Buff or not to Buff?

[Dejon Hamann]

Is this the corniest fishing trend in years or am I missing something?

What's next?  Full black arabic fishing Hijabs?

[Alain Barthelemy]

The fashionable prints and colors are indeed corny, but the function of the buff is terrific.  I wear mine for the sun protection at mid-day, but also for warmth in the early morning.  They are more comfortable than tying on a bandanna.  I'm pretty sure everyone knows someone that has dealt with skin cancer.

Same thing goes for the sun-protection gloves, I love the ones I use from "Dr. Shade."

[Anita Coulton]

I think they're kinda cool, although some of us don't look nearly as cool as some others do in the buff....

Jokes aside, it's a piece of gear that has a practical purpose.  Some of you guys are on the water a LOT, and let's face it....we're not getting any younger.  I can say from experience, that skin cancer is NO joke, and will stop you in your tracks.  So, I say, lighten up and be willing to look a bit silly to save your skin. 

[Timothy Grey]

So, I say, lighten up and be willing to look a bit silly to save your skin. 

It's not about looking silly, it's all about looking cool, man.

I agree with Dejon ..... trendy and corny.  Better ways to beat the sun.

[Bob Lux]

I wore mine out at Yellowstone a few weeks ago and am glad I did. Even though it wasn't hot, the sun was so intense that one of the guys with me got such a bad sunburn that he started to bleed. I do agree that some of the prints are corny, but the payoff is better than coming down with something in a few years. As a surveyor, I used to work outside a lot and used to laugh off getting too much sun because I was so tan that I never really got burned bad. Either I have gotten older or I am working inside too much, but now I get a pretty nasty burn on my face when spending too much time outside. I prefer the Simms ones because they are of a much lighter material than the original Buffs.

[Mark Hanes]

The more the think about the functionality of one the more I want one.  I am sure I will be getting one before to long.  

[Allen Bole]

What colors would you recommend?

[Kalvin Kaloz]

Allen,
Team bole should go with pink for sure...

Before they were buff, they were issued to keep the sand out of ears, nose, and mouth. Worked great!

I use mine more to keep my neck cool... dip it in the 54 degree spring creek water and put it around your neck. Keep the hypothalamus cool you will be cool. I use it much more in the winter to keep the air off my neck and ears!

[Aaron Laing]

I use a simple red bandana to keep the sun off my neck and soak it with water to keep cool when it's hot. It also doubles as a glass and hand cleaner when required. To keep the sun off the rest of me I go with high collar long sleeve shirts, sunscreen and a french foreign legion hat--I look pretty goofy on the water but I don't need to mess around with sunburn. Facial hair and darker skin help too. Haven't felt the need for gloves yet, but that may come one day.

I'm going to pass on the buff for now, but might go down that road if I can get it with a disrupter camo pattern. 

Aaron

[Steven Good]

I like the Buff,  I picked one up for the America Cup and used it everyday.  When it was real sunny I used it for sun protection, when it was cold and damp it kept my neck warm.  I would recommend.

Just like knee pads.  I was reluctant to try them and even made fun of one of my teammates for wearing them however once I gave them a try I found them hard to beat.

[Clyde Olson]

The sun is good for at least two things: growing tomatoes and skin cancers.   Not only is one at risk from direct sun, but like secondary smoke, indirect sunlight, as, sunlight bouncing off the water surface can be harmful.  You need more than a brimmed- hat.  For at least 25 years I have worn a hat and Sahara cape.  Not pretty, but having a squamous cell cancer removed from in front of my right ear about 15 years ago, being pretty became unimportant.  I wear a 'darling' RBT or Steelhead Buff design now and it's great.  Oh, and your right, I had misgivings about wearing shin guards but just retuned from WI after having done so for four days and the guards were great: bushwacked through streamside brush with little worry about puncturing my waders, never really was aware of the added weight---and best of all, 'looked' like  a genuine comp fisherman.  Bottom line, if one is light complected(Nordic) and burns rather than tans,  for sure you owe it to yourself to protect your skin, or--- plan to spend a lot of time in the plastic surgeon's office down the road.

[Mark Hanes]

What is the difference between the Buff and the Simms version?

[Anita Coulton]

For those of you more inclined to do the bandana thing, check out the Buff website and look at the Kafta Kool ties.  It takes that wet bandana one step further......pretty neat concept, and very functional.  May be one step lower on the goof-0-meter too.....just tossing it out there....

[Bob Lux]

What is the difference between the Buff and the Simms version?

I friend of mine who uses the "Buff" tried my Simms one out and said he like the Simms one better because it didn't seem like it would be as hot on the neck as his Buff is. Compared to the one he had, the Simms is a much lighter and breathable material. I think they are about the same price.

[Bj Haegele]

The buff is both as stylish as it is effective.  Haha.  Really, I do use one all the time, I work outside quite a bit and all of the old timers have bad skin cancer on their ears and lips now from the years of no protection.  Sun screen is great but I'm not a fan of it getting on my line or gear, and reapplying, who is doing that.  Light solid colors are the best as they don't heat up in the sun.  Stop thashing the buff D, your just jealous you can't get it over the pony tail. HA

[Alain Barthelemy]

I bought the "striper" buff because the fabric finish is a bit like aqua-colored camouflage.  Some of the other designs seem too loud for stealthy stalking.  It is pretty easy to get used to, and very compact to store in your vest or pack.  I use the buff more than the gloves.  Obviously, sun protection is more important when fishing wide streams.

[Sean Crocker]

 I started using a Buff this year and now I wont fish without it. My Irish skin ignites in the sun so the extra protection is well woth it !

[Alex Metcalf]

What colors would you recommend?

I've been resisting, too, but it does seem like a good idea on intense sun days. As for color, I'll probably go with a lighter color for hot days, darker for cold ones...same as the streamers.