Initial Report April 12th, 2019

Reviewer's Information

Name Jamie J. DeBenedetto
Age and Gender Female, 46 years old
Height 5' 11" (180 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg)
Head Circumference: 22" (56 cm)
Email JamieD1005-at-gmail-dot-com
Background/Experience I spent many hours of my youth fishing, rafting, creeking, and hiking in the wild places of Arizona. Although I caught the backpacking bug way back in high school, these days I'm mostly a dayhiker who mixes in the occasional family camping trip or overnight backpacking weekend. I prefer hammocks over ground sleeping and I gravitate toward multifunctional gear that enhances my comfort level with minimal fuss and weight. My total pack weight is typically less than 30 lbs (13 kg). Location Phoenix, Arizona - The Grand Canyon State - USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product Information Back to contents

Manufacturer URL	www.buff.com
Model Year	Presumed 2019
Made in	Spain
MSRP	$24.00 USD
Size & Color Received	Adult; Pelagic Camo White
Fabric	95% REPREVE® Polyester, 5% Elastane
Sun Protection Rating	UPF 50+
Ideal Use Conditions	Hot Weather
Listed Weight	1.2 oz (34 g)
Listed Dimensions	Approx 21 in long x 9 in wide (53 x 23 cm)
Care Instructions	Hand or machine wash in warm water with mild soap Do not use fabric softeners or bleach; Do not machine dry or iron
Warranty	"If you are not satisfied with one of our products at the time you receive it, or if it does not perform to your approval, please return it to us for a full refund or exchange."
(Above: Taken from the Manufacturer's Website or Packaging) (Below: Observed by Tester as Received)
Measured Weight (taken with a digital office scale)	Confirmed - 1.2 oz (34 g)
Measured Dimensions	Confirmed - 21 x 9 inches (53 x 23 cm)

 

Product Description Back to contents

The one-size-fits-all Buff CoolNet UV+ is a versatile "tube" of fabric intended to be worn around the head and/or neck. As the name suggests it's made from a microfiber polyester fabric slated to block 98% of UV radiation (UPF 50+). The website says independent testing has shown the fabric averages 95% UV protection depending on various factors that might affect the material's efficacy. A simple seamless design and 4-way stretch offer the user more than a dozen different wearing options. Other interesting features include HeiQ cooling technology, which is supposed to "manage heat and sweat to keep you cool and dry while working out" and Polygiene® odor control, which employs silver ions infused into the fabric "to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria". While Buff sells other styles for different purposes, the CoolNet UV+ is best suited for hot climates since it's quite thin and made to be highly breathable. On a personal note, I was pleased to learn that Buff is an environmentally responsible product. Both the polyester fabric and the packaging are derived from recycled plastic bottles and recycled paper respectively.

Arrival Condition and Informational Material Back to contents

As far as I can tell the Buff arrived in perfect condition. The fabric appears to be free of blemishes, holes, loose threads, etc.

The display packaging provided quite a lot of great information about the product in English, French and Spanish. Almost all the info I've listed in this report came directly from the Buff itself or from the packaging with the exception of the warranty, care instructions and the bit about the independent UPF testing. I'd say it was decently informative and given the uncomplicated nature of this product it was totally sufficient to allow me to start using it right away. The graphic showing all the wear configurations was especially helpful.

Expectations and First Impressions Back to contents

A few years ago I bought an Original Buff for my husband to keep in his winter pack. He isn't a fan of hiking in cold, windy weather because his neck and ears get chilled easily, a problem I rarely experience because of my long hair. Although I've threatened to borrow it on many occasions to see if I wanted one, I've never done so. Cold, windy weather isn't really something we run into a ton of here in the Sonoran Desert so I've never pulled the trigger on the purchase. Being able to now test one, I'm looking forward to seeing how well suited the CoolNet UV+ style is to our hot climate. The pelagic camo white is a combo of grays and off-whites, a color scheme commonly used in sun protective clothing leading me to think it will work nicely for me this spring and summer. As it heats up here I will be especially interested to see how well that HeiQ cooling technology works. I plan to test it both wet and dry for its cooling and sun protective properties.

I've looked at the suggested ways it could be worn and I can see at least ten of the options being realistic for me. I foresee using it mostly for hiking, mountain biking and kayaking but since it's so lightweight and packable I suspect I'll find many other occasions to bring it along.

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Long-Term Report July 29th, 2019

Collective Use and Field Conditions Back to contents

During the test period I used the Buff CoolNet UV+ on four day hikes, a three hour lava tube exploration, several hours of kayaking, one overnight backpacking trip and for a few hours of star gazing.

