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If you're a fan of the show "Survivor," then you know about the Buff. If you aren't a fan -- like me -- then at first glance you'll be really underwhelmed. "Yeah, OK, so it's a headband -- big deal."
I was wrong.
"In the most basic of explanations," the company says on its website, "Buff® headwear is a seamless tube of fabric that can be worn in a variety of ways. Think 'multitasking bandana.' "
The sketches on the tag show the 12 different ways the company suggests wearing it. But I still wasn't quite sold ... why would I want to look like a pirate? And how would my pirate look help my marathon times?
I didn't appreciate the Buff's versatility until I threw it -- as an afterthought -- into my bag the night before a 50-mile race.
Temperatures before the race's 0630 start were in the mid-40s, so I threw it on headband-style for the pre-race wanderings, and then decided to go ahead and keep it on for the start. During the chilly morning miles, the Buff kept my ears warm and kept the sweat out of my eyes. As the temperatures climbed into the upper 50s -- 10 or 12 miles in -- I ditched the Buff in favor of my usual visor. The Buff was getting a little warm, but mostly the sun was getting bright.
The Buff is designed to wear year-round. It's 100 percent microfiber polyester, features CoolMax -- a four-channel fiber transport system that pulls moisture to the outer layers of the fabric for quicker drying -- and boasts 95 percent UV protection. I'm not so sure about wearing it all summer long; it seems like a lot of fabric to have on your head when it's sweltering out.
By the time we hit the 28-mile mark, we were cooking in the bright sun and abnormally high temperatures. This was when the light bulb went on and the Buff became invaluable. I had a buddy dunk it in ice water, then I put it around my neck gaiter-style and filled it with ice. The Buff is long enough that you can roll the ice in a tube of fabric, keeping it in place, but also keeping it from bouncing around. Throughout the rest of the race, I'd re-wet the fabric and refill it with ice. This arrangement kept me from overheating the rest of the day. This wear method isn't mentioned on the instructions, but it should be. In my opinion, it's the item's best summer use.
The Buff I was wearing is from the company's hunting line, so it had been treated with Permethrin insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes, ticks, flies and other annoying bugs. The treatment is advertised to last through 70 washings. I can't be certain it was helping, but I definitely ate fewer bugs than the runners in my group.
Several of the wear styles look great for winter. I'd defiantly wear it as a neck gaiter or as a beanie. It also looks like it would be great to wear under bike helmets and any other hat/helmet you don't want to get stanky with sweat. And just for fun, I'll probably (try to) rock the pirate look a couple times.
Buffs are $20 to $33 on the Buff website.
Sara Davidson, lead editor at PT365, is an ultrarunner and resident women's gear destroyer.
