just wondering if anyone as come across the Buffalo Mountain Jacket and more importantly if it is any good. I hear they are not waterproof but i have read on the Needle Sports web page that if wearing Buffalo there is no need for waterproofs

 sounds a bit irish to me!!!

Depends what you want it for.  The Buffalo Mountain Jacket is a pile-pertex job; very warm, and relies on a different system to keep water away from the body.  And no, it's not waterproof.  The DP introduction section explains how it's meant to work.

I think it's a bit too long for me for active use.

Excellent pieces of kit. I've got a couple of the smocks. Too warm for summer but ideal for Oct - Apr. Wear them next to the skin and they wick very well and have lots of venting for the uphills. They are thick enough for rain to rarely get through and are warm when wet. The also last for many years as there is no membrane to wear out.

 Herb

i want it for casual (standing about) and walking in winter.

What is the pile like against the skin when out walking?

Sounds a good choice for what you want. For standing around in cold weather you can wear a base layer underneath as well.

The pile feels nice next to the skin, not itchy. 

Herb

Had one for a few years and love it. Wear it for walking in winter when it's really cold and sometimes carry it to pop on at summits ect when you cool down. You really only need a lightweight waterproof with it. It is too hot for summer (for me) and fairly bulky.

It's not a stylish garment! There are other similar things - check out the montane extreme smocks.

Jack, it depends what you mean by 'a bit Irish', which for the past ten years at least has been synonymous with a fantastic burgeoning economy with regular large exchequer surplus. Or were you relating to the amazing culture - music, playwrites, dancing - which has been lauded all over the world? Perhaps you really meant seriously hard working, as per the immigrants to the UK who built most of our motorways.

I'd say the Buffalo mountain shirt is perhaps the best bit of kit I've ever bought, and it was first out for the packing last night as I get ready for the West Highland Way on Thursday. It is quite warm for anything warmer than Spring, but is amazing in the winter. The Redybrek analogy is spot on and if you feel too warm you open the side zips and these are really effective. Above Capel-y-Ffin on a freezing winter's day and I was lovely and warm (ok, so