Buffalo - Performance Outdoor Clothing

We would love to hear about your adventures. Please send your images and stories to Email: stories@buffalosystems.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you all.

Dear Buffalo Systems,

Thank you for providing our team members with a Mountain Shirt each for our expedition to Kyrgyzstan. We spent 31 days in the field; experiencing all forms of weather, and I am certain that the jackets were worn 95% of the time. If times got tough, putting on our Mountain Shirts never failed to keep us relaxed, with Buffalo becoming our expedition safe word.

There were several occasions where we would be collecting data on and around the glacier, and see dense rain clouds quickly forming and rolling up the valley towards us; yet we would have little to worry about, safe in the knowledge that a buffalo jacket was stuffed in the bottom of our bags. The combination of being completely robust enough to take an absolute beating and super warm and dry, meant we were confident at times when the Kyrgyz elements were providing challenges hard enough to make Bear Grylls tremble in his boots!

The level of psych this expedition has inspired is through the roof, with all aims completed successfully, and Buffalo systems most definitely being a part of this journey. I feel like any upcoming trip, be it to Scotland this coming winter, or potential expeditions to other far flung corners of this world, my Buffalo will be an essential part of the kit list. The Mountain Shirt is an all-round workhorse of a jacket that allows you to live comfortably in a complete range of mountain conditions; it provided our team with confidence when it was most needed. And not to mention the stylish Royal Blue colourway that never fails to stir up complements walking around the streets of Sheffield!

Once again, thank you for your kind sponsorship, it was an absolute pleasure to work with the team at Buffalo; and you were part of the support that made this dream a reality. I haveno doubt that we will continue to use this jacket for years to come, and I only have positive reviews to tell!

Cheers from the Uni of Sheffield Ala Archa Expedition!

Hi There,

I first heard of Buffalo over 20 yrs ago, eventually getting a special 6.

I have never been cold whilst wearing it, even when on top of a Munro in a frozen howling

gale.I have been iced up on one side due to the winds and driving sleet.Still kept warm and was glad I had the hood .

I’m often asked by other walkers if I have tried the ‘bog’ test – immersion that is !

Not yet , one day maybe.

Regards

Rob

All over the world

Dear Buffalo Systems

I wanted to thank you for an amazing piece of kit. Since seeing your first shirts on display at the HARROGATE TRADE FAIR many years ago I have been impressed. I have now resorted to replacing my second Buffalo shirt after 20 years of use in the mountains. All the zips still work, but now it is slowly bio degrading from exposure to ultraviolet waves and the ravages of expeditions around the greater ranges. My first shirt saw action with the RAF Mountain Rescue Service. What I like about it is the side zip system for ventilation when on the move, and the generous pocket and pouch system for stuffing hats, gloves, torches, pyrotechnics and just about anything.  It is a work horse on expeditions seeing action on several Himalayan expeditions, the European Alps, Aconcagua and the Munros of Scotland. It comes into its own during bad weather, though most photographs are taken on sunny days when the shirt has a rest day.

Thanks

Terry Moore

CARLISLE

A special story and report from our friend Gordon Bromley at the South Pole

We usually publish stories like Gordon’s on our Stories page, but as Gordon has again given us such a comprehensive review, and has offered us an insight into the work of an Antarctic scientist, we thought the news section, Click Here, would be a great way to share this information and the stunning pictures he has sent. So below is the  email from Gordon.

To read Gordon’s full account of like at the South Pole, please Click Here

Hi

I have been meaning to write this for some time! I would like to thank you for creating such a functional, waterproof and great looking jacket for children. I have only bought one jacket in each age range for child number #1 as no other coat is needed for the rest of the year. They are so well made that each jacket has been handed down to child number #2, still fit for purpose.  I am pleased that you have expanded your range for older children. Many thanks Buffalo!

Fatbiking!

Buffalo belay jacket.
Absolutely perfect for fatbiking in winter. Used this happily between zero and minus 27 with just one baselayer underneath. Stays bone dry on the inside unlike other people’s jackets costing 4 times as much. Used in Northern Sweden and Greenland this winter and on the Baltic Sea.

