody know where I can buy large-sized caps (to fit a 63 cm head)?

I'd try some on in your LBS - I can't find any cheap large caps - the assos one is larger sized so try that and if not then the rapha ones are very good and will last you years - they come in all sizes. For a head bigger than 60cm then apparently you'll need the large.

http://rapha.cc/index.php?page=96

There must be other alternatives - Maggy Backstedt was a habitual cap wearer and he has a 65com head (I think!)...

Actually Giordano do different sizes as well and should be cheaper - my wifi link her is so poor I can't seem to search properly but guess they must be easy enough to buy on the net - Giordano always seem to me to be close to Assos quality without the cost or ubiquity...

giant_man

sylvanus wrote:

Cotton caps get sweaty, and thermal caps get itchy

Not in my experience and apparently not in the experience of the pro peloton who all wear cotton caps under their helmet from time to time. Its only the pikey old pros of the 90s like Pantani or Brochard who wore a buff - presumably Brochard found it useful to keep his mullet under control and Pantani was mad as a bag of ferrets so we have to forgive him. There really is no excuse for wearing them now.

Classic.

FOAD

Well I finally got to wear my summer buff yesterday.

I wore it as a skull cap with it quite high above the ears so it couldn't be seen apart from through the vents. It did a cracking job of keeping sweat from my eyes but best of all the helmet was far more comfortable and secure.

After the first leg of my ride (to the in-laws :shock: ) it was soaking mind you, but dried quickly enough to be worn an hour later for the return journey.

It will definitely be under my helmet until it is cold enough for a proper skull cap.

LittleB0b

sylvanus wrote:

They are unbearably naff and should be worn only by style-challenged overweight Germans.

I always think of them as more scandinavian than german...

BigG67

I got an UV/Coolmax one for a trip to SA and it really does work.

Main goal was to stop my bald head from burning but there was a massive benefit in keeping the sweat from running down my face.

...hmmm....1980/90's stylee cap vs a piece of cloth that hides under the helmet...hmm...now which is the naff one and which isn't and I'd rather look like Pantani than the Kaiser...

http://zerofilter.typepad.com/.shared/i ... llrich.jpg

And I'd guess that the peleton like caps 'cos they can get more logos on the front.....