Buffalo Special 6 - astonished

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

grizzlyj

Full Member
Nov 10, 2016
181
126
NW UK
I also bought a "Buffalo" top from a fleabay army surplus seller. It does appear to be ex UK army but made in China, is a similar design but shorter zips on vents and chest pocket, and a similar fleece to the Active Lite shirt. I hoped to use and abuse the surplus one keeping the Lite shirt in better nick, the Slate colour is nicer than the Buffalo black or green. But the surplus thing is really sweaty, even has zippits too. The outer looks and feels pertexy but it's flipping horrible. There's a jacket from the same place, same thing, bought for the Mrs for gardening who can't do pullover tops for some reason, but being a Lady doesn't sweat so less of an issue ;)
It's label says SMOCK, LIGHTWEIGHT, THERMAL, (PCS), Light Olive NSN 8415-99-813-3292, about £35 wasted.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,151
1,544
Cumbria
Mine positively curls back on itself. Certainly a lot more than on yours.

I think it's because in tall but relatively slim so my size doesn't fit the length. The S6 is possibly like the base buffalo model on most people. Plus the sleeves only just fit. I suspect that's the main issue with mine.
 

Billy-o

Native
Apr 19, 2018
1,981
975
Canada
If we are headed OT, have a look and see if you can find a Rab Alpha Direct - they were very cheap this time last year.

The Rab Flash in the same Polartec Alpha material is good too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: billycoen

Philster

Settler
Jun 8, 2014
681
40
Poole, Dorset
I also bought a "Buffalo" top from a fleabay army surplus seller. It does appear to be ex UK army but made in China, is a similar design but shorter zips on vents and chest pocket, and a similar fleece to the Active Lite shirt. I hoped to use and abuse the surplus one keeping the Lite shirt in better nick, the Slate colour is nicer than the Buffalo black or green. But the surplus thing is really sweaty, even has zippits too. The outer looks and feels pertexy but it's flipping horrible. There's a jacket from the same place, same thing, bought for the Mrs for gardening who can't do pullover tops for some reason, but being a Lady doesn't sweat so less of an issue ;)
It's label says SMOCK, LIGHTWEIGHT, THERMAL, (PCS), Light Olive NSN 8415-99-813-3292, about £35 wasted.

That's not a Buffalo, that's the Brit Army issue top. Fleece on the inside instead of pile. A nice top on it's own but not a Buffalo, as you have found. And you try putting it on/taking it off when you have a fleece on! :)
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,151
1,544
Cumbria
Wore my s6 taking the dog out tonight. Looking at the cuff thing I remembered what I had to do to correct the curling cuff thing. I used to pull the loose pile lining of the sleeve up from the inside. Works but it soon curls again. I think it's because the sleeves are too short and the pile liner is only attached at the edges of the sleeve cuff.

I have a rab vapour rise jacket which also has a drop liner. That has more stitching at the cuff, indeed it had a proper cuff with the outer fabric folded over the liming and stitched like you often get hard shell jackets I think. Long time since I wore it so can't quite remember the details of its design.

I guess I'm simply saying the cuffs are too basic or simple and need a better design to keep the lining inside and the outer pertex layer on the outside. Great smock though.

BTW there's another flaw. If you buy it snug as they recommend the bottom velcro strap, well it's a little higher up from the bottom, doesn't fit across the side zips. So if you have both open the front isn't fixed unless you open the zips from the top which means the zip holds the bottom together.

If you get a bigger size that velcro flap could probably be used TY cinch and hold the front in. I think the flaps need to be a bit different, longer. Minor but annoying feature IMHO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrEd

stevec

Full Member
Oct 30, 2003
547
142
Sheffield
Just took mine out to have a look, the cuffs on mine are fine, however, I get the curl up on the hemline, particular on the back. Perhaps it was carrying a heavy rucksack.
 

Laurentius

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 13, 2009
2,422
614
Knowhere
I have a special six and a windshirt. I wear the windshirt more often than the special six, because the pile and pertex item is not all that packable and altogether too warm in anything but the coldest of weather.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,151
1,544
Cumbria
Wore it as designed and the zips on mine are not windproof or resistant. The modest breeze today just blew through the closed up zips and my bare skin felt windchill to some extent. I usually wear a t-shirt under it which stops me noticing it.

Are your zips wind resistant or not? Is this faulty zips in mine? The baffles only protect them from the wind when it's face on to you. From behind our to either side they don't stop the breeze getting into the zips.

I just wonder if anyone else has noticed this too?
 

MrEd

Life Member
Feb 18, 2010
2,148
1,053
Surrey/Sussex
www.thetimechamber.co.uk
Wore it as designed and the zips on mine are not windproof or resistant. The modest breeze today just blew through the closed up zips and my bare skin felt windchill to some extent. I usually wear a t-shirt under it which stops me noticing it.

Are your zips wind resistant or not? Is this faulty zips in mine? The baffles only protect them from the wind when it's face on to you. From behind our to either side they don't stop the breeze getting into the zips.

I just wonder if anyone else has noticed this too?

Yeah I have when I wore it the other night, only the side zips, not the front zips. Wind was on my back.
I improved it by Velcroing the baffles tight at the bottom. I must admit I noticed it lost when still, when I was walking and got a bit of a sweat on I noticed it less

I was going to wear a polypropylene baselayer under mine if it is extra cold on the basis that that moves sweat away from my skin in the same way the pertex would do

A double baffle would work better maybe?
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,151
1,544
Cumbria
I'm 41.75" chest b so got a 42" s6. The straps only just guess to the other side of the zip and often comes undone. Another design niggle. They need to be longer if you're right up to the smock size. I think they should sati go for size above your chest size personally. I think like the old paramo sizing options they got things a bit wrong over at buffalo hq.

I only got the 42 inch because I was told you get the best performance the more snug you get it and to get closest to your measured chest size. I think I'd have n preferred a 44 inch for the feel. Then the side straps would bunch it in and help resist the wind getting through the zips. Would be better if the zips were a more modern design that were wind resistant though.
 

MrEd

Life Member
Feb 18, 2010
2,148
1,053
Surrey/Sussex
www.thetimechamber.co.uk
I'm 41.75" chest b so got a 42" s6. The straps only just guess to the other side of the zip and often comes undone. Another design niggle. They need to be longer if you're right up to the smock size. I think they should sati go for size above your chest size personally. I think like the old paramo sizing options they got things a bit wrong over at buffalo hq.

I only got the 42 inch because I was told you get the best performance the more snug you get it and to get closest to your measured chest size. I think I'd have n preferred a 44 inch for the feel. Then the side straps would bunch it in and help resist the wind getting through the zips. Would be better if the zips were a more modern design that were wind resistant though.

Yeah I am almost the same measurement as you (basically bang on 42) so I went and tried them on, the 42 was definitely a snugger fit and felt better from that point of view but it was tight across and around the shoulders so I went up to the 44 (?xl?) and looked ‘better’ as a fit if that makes sense? Was also a better arm length

The waist things definitely so up better on the larger size, you are right they looked ‘stretched’ at the 42 size.

Yes - a laminated zip would be better perhaps?
 

Duggie Bravo

Settler
Jul 27, 2013
532
124
Dewsbury
I’m a 42 chest and wear that size which is snug. I haven’t noticed any wind getting through the zips BUT I tend to wear mine when walking the dog in winter when I also have the salopettes on so am double lined around that area.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Billy-o

Native
Apr 19, 2018
1,981
975
Canada
Does anyone here have a size 44 Belay jacket?

If you do, can I ask a huge favour? Could you measure it across the chest from armpit to armpit and say what that is?

Thanks :)
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE