Buff Camo "Multifunctional Headwear" Review

The Original Buff is a handy tube of fabric that stretches in one direction, available in many colors and patterns. Most notably for hunters, it comes in a variety of camo patterns. It's useful for concealment as a face mask and/or head cover, can be used to add warmth to your face and neck, or to wick away sweat during hot weather.

I like my Buff, and I foresee it becoming a permanent part of my hunting gear, though I'll probably need to wash it fairly often to eliminate odors. It easily crams into a pocket or pack when it's not being worn.

"Drop your Buffs." Most of us have heard that phrase on the television show Survivor, but I hadn't thought all that much about it. The show is a good showcase for the original Buff's versatility, which is largely limited only by one's imagination.

When I was contacted about trying a Buff in Mossy Oak Treestand camo, I didn't hesitate. I have learned the value of head and neck gear in the woods for concealment and comfort, and Buff's original offering easily provides both.

When it arrived, I started playing with the many ways it can be worn, most of which are illustrated on the package. Pretty cool.

I've used it a lot doing hot-weather work at my hunting lease this summer. During warm weather (working or hunting), I usually wear a cap with mesh sides and back. I've found that adding the Buff under my cap helps wick sweat away from my eyes instead of allowing it to burn my eyes and drip all over my glasses. I simply pull the end of the tube over my head and allow the "tail" to drape rearward, which shades my neck against the burning sun.

I've worn the Buff that way while putting up tree stands, doing tractor work, even clearing brush at home. Now that I've tried the Original Buff, I don't like to be without it.

More recently, it came in handy to help me keep warm instead of cool. An unusual 52-degree morning at a dove shoot found me with a chilly stubble-covered scalp (I'd buzzed my hair a few days before, to keep cool). No worries - I twisted and doubled my Buff into a good replacement for a stocking cap, slapped a ball cap on top to keep the sun out of my eyes, and was perfectly comfortable.

Archery season is almost here, and I expect to get lots of good use out of my camo Buff. I will most likely wear it to cover my head and neck as described above, and as a neck gaiter, face mask, balaclava, or cap.

What I don't like is my Buff's tendency to stink, and to retain the odor, after I've sweated in it (even after it dries). It's understandable, but the package claims "active odor control," so I expected more. You should expect to wash it out with some soap and water after sweating in it much. At least it dries quickly.

All in all, the Original Buff is a useful tube of camouflaged fabric that will definitely be on my head or close by in a pocket during all or most of my hunting this season.

- Russ Chastain

Disclosure: A review sample was provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.