Anyone Wearing Neck Warmers /Buff?

[bagusbagus]

was cycling tonight and the chill really got my face/neck area finally.
Thinking about getting one of those neck warmers/buff's , has anyone wore one? How are they? are they actually useful or just a gimmick?
a cheap one can be had for like £2 , while a good merino is about £20 ( btw I really love my other merino stuff so wouldn't hestitate paying 10x more if I also get superior performance ).
Are the cheap ones decent/good for the odd time or ?
maybe a suggestion for something nice & Good quality?

[dontdobends]

Yep for a month now, Lusso do some nice one's for a tenner!

[darkyoung1000]

It's amazing the difference a thin piece of cotton can make! I wear one when riding both push and motor bikes and really feel it when it's not there.
I'd avoid the cheaper Aldi end of the market (I bought one and it just doesn't feel great), and stick with the cotton ones to start with. I have a Merino one too, but it has to be really cold to break that one out.
Best ones are the two I got for 'free' after completing cycling events!

[MarkJS]

I've had a Buff for years and wouldn't be without it in the Autumn/Winter months. They last forever too.

[idiotgap]

I have a genuine buff merino one and wouldn't be without it, I feel very lucky to have been given it as a gift soon after I started cycling (thanks JD PH if you're watching somewhere!). It's starting to get a little threadbare now so I'll probably ask for another one for Christmas. I have a few of the £2 neckwarmers from decathlon and planetx but the merino buff wins for wicking, not smelling and coping with a wide variety of temperatures.

[Tall_Paul]

Yep they work, we bikers wear them all the time, when it's below about 3-4 degrees I'll pull mine up over my nose and mouth and it'll block most of the air (wind chill at 70mph at 3 degrees) and get my neck/face nice and warm. I just have a few cheap ones, nothing special.

Obviously you breathe more when cycling but I've never found them to restrict my breathing.

If you need more warmth, then look at something like Knox cold killers maxi or mini tube neck tubes, they're 100% windproof, good enough for 70+mph at freezing temperatures for ages.

[anonymous-user]

I have a few of the cheap cotton ones and they do the job

Haven't tried a merino one, but have added one to Xmas / sales list

[Matt_N]

Merino one here, essential winter kit imo.

[bagusbagus]

Very cool, Thanks guys Ordered some cheapo one to test it out, Than I realised I have a sewing machine and I can just buy some good merino/cashmere sweater from local thriftshops for a few coins and make my own merino buffs for nothing
1 XL sweater should be enough to make at least 3 or 4.

[MarkJS]

bagusbagus said:

Very cool, Thanks guys Ordered some cheapo one to test it out, Than I realised I have a sewing machine and I can just buy some good merino/cashmere sweater from local thriftshops for a few coins and make my own merino buffs for nothing
1 XL sweater should be enough to make at least 3 or 4.

Nothing wrong with that - but a Buff is tubular, so no seams. Minimising seams is a good thing IMO.

[soad]

Wear a balaclava!!

[Barchettaman]

+1, I use a lycra snowboard helmet balaclava made by Mammouth.

[MadDad]

For such a small but of fabric they make a HUGE difference! This time of year I have a couple of Buff cotton fabric ones - when it gets 'proper cold' I've a Rapha merino wool jobbie, pull them up to just under your nose and use your breath to keep your neck warm....!

[Some Gump]

can't recommend highly enough.
Get one.