I`ve currently got the excellent Montane Extreme smock, very good etc BUT very very warm.......with the milder winters probably too warm now for anything but the very colder days......really like the single pertex pile idea Has anyone got experience of how the Buffalo smocks compare warmth wise, I seem to recall from 10 years ago that my Buffalo Mtn shirt was not as warm and that the pile liner is less dense, so am thinking of a Buffalo for the more winter typical days. Can anyone out there give me a direct comparison before I head off to the shops?
Not tried Buffalo, but thought i'd mention that montane do thinner smocks, like the Krypton with a micropile lining that i do use. Well comfy next to skin, or with baselayer for a bit of extra warmth. It was ok in sub zero in December, in strong winds.
The Krypton has changed its name now, possibly the Duality?
I agree that the Montane extreme is way too warm and since they fiddled with the cuffs, cross vents, and made the collar even tighter I find mine little used apart for rest stops as an over layer. Buffalo works alot better the pile isn't as thick so less chance of over heating plus the side zips go right up to the armpit for better venting control. have a look at www.extremeoutdoorclothing.com, take a look at the Field smock and the APS I have found that both these garments out perform both Buffalo and the Montane, plus made to measure and spec at no extra cost.you have the choice of outer skin too Meryl microfibre is tough.The APS trousers are superb.I won't be buying any more montane kit I think it has gone really crap, the design,the sizing,it's all gone to pot.I bought a Chonos smock over 12 years ago and the fit, the design, was spot on.I mean, the chest pocket on the Montane extreme is useless.I usually use a Buffalo Belay jacket, for heavy rain, reststops etc, but have shifted across to using a single skin ventile smock from west-winds for an over layer, top banana.If some one would make a plie lined ventile smock I think it would work really well as a one layer garment.
Having used both, the Buffalo is not as warm, but I still find it too warm most of the time. The lighter versions - Rab Vapour Trail, Montane Duality (the current Krypton equivalent) - are much more versatile. I use them in Scottish winter conditions with a thin wool base layer and find them fine when moving.
Having a look at one now 193 pounds !!! in ventile and polartec. Need to raid the piggy.I always use my pile and pertex stuff as intended without a base layer, I find a base layer inhibits the venting, and soaks up to much sweat.Buffalo was always intended as a three piece suit shirt,jkt, trousers/salops.
You might want to have a look at Mardale's Alaskan range. A bit lighter in weight than Buffalo and Montane but can still easily cope with a British winter. You can pick them up for fifty quid here:
I used to use a buffalo 10 years ago and have been contemplating getting somthing like it for my ski trip next week. I've looked at montane & was interested to read comments here about being to hot. I have also seen the snugpak version - anyone got any feedback on that. thanks
The snuggy version is OK but has no hood option.My wife who's a dab hand with a sewing machine stitched velcro to the collar so I can now attack at hood. I'd say the pile is as dense as the buffalo version.
Ok thanks Pete. Just checked the snupak brochure and depending on which version you have it looks like it comes with 2 hoods (pile elite) or none (pile shirt)
Just got an Mardale Alaskan for fity quid and although the Pertex outer does look flimsy v my Montane it is ideal weight for the current 0-3C weather MTBing......I`ll see how it does in the Gorms next week but will keep my Montane Extreme close at hand given thecurrent forecast of snow / snow and northerlies.
You're welcome. Apparantly some of the Alaskan smocks now have a Pertex 6 outer, unfortunately these only come in cobalt or red. There's always a fly in the ointment.
i quite liked the quality of the mardale P2 stuff, but found the design let them down - just little things, but annoying all the same - like the bottom of the main chest pocket is in line with the bottom of the zip, so if you want to use the pocket as a handwarmer, you can't use it put other things in as well, because they just roll out.
car keys on striding edge in January being a particularly nasty example.
the snugpack suff is fine in quality, and better on design than Mardale, the collar is even higher than the Montane, the pockets are very deep and they have designed the smock so that the pile around the extremities - bum scoop and collar - is covered by pertex on the inside to decrease the chance of any exposed pile getting wet. £50 on ebay to, absolute bargain - as long as you like green or black.
the Montane takes it for me, the re-inforcement on the arms, key-ring thingy inside the main pocket, being bright red, half-elaticated cuffs, a decent collar that can actually go around your neck, a 'relaxed' fit as opposed to Buffalo's more 'racing snake' design.
the Buffalo has more minuses than pluses for me, the hood costs an extra £20 while the smock is the most expensive of the four available to start with, the dismal range of colours available, the naff collar and - compared to the Montane - the lack of re-inforcement in the arms.
i think the montane is marginally warmer than the buffalo, but the basis for that comparision is a new Montane vs a 10 year old buffalo that was shagged-out.
