Gear Review: Buffalo Special 6

The Buffalo Special 6 is pretty much the definition of a cult classic. There’s no major advertising campaigns or fancy branding, just a solid product that has a slightly different take on staying comfortable in the outdoors. As soon as mine dropped through the door from the nice lady on eBay (who packaged it like a birthday present and left some sweets in the pocket) I couldn’t wait to try it out on the fells.

For those of you not familiar with the buffalo design the main idea behind it comes from prioritising moisture management over waterproofness, whilst creating a microclimate inside in the garment. They’re designed to be worn next to skin and carry out the job of a traditional layering system but all in one garment. In the Special 6’s case it uses a fibre pile lining to transport moisture away from the skin, whether the moisture has come from sweat or rain. The outer is made from non-waterproof (but highly water resistant) Pertex and allows the transported moisture through to dry quickly in the sun and wind. More information can be found on Buffalo’s website.

As well as this different approach to outdoor wear the Special 6 appealed to me as its still manufactured in Sheffield and they’re also known to last decades of heavy use, something that most outdoor wear can’t vouch for.

So this all sounded very promising but would it work actually out in the field? For me, the short answer is yes.

Due to the way the buffalo system works the fit has to be close to skin but not too close that its restrictive, I settled on a mens size 38 ( I’m 6ft 2/3 and slim build) after using the sizing guide and it fits well. It’s snug but not tight with the longer length covering the join with trousers easily. One aspect of the fit that wish was different is the sleeve length, I have quite long arms so I would have personally liked an extra inch or two on the sleeves. For me the pile is very comfortable next to my skin even when wet and wearing a heavy rucksack.

I’ve had my Special 6 for just over a year now and I can safely say it’s been out in all the Lake District can throw at it. Although it is too warm for late spring and summer use, the autumn and winter months are where it shines. I’ve worn it in days of consistent rain and snow through to clear sky days and everything in-between and there hasn’t been a time where I wished I was wearing anything else. I’ve also worn it for over 24hrs straight during a winter wild camp and it definitely added a few degrees to the comfort rating of the sleeping bag

For me the system just works, I’ve always been comfortable and warm, even when there’s been water running down into the jacket from torrential rain. Most of the time I do just wear the Special 6 on its own but there has been a couple of times in horrific winter conditions I have worn a Paramo smock ( a waterproof that uses a membrane e.g Gore-tex is not recommended by Buffalo) over the top to help deal with the amount of rain that was falling. This worked well as the Buffalo and Paramo share similar moisture management ideas and led to me feeling dry all day. Also when on the high fells in deep winter I will also use a synthetic or down insulation layer over the top when stationary for prolonged periods.

I have the hood for my Special 6 which is bought separately and I would definitely recommend it. It attaches really easily using velcro, it helps keep out drafts and keeps my head comfortable both with and without a hat. It is also especially nice to have in the rain and stops the aforementioned rain running down onto the skin scenario.

The hood isn’t perfect, I would have liked it to be bigger and provide more face coverage, it just feels a bit small volume wise however I do have a large head. The hood does come with a face cover that attaches to the front sides of the hood via velcro but I found it too small to fit properly and didn’t stay attached to the velcro very well. I soon abandoned this and just use a Buff if conditions require it.

One aspect of the Special 6 I was initially doubtful off was whether it would vent enough to regulate the temperature when working hard uphill with a heavy pack on. However after wearing the Special 6 in some very mild conditions whilst doing just that and it coped well. The long side zips can be opened from the top or bottom, I’ve found a combination of both provides the most versatile ventilation. When wearing the Special 6 with the zips undone completely can look a little strange but it is very effective at dumping heat quickly. Also being able to push the sleeves up past the elbow is very useful, especially because the sleeves feel slim to wear.

One downside to having so many venting options is there’s gaps where wind can sneak through easier than the Pertex outer. The side zips do fall foul off this problem and I have felt a draft through the side zips when they are fully closed, this is only in conditions of 30mph+ winds. This is typically not a problem however in colder windy conditions, especially when stationary, it can prevent the microclimate forming effectively and lead to a colder experience than I’d want. This can easily solved with the addition of a light or insulated fully windproof layer over the top.

The pocket layout on the Special 6 is very functional with the hand warmer pouch staying warm and the sleeves do a good job of plugging the holes when my hands are in the pouch making a sealed warm environment. This pocket can get wet towards the bottom after longer periods of heavy rain however the pocket is big enough you can avoid it. The zipped chest pocket is massive and can easily take a full sized OS map and hat + gloves. It can take bigger items too such as small camera or binoculars but this pocket does get wet easily as it is just an extra layer of the Pertex outer on the outside.

The finishings of the Special 6 feel robust and practical. The zips can be used whilst wearing gloves and so can the waist adjustment buckle in the hand warmer pocket. The zips feel hardwearing and I've had no problems with any of them so far. The outer material also feels very hard wearing with it showing very little signs of use, and I'm it's second owner. It has stood up scraping up rock faces and countless encounters with Trixie's claws.

Overall I would recommend the Special 6 to anyone, it's now a firm staple in my outdoor wear wardrobe. They aren't for everyone and will suit some people better than others, but I would say definitely give one a go throughout the colder months.

Paul