Of all of the walking gear, I possess no one was more surprised than
I to discover that one of my favourite bits of ‘kit’ would be the humble
buff. This lightweight tube of fabric is so simple in design and so
lacking in gadgetry that for many years I deliberately shunned them.
In fact, I positively disliked them!
I have never been keen on having things around my neck because I
always had that feeling of being constricted. I never wore scarves and
wouldn’t dream of hanging a camera around my neck and as for neckties?
Like most men, I have always begrudged having to wear one.
I don’t recall exactly when but one day I returned home after to work
and found myself to be the owner of a newly acquired original buff.
Susan, my better half, had seen a gap in my ‘setup’ and although
usually very frugal, especially with walking gear, had purchased me a
rather fetching plain blue buff to match the many blue items I already
possessed.
I am one of those difficult people to shop for. Fussy some might say.
I don’t like people buying me anything especially clothes. I prefer to
buy things myself usually after some considerable thought. I don’t want
people to buy me socks or pants for Christmas and I never ever want a
jumper for any reason! I am especially diligent (fussy) when it comes to
outdoor clothing and gear.
Susan, acutely aware of this, was taking a risk by buying me not only
a present that you wear but an item you wear out whilst walking or
trekking but she took the plunge and I am very glad she did!
Buffs, weighing next to nothing, are an easy thing to pop into your
rucksack and forget, and that is largely what I did. I figured that it
would be useful only when I found myself on a hill somewhere needing to
cover my nose and mouth to help keep out the driving wind or rain.
It was not until Susan and I went trekking in Nepal that I first
started to appreciate what a useful item the Buff could be. We had been
in Nepal for a few days and in spite of wearing a wide brim hat, my neck
had started to burn. It was Susan who first suggested that I wear my
Buff around my neck to prevent any further sunburn and it worked an
absolute treat. So much so that I didn’t even both to apply any sun
cream on my neck for the rest of the trip.
I also found the Buff invaluable for keeping the dust out of my nose
and mouth every time one of the local buses or jeeps drove passed us on
the very, very dusty roads and for pulling up over my ears when in
freezing cold and biting winds we had higher up in the mountains without
overly limiting my hearing.
Now, trekking or travelling, hot or cold, rain or shine, my Buff is
the first thing that goes in my rucksack.