Australian BUFF® Store – Home

Australian stock and family operated since 2004. We stock the largest collection of BUFF® headwear in Oz. Thanks for visiting. We hope you find what you are looking for.

Multifunctional Headwear / Neckwear

These products can be worn in many ways and are referred to as Buff, Necksock, Facesock, or Tube. Different fabrics provide everything from cooling in summer over skin cancer UV protection to warming in Winter.

BUFF® Original Ecostretch

A multi-functional tube, engineered for all weather / all activities. Chill protection without warmth - Heat Relief without the chill. It just keeps you comfortable no matter what.
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BUFF® Coolnet UV®

UPF50, Cooling with HeiQ technology, Quick-drying and 4-Way-Stretch. The all New BUFF® CoolNet UV® is perfect for Outdoor activities in the heat & sun. It’s the successor of the BUFF® High-UV
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BUFF® Merino Lightweight

A multi-functional tube engineered for cool to cold weather. 100% Merino Wool and extra length make this our most popular cold-weather neck / headwear. Formerly known as the Wool BUFF®.
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BUFF® Polar

Designed for leisure snow fun with comfortable warmth. A combination of Neck Warmer & BUFF® Original Ecostretch for those wonderful snow holidays.
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BUFF® Windproof

This tube is engineered for cold & windy conditions like snowmobiling or motorbiking in winter. A Gore-Windstopper™ neck warmer with a double layered Original Buff® attached. The warmest neck sock on the market.
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Other

Caps, Headbands, Visors, Beanies, Balaclavas or Gloves.
Technology applied to classic types of headwear takes it to new performance and comfort levels.

BUFF® Caps

High-performance caps optimised for running, biking & hiking
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BUFF® Headbands

We currently stock 3 types of BUFF® headbands. Slim, wide & tapered for any type of hair and preference. All designed for high-impact sports in the sun.
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BUFF® Go Visor

A running visor with a solid brim, adjustable sweatband and anti-glare underbill
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BUFF® Hats & Beanies

Hats and beanies for Hot & Cold weather.
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BUFF® Filter Face Mask

An easy breathing face mask with exchangeable filter for running, fitness training, hiking. Developed for active people that have to wear a face cover in public and want the best in textile technology.
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Safety / Professional Collection

Professional headwear for the Tradies, Australian Miners, Fire Fighters, Soldiers, Chefs & more.

BUFF® Modacryl FR

Not allowed to wear normal Buff® at your workplace (mine, oil & gas)? The BUFF® Modacryl FR is your choice. Fire Resistant and designed for working in the heat.
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BUFF® Balaclava Modacryl FR

Need a lightweight, fire resistant balaclava (police, army, oil & gas)? The BUFF® Balaclava Modacryl FR is your choice. Designed for action in the heat with possible fire exposure.
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BUFF® Balaclava Nomex® FR

Need more fire protection (police, army, oil & gas) in cooler climates? The BUFF® Balaclava Nomex® FR is your choice.
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BUFF® Balaclava Arcprotect + FR

Protection against ArcFlash and Fire Resistant plus Cooling.
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BUFF® Balaclava Windproof

Combat wind chill and stay warm on the job
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BUFF® Safety Arm Sleeves

HEIQ® cooling technology ads active cooling to the standard skin cancer protection. UPF50 plus a reduction of heat exhaustion, and a reduction of heat stroke risk.
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BUFF® Nomex® Fire Resistant Light

More protection than Modacryl®, lighter than standard Nomex®. The BUFF® Nomex® Fire Resistant Light delivers essential fire resistance in a comfortable, everyday weight.
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BUFF® Nomex® Fire Resistant

Protection against Fire & Heat exposure. No Melt – No Drip.
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BUFF® Nomex® Fire Resistant Polar

Protection against Fire exposure & arcs in the cold.
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BUFF® Cut Resistant

For Police, Military, Ambulance workers that run the risk of slashsharp object attacks. Protects the neck and face from cuts.
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BUFF® Cut + Fire Resistant Light

Do you attend fires & risky encounters with armed people? The Cut+Fire Resistant BUFF® protects your neck and face from slashing and burning.
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BUFF® Windproof Hat

Cold & windy @ work? Windstopper™ keeps the wind out while being breathable. The Buff® Professional Windproof Hat is thin enough to fit
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Only Non-Toxic and Non-Itchy Ingredients – Oekotex Certified

8 December 2018 No Comments

The most dangerous way for a toxin to enter the body is not through the digestive system, but through the skin

Andreas Schimkus, former senior industry adviser to the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia's (TFIA)
A toddler wearing a Baby Buff® as a face mask. The toddler looks happy. Source: buff.eu
A Buff® passes the most stringent test for fabrics. Free of anything irritating or harmful for babies.

Did you know that fabric ingredients are grouped into toxic or safe and non-itchy?

The difference in costs is huge.

This article shows you how to spot the safe products and why Buff® headwear ticks the right boxes

What makes you itch?

There are 2 main reasons for fabrics itching.

The first is bacteria. Call it bad hygiene or simply fabrics that make you sweat and breed bacteria (cheap polyester beanie hat for example).

The second is toxic and irritating ingredients in making the fabric.

There are ingredients available that can not only make you itch but also severely impact your health.
These ingredients are on a list and banned in most 1st world countries.

How safe are we in Australia?

Not at all, unfortunately.

Australia has no tests or regulations regarding safe textile ingredients. You can import into Australia whatever you like.

This leads to Australia being the only 1st world country supplied with 3rd world quality clothing.
Whenever we mentioned in China that we are from Australia and want headwear that passes the Oekotex test, we heard something like, “Why do you want to waste money on Oekotex. You are from Australia. You do not need this …”.
We were quite shocked at first but got used to hearing it all the time.

