Sunday, March 6, 2016

BibRave Pro Product Review: Merino Wool Buff

Disclaimer: I was recently sent a Merino Wool Buff to review as part of being a BibRave Pro.  Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador) and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!


Have you ever tried any products by Buff? 

I was fortunate as a BibRave Pro to test out the Buff Thermal Hoodie in January and really looking forward to another opportunity from Buff.  The hoodie was great but it’s become more of a “walk the dog” or “running errands” kind of hoodie whereas the Merino Wool Buff has become a staple to my cold weather running outfits.

So what’s a Merino Wool Buff?

The Buff website describes the Merino Wool Buff as a “multifunctional, tubular accessory ideal for many activities.  The Merino wool in Wool Buff keeps you warm in the cold, wicks moisture to keep you cool when its hot and being anti-microbial, does not start to smell after wear.  This natural fabric is super soft and odor resistant.”

I chose the color Grana, which is a red.  It wasn’t as bright as the picture online but it is a nice, darker shade of red.

While there are tons of ways to wear the Merino Wool Buff, my favorite is a scarf or headband.  The day my new Buff came in the mail, I was getting ready for work and hurrying to gather all my run clothes and forgot bobby pins so I ended up wearing the Buff as a headband to keep my bangs under control.  It was perfect!

Side Note: There is a really cool video (www.buffwear.com/ways-to-wear) that shows ways to wear the Merino Wool Buff.  I have not gotten that creative but the guy in the video totally makes all the different styles look super easy. 

Wearing the Buff as a scarf is fun—both for fashion and function.  It’s pretty long (66cm or about 1/3 longer than the Original Buff) so I thought it would be floppy in my face as I was running, but it seems to always stay in place.  My trouble is that the Buff is pretty loose fitting so that when the wind starts gusting and I try to pull it over my face, I have a hard time getting it to stay up.  The fabric is very thin but surprisingly warm!  I’ve worn it in 30 degree weather and stayed comfortable.  Anything colder then that, I may have to be more creative and make the “helmet liner” version.


Other bonuses:
·      Merlino wool is “warm without the itch”—really, I hate itchy material and this does not itch.
·      It’s odor free!  I haven’t noticed any sweaty, post-run smells lingering yet.
·      If you order directly from the Buff website, 1% of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to a non-profit organization that works for the environment.  Pretty cool!
·      Lots of fun colors.  I had a hard time choosing!  In fact, I’m currently eyeing the Floki: http://www.buffwear.com/lifestyle-hats-collection-place-forward-order-here/floki-wool-buff

Cons:
·      I’m not sure how it would fair in freezing temperatures.  I tend to hibernate if its that cold, so I guess that’s not really a problem for me!
·      I want more colors to match all my running outfits.  I chose the red, which doesn’t really go with any or my cold weather running gear!  What was I thinking!

Join us on Twitter for the BUFF sponsored #BibChat on March 15th at 9pm EST!




Happy running!


P.S. Georgie gives Buff “2 paws up!”


No comments:

Post a Comment