Absolutely. Great kit. The Swiss guides were amazed I could be so warm and comfortable in such a simple jacket. They were all wearing base layer, fleece and waterproofs.

Stanage Edge, Peak District

Dear Buffalo

Thanks for the great Belay jacket.

Using it a little closer to home here in the UK up at Stanage Edge, Peak District, March 2016 in the freak snow storm we had, it kept me toasty warm and i had to wear it unzipped whilst walking because it’s that warm!

It’s always a pleasure to invest in some homegrown good reliable gear.

James

6 Lads in Scotland!

Dear  Buffalo Team,

For  5 years this bunch of friends coming up to Scotland to build snow holes and face the elements in winter.

Some of us are faithful to Buffalo even longer taking their jackets on adventures around the world.

We would like to thank you for keeping us warm, dry and safe with special 6 jacket we never leave at home.

Kind regards,

The Jimmy’s.

Thousands of kilometers across Canada

Dear Buffalo

Many thanks for the great products–I wore buffalo salopettes and shirt when canoeing thousands of kilometres across Canada in 2003-04, and during the winter there in temps as low as -48C. The salopettes are fantastic for paddling, rolling down the bib on warmer days. More than 10 years on, both shirt and salopettes (with some lovingly applied duct tape) are still going! Thanks again.

Duncan Thomson

Hi.

Over 30 years ago (so long I have forgotten exactly when) I bought a Mountain Shirt, Hood and Jacket from you. I did this after my climbing companion met their designer on a hill walk near Sheffield where I am originally from. The Shirt particularly has had almost constant use since then. I have just had to have the Velcro on the crotch strap replaced.

I have now retired and taken up cycling and once again, the Mountain Shirt has come in as an excellent cycling top (particularly in winter). I thought you might like to know your garments were still going strong after such a long time.

What an excellent and versatile product !

Thank you and regards

Gordon Taylor

Ben Nevis and Arran

I recently walked up Ben Nevis and then home to Lochgoilhead (70miles) to raise money to build an outdoor classroom at the local primary school. My Buffalo mountain shirt did me proud through wind and rain (and pitch dark across Rannoch Moor). I nearly put on my emergency waterproofs one time when the rain got very heavy and sideways, but I stuck with it and dried off very quickly without getting overheated as you do in waterproofs (even ‘breathable’ ones).

Also: We have just received a new batch of mountain shirts for my MR team just in time for winter and I know we will be toasty.

Thank you Buffalo for sticking with a UK manufacture and a quality product (I still wear my wind shirt for running that I bought when I was 17, 20 years ago! and my kids are appropriately dressed in Little Buffalo for Argyll weather).

Wet and windy on Arran – Rufus and Torben don’t care.

Anna x

Buffalo,

If like me the three layer system has been drummed into you from a young age, it’s very hard to set off for a day’s track with nothing on but the Buffalo Special 6 Shirt (jacket if you’re not familiar with the products) and SP6 trousers and believe all will be fine. But that’s what I did, and despite very low cloud on Glyder Fach and Trayfan (Snowdonia, UK) I’ve never been so comfortable.

During the trip I used the zips to control my body temperature, and our route gave me the opportunity to really test the kit with some walking and scrambling on the North ridge which is physically demanding. Both jacket and trousers allowed more freedom of movement than the three layer system and while we didn’t use ropes I can see how versatile the kit could be.

The large front zip pocket on the jacket is excellent for map, compass and nibbles and very easy to access even with a day pack on while walking.

On the return home both went in the washing machine and were returned to former new condition making the whole experience easy and enjoyable.

I can’t recommend the Buffalo system highly enough.

Kevin Jezzard

Dear Buffalo,

I have been meaning to check in for a year or so ever since I realized you actually have a web site! I have been wearing my buffalo shirt every weekend to ski in Yellowstone National Park where I have lived and worked since 1993. I am from Somerset and I married a park ranger and work here as a Landscape Architect. This is buffalo country (bison actually if you want to be correct about it), and I always thought it ironic that I am the only one here who has a buffalo shirt. I often sing the praises of the shirt when people ask me if I am too cold or too hot and just wait while they are constantly putting more on or taking stuff off. Even in below freezing temperatures and winds I rarely wear anything else and the weather can get pretty warm (winter warm you know) before I get too hot in it. We mostly back-country ski in the park or the wilderness areas around the park. We generally don’t ski where the bison are as they tear up the snow, can be pretty dangerous and don’t hang out in the best skiing areas. Hence I don’t have any pictures of me skiing with the bison in my shirt. Just today I was driving up the road to my favorite ski trail and there were the usual ten or so big bulls standing in the road. I thought about getting out and taking a picture of myself next to them but … didn’t!