Here is a nice article from Choice that goes into more detail
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/clothing/articles/chemicals-in-clothing
My favourite quote is

Products that are made in China for the Australian market could not even be sent back to China, as many of them would not meet the Chinese product safety standards but are acceptable here.

Andreas Schimkus, former senior industry adviser to the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia's (TFIA)

How do you find safe and non-itchy clothing in Australia?

You look for the Oekotex® certificate.

Oekotex® is a worldwide testing standard for classifying the safety of clothing.

Just look out for something like the logo below. If you spend more money to make your product safe, you will have it tested. If you can’t find it, assume the worst.
Especially if it’s our beloved “The same, just cheaper…” products.

The logo of the Oekotex® 100 certification for babies (class1). Source: buff.eu
The logo of the Oekotex® 100 certification for babies (class1)

You can always go to the AITEX website and enter the test number. That will give you all the details of the test.

So what are Buff® tested to?

The more intensive the skin contact of a product and the more sensitive the skin, the stricter the human-ecological requirements that need to be complied with.

Oekotex® 100 website

All adult products are rated to class 2. This is the class for adults close to the skin clothing (underwear, socks, headwear,…)

All baby products are rated to class 1. The most stringent class.

You can find the logo of the Oekotex® 100 certification on the back of the Original Buff® packaging. Source: buff.eu
The logo of the Oekotex® Certification on the Original Buff®

Sources

Choice – Chemicals in Clothing

Oekotex® 100 webpage

Wikipedia – Oekotex® 100

UV/Sun Protection

6 December 2018 No Comments
Photomontage: Left image Cutout of a man with a severely sunburned face. © Jonny Hunter, Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnyhunter/3565036940/in/photostream/ Right image A flyfisher proudly displaying his catch. He is standing waist deep in salt water and he is wearing a High Uv Buff® as face mask. © Pat Ford
Ouch. That must hurt. The Buff® fabrics protect. (Jonny Butler / Pat Ford)

Sunburns hurt. Skin cancer can kill.

The Original EcoStretch and the Coolnet UV fabric give you UPF50 excellent protection (98% UV/Sun protection).

Scan of a UPF report issued by ARPANSA
Skin Cancer aware? If it’s not rated it will not protect you.

This is an example of a UPF report. It was performed by the founders of the UPF rating ARPANSA. Nowadays both Original EcoStretch and CoolnetUV fabrics are constantly monitored for their UPF rating at the factory. The testing company is Aitext Textile Research Institute.

BUFF® Original EcoStretch and CoolnetUV multifunctional headwear comes with a label stating the standard (AS/NZS 4399:1996), the UPF Rating and the testing laboratory.

Beware of UPF Claims without reference to the test!

We see a lot of tubular headwear that advertises sun protection claims but has no labels or mention of the test standard. Those claims are bogus. Why?

A thin fabric without a UPF rating cannot protect you from skin cancer.

For example, a T-shirt is only around UPF 6. That’s because it just filters out enough UVB to stop a sunburn. It will not stop you from getting skin cancer because it doesn’t filter out UVA enough.

UVA is harder to filter, and it goes deep into your skin, so the damage is not visible.

That’s where special dyes and other ingredients that absorb UVA and UVB satisfactorily enter the game. This function can only be tested and proven in a laboratory.

That’s why sun-protective clothing is more expensive than non-protective clothing.

So, if you see a tube with a UV protection claim that doesn’t clearly state the UPF rating with the testing standard and the testing laboratory, do yourself a favour and walk away.

Most Popular Use

 
Fly fisher holding a catch in the flats. He is wearing a High Uv Buff® as face mask. The cooling effect makes the face mask comfortable. © Pat Ford http://www.patfordphotos.com/. Licenced by Original Buff S.A for the promotion of the High Uv Buff®
Intense sun and heat. The BUFF® CoolnetUv fabric cools to make your sun protection comfortable (Pat Ford)

Fishing

The most popular application so far for sun protection. A face mask that you can wear in the heat.
All fishing professionals now wear the BUFF® CoolnetUV for this one reason: Replace sunscreen and still be skin cancer protected.

 

In the Snow

A man wearing a High Uv Buff® as face mask in the snow. He is in a ski resort. © unknown
Forgot your sunscreen? A BUFF® Original EcoStretch helps you out.

How often did you forget your sunscreen? I have tons of times.

  • Wear it as a face mask and you’re protected
  • Not sweating – It eases the biting wind

 

Travel

Halong Bay in Vietnam as seen from a kayak. The kayaker in front is wearing a High Uv Buff® as legionnaire style cap. Submitted to us as part of a testimonial. Copyright unknown
Long sun exposure during a great adventure. Good to have a protective and cooling BUFF® CoolnetUV as legionnaire cap with you.

You’re travelling and you have this opportunity to go on a tour. No cloud in the sky, and of course, you didn’t bring some specialized headgear with you. The BUFF® CoolnetUV tube as a legionnaire-style cap will give you protection.

 

Endurance Sports

A participant of the Marathon Des Sables running through the desert. He is wearing a custom made High Uv Buff® as face mask. Copyright is unknown. Distributed by Original Buff® S.A. for the promotion of Buff® products
Sunscreen sweating out, and there is no time to replace it. The BUFF® CoolnetUV protects. The fabric cools enough to wear in a desert.

Running events in the sun are a prime example. You’re sweating throughout the day, and no sunscreen will work for long. You also don’t have any time to apply sunscreen constantly.

Events like the Marathon des Sables have their custom-made BUFF® CoolnetUV for their participants. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than burning to crisps.

 

Limitations

They are thin fabrics so stretching them too much or wearing them thin over several years reduces the protection.

Sources

ARPANSA Resource Guide for UV Protective Products

Wikipedia – Ultraviolet

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