Desert Foothills Preserve - Cave Creek, Arizona; 2,000 ft (610 m); 75 F (24 C).
Spur Cross Recreation Area - Cave Creek, AZ; 2,300 ft (700 m); 72 F (22 C).
Unmarked trails in the Coconino National Forest, AZ; 7,500 ft (2,300 m); 84 F (29 C)
" Government" Lava River Cave - Coconino National Forest, AZ; 7,700 ft (2,350 m); 80 to 40 F (27 to 4 C).
Lake Pleasant - Peoria, AZ; 1,700 ft (500 m); 112 F (44 C).
Superstition Wilderness - Apache Junction, AZ; 2,000 ft (610 m); Overnight temperature unrecorded

Long Term Findings Back to contents

I think I've found my new favorite piece of hiking clothing. The winning feature for me is the utility. Since carrying the Buff Coolnet UV+ I've jettisoned four items from my usual hiking kit: my emergency hair-tie, sun block (which I only ever used for my face anyway), my comb, and my earmuff headband. Not a major weight savings to be sure but still, anytime I can replace a single-use item with a multi-use item, it's a win.

In practical application I mostly used the Buff in the neck guard and face mask configurations to block the sun. The thin material didn't disrupt my breathing in the slightest. I did prefer to keep it wet while using it in this way, however, as the cooling effect on my face and neck was very pleasant. Anchoring it up over my ears helped to keep it in place but occasionally I'd have to readjust. My wide brimmed hat does a nice job of protecting most of my face but I'd say having the extra neck protection provided the most significant value to pairing the Buff with my hat and as far as I could tell, it did a nice job safeguarding me from too many rays.

I chose the hairband option while around camp, at lunch breaks and after hikes to give me a break from my hat. My hair is generally a big sweaty mess by trails end so it's nice to have an alternative to hat-head. I tried scrunching it up and also kind of layering it to make a band. Both worked fine but the layered way felt warmer, something I'll remember when the temps drop and I want the warmth.

The hair-tie configuration was just too fat to be used in conjunction with a hat hole making it fairly impractical for me. I did use it independently and it worked well enough for short periods to justify not carrying a spare hair-tie anymore. I'm sure if I was very patient I could possibly work it through the hole in the back of my hat in a pinch. Certainly for cooler months when I don't wear a hat as often, this choice would be totally sensible.

At night I like to sleep with something covering my eyes and if it's cool, my ears and tip of my nose too. The Buff's soft and light fabric was a perfect fit for that duty, besting my earmuff headband in comfort and breathability. Of course the wispy fabric didn't do as good a job blocking out light but it didn't put as much pressure on my nose either. A fair trade off in my opinion.

Lastly, I used the Buff as a balaclava off and on over a two hour period while stargazing on a particularly mosquito heavy evening. This set-up, which is not ponytail compatible, seemed the most effective way to guard the largest amount of flesh from the evil swarms. Other than not allowing for my ponytail, it worked great. I know Buff makes CoolnetUV+ products treated with an insect repellant that may be better suited for such an evening but for the short period I was out, the coverage of the fabric alone was all I needed to protect my face.

One of the ways I could not wear the Buff was in the sun guard or as I called it, the bonnet configuration. Obviously given this product's specificity toward UV protection I thought I would want to use it in this style the most, especially for kayaking. With long hair there are a few ways the Buff just isn't comfortable and the sun guard is unfortunately one of those. Unlike a lightweight hood on a shirt, the tighter tube shape of the Buff put too much pressure on my head and under my chin to comfortably wear for long periods. Additionally, with my hair in a ponytail, the Buff pressed it up against my neck making me feel much too hot.

Surprisingly, the Buff is holding up well. It's been sweat in and dunked in lake and creek water several times without retaining odor or becoming discolored. I have of course washed it a few times but being such a light color I really thought I'd see some signs of wear by now. The only change in the fabric is a consistent slight roll at both ends. This possibly shortens the total overall length but otherwise certainly isn't a negative in my opinion.

Final Thoughts Back to contents

The Buff CoolnetUV+ is versatile, lightweight, and seems to provide good sun protection. I found it possible to use comfortably, even with long hair, in several different wear styles. The fabric has held up well to use, has maintained its original shape, and hasn't retained any noticeable odor or dirt. Where I live, sun protection is a constant consideration. I almost always chose to wear clothing over chemicals whenever possible so I'm certainly going to add this Buff to my standard outdoor gear going forward. It's been an excellent compliment to my kit so far and I look forward to finding even more ways to use it.

Thank you Original Buff, SA and Backpackgeartest.org for making this test series possible.

JJD-2019

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