The shirt is doing well. It is showing signs of wear. I have seriously worn it every weekend from December to about the end of April for the past fifteen years. I think part of the longevity is due to the fact I rarely wash it – it doesn’t smell so I don’t need to. I don’t wear it in the summer it gets too hot here and though I love it, it isn’t the most comfortable thing to sit around camp in.

Thanks for a great product,

Lynn Bickerton Chan

Hi there

Just letting every one  know that your gear is great, i recently purchased the ha salopettes, the big face jacket and the over sized hood from needle sports, already had your mitts and went for a weekend away in the cairngorms. I’m in assynt mrt and we were training in coire na ciste for the day.the weather was blowing a gale,chucking it down with snow and cold…too every one else that is, all i had on was the gear stated  plus underpants  socks and boots thats it…meanwhile every body else was piling on the layers i was still cosy….this is probably the longest time i’ve spent out in those conditions and at no point did i get chilled, this is really good gear, can’t understand why people want to by the goretex crap. once the day was done headed back to the digs, every one  was complaining about being wet , I’m bone dry and have been all day .here’s a couple of photos from the day.i’m really happy with my purchase. Many thanks . Alan Hastings

Hi Buffalo,

I just thought I’d drop you a quick note & a couple of pics to say how much Natalie loves her little buffalo shirt already! She wore it this weekend up in the Lakes and absolutely loved it 🙂 Fortunately the 4-5 years fits Ok ( just) but these are great for her age ( she is 5 but is tall for her age) and I reckon you should do these in age 5-6 as well 😉

Cheers
Ann

Hi Adam

Just thought I would let you know that I finished the Iditarod cycle race in alsaka. I ended up 8 th doing it in 3 days and 23 hours, which I was quite pleased with for a first attempt. I was leading in the early stages but had some mechanicals which set me back a little. As usual temps were pretty cold. However the Buffalo clothes worked really well. In the pic attached it was -40C and although it was chilly whilst I was moving I didn’t need to put my down jacket. The Buffalo was enough to keep me going. It’s a shame you don’t make a sock system however as I did suffer from frostbite and on my return to the UK spent a week in hospital. Luckily my feet are pretty much back to normal, I haven’t had to have anything amputated, just lost the feeling in the end of my big and little toes.

The only thing I could think of to improve the jacket is some sort of Camelbak pouch. At those temps I needed to wear my camelbak inside the jacket to stop it from freezing and it made the jacket a little tight and the arms short full (and this was with only a small water bladder). It also meant I had to wear a thermal under the buffalo otherwise the pack would have had to be against my skin which was a bit uncomfortable. Some sort of inner pouch would be cool and maybe a way of getting a little extra room in the back panel.

Cheers

James

Thank you Buffalo for such great gear.

My dad reccomended the special 6 shirt to me for fishing. I was looking at all sorts of dedicated fishing clothing but decided to follow his advice and buy the expensive Special 6 shirt. Although pricey i’m very glad I did, this is the warmest most versatile shirt i’ve ever owned and I practically live in it now. Wet, dry, cold, its great. Just make sure to carry an extra if it warms up, the buffalo will cook you.

Well reccomended to all fisherman. The free movement, and light weight is great. You wont get anything better.

