I know you all may have one, and I've had one for a while. However, I learned a few things I thought I'd share while I sit around in my forced rest mode. (I really, really dislike resting my ankle at all ... but I do much better if I rest it once a week for at least a half a day.)
During my walk earlier this week I tried to use an Original Buff as a headband, ear cover thingie ... and just about squeezed my glasses off my face a few times while adjusting it. I realized what I probably needed was one of the new Half Buffs that I saw recently at REI.
After a detailed inspection of the fabric of the Original Buff I own and a quick call to Buff customer service to confirm I could do what I was planning ... my Original Buff became two Half Buffs.
Perfect for my needs!
On my next morning walk I tested my new Half Buff as an ear warmer, partial balaclava and hat holder. I pulled it up over my mouth and ears and lodged it midway up the back of my head. It worked perfectly. No glasses trying to pop off my head, my neck wasn't too warm, and I only partially looked like the neighborhood nutball.
Pleased with myself (of course) for creating two perfectly sized buffs and yet still wanting something warmer ... I ventured out and bought a wool buff.
Alarm bells should have stopped me on this purchase for multiple reasons: (1) it seemed like the same fabric used for the flimsy lightweight SmartWool products; (2) it is labeled hand-wash (who does that anymore) and line dry; and (3) you could see right through it.
Never mind that it was longer than my original buff or that it had to be washed before I used it to remove some heavy fragrance from the store.
I still tried it out ... and it was a colossal fail!
Interestingly, it didn't fail for any of the reasons I thought it would. It failed because the Wool Buff is wider than the original Buff and therefore it was too loose for my tiny little head to hold in place (shhh ... don't say anything), and I couldn't keep the wind from cruising to my ears by entering along the edges.
Thank goodness for REI membership and the no questions asked return policy. I owned it less than 24hrs! If you want a grey heather Wool Buff, it should be in the next downtown store used gear sale.
Sidebar on Ambient Scenting
Did you know that most retail stores use something called Ambient Scenting to entice you to linger and perhaps emotionally influence your purchasing behavior? I learned the other day that the scent in the Wool Buff was just that ... my local REI has an ambient scent.
You may have noticed it yourself it when you first get home and a new pack or fleece has a sweet, perfumed fragrance to it with a slight musk undertone.
If you are sensitive to scents then you may want to try ordering your merchandise online and having it shipped to the store, the warehouse does not use ambient scenting. And as long as you don't let it stay at the store for a week or two the shipping package will keep the scent out.
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