It took my 7-year-old son to spot the potential of Buff headwear (as worn in my photo). Picking one up in a kit shop and with one eye on the promotional video playing at the display he threw it to me and said, “Daddy, that’s for running in!” I did just that (having paid, I should add) and now I’m a fully fledged convert.
I’ve always favoured fairly stripped down running but since stepping up to ultra distances there’s certainly plenty of potential – not to mention good reason – to “kit up” at least a little and the first Buff I picked up proved the perfect addition to my running gear. They can be worn in seemingly inexhaustible configurations from headband to beanie, each providing excellent wicking and/or sun protection or, in bad weather, additional warmth.
My original Buff kept the torrential rain out of my eyes at this year’s Dartmoor Ultra Marathon and has since kept sweat out at both the Wycombe Half and New Forest 10 where a quick drenching at a water station also helped temperature regulation.
High UV Visor Buff
My collection has now grown to include the excellent High UV Protection Buff and a Visor Buff which combines the original microfiber Buff with a neoprene peak – both of which will, no doubt, prove invaluable when I run the Namibia 24-hour Ultra Marathon.