Ade
Nottingham

hey buffalo,

i stumbled across the ‘stories’ bit of your site, so i thought i’d add my two penn’orth.
i first wanted a buffalo as a teenage army cadet, but other, more camouflaged, gear got purchased first. silly me.
thus, i left it for 20 years, until my honeymoon in slovenia required the acquisition of a new top. so the special 6 (in green, natch. old habits die hard) it was.
that was last september, and i’ve only just taken it off. my wife is rather pleased that I will now wash it.
it’s the best multipurpose outdoor top i’ve ever owned. from canal boating to canoeing, as warm down gear for running, when cycling, you name it, the buffalo comes along and performs. it’s suffered snags and scrapes, but the quality of production ensure it holds up.
so cheers for continuing to make good gear, here’s a pic of me in my favourite jacket in the afan forest, biking in the snow, feb 2010. and yes, i am wearing a baselayer, which i soon realised wasn’t required.

ta,

daf
team badger
reading uk

Dear Buffalo,

The pictures attached show myself wearing my Special 6 shirt and my Canadian friend who I talked into buying the same shirt. He a big guy- around 6 foot 5 and built like a lumberjack. After measuring him we opted for the largest size available. Unfortunately, we were living in Korea at the time, which meant we were unable to try on the special 6 shirts until they arrived. We should’nt of worried- it fit him perfectly. We then spent 3 weeks in Tibet and got as far as Everest Base Camp- where the photo was taken. In a party of 11, we appeared to be the only people who were comfortable in the howling wind and subzero temperatures, even though all the other group members were fully layered up. At no point did either of us feel cold or uncomfortable. I wore a Helly Hanson lifa underneath, just so I could remove the shirt when we managed to get inside for a brew.

A fantastic piece of gear, which hasnt aged a day in over 3 years.

Regards

Jimmy

Well,

That’s it.  My last Buffalo has finally bit the dust.  I have had it since 1989 and the blue has faded almost to white.  Sea kayaking had corroded the zips, holes had been patched with spinnaker tape and it was only the hood still in half decent shape.  I have a whole wardrobe of down and primaloft stuff but this was always my preferred choice along with my Helly Hansen field jacket  [Like Buffalo, Helly fibre pile was made on the principle- ‘If it ain’t broke, why fix it’?] I intend to buy another mountain shirt, it is lasts as long as the previous one I’ll be an old codger pushing 80!  One last thing, isn’t  it satisfying, almost smug to say youy have a great piece of kit made in the UK?

Chris Ince

Dear Buffalo,

I would just like to take a little time to say brilliant the special 6 shirt is. I work as a fireman in Greater Manchester ,a few of the lads who I work with are on the Urban Search & Rescue Team and they recommended this shirt to me.

During the recent cold snap(08/12/10) we all went up to Coniston to walk up the Old Man, the temperature when we got out of the car was -10 and with the winds at the top i have no idea what it must have dropped too.

At no time of the walk was i cold, the jacket was great, it prevented me from wearing at thermal layer and a gortex shell like some of the other lads. I have included a couple of photos of me in the jacket at the top.

I would definately recommend this jacket to anyone who maybe reading this, stop thinking about it, go and get one you will never look back.

cheers

Geoff

Manchester

Dear Buffalo,

I thought I’d send in a report from the Rockies on my Buffalo kit. Growing up in the UK, I read about Buffalo and intended to at least get a mountain shirt, but for some reason stuck to the traditional layering system. Fast forward a few years and my wife and I started to spend more and more time in Colorado, so I had a great reason to buy the mountain shirt, belay jacket, windshirt and teclite trousers over a couple of years. I just about live in the mountain shirt when I’m out on the hills during the colder months (the belay jacket is great for breaks), and the windshirt is great for cool summer days and afternoon showers (and as a back-up for extreme winter weather). I wore the mountain shirt and belay jacket together while standing still in sub-zero temperatures (working as a photographer covering an ice climbing event) for five hours last week! While others huddled around a fire, I didn’t have to miss a shot.

I’ve attached a photo of me wearing my mountain shirt while out snowshoeing last month. The harsh Rocky Mountain winters are no match for Buffalo!

Regards,

Craig from Colorado (formerly UK)

Dear Buffalo

Please see attached a photo of me and friends wearing a Buffalo windshirt on top on Mont Blanc in a whiteout! This was a 13 hour day and I was completely shattered at the end! It was properly -15c with windchill on top, but all I had on was a thin baselayer, thin fleece & my good old windshirt but I stayed warm and dry!

Great piece of kit packs down small and very light!

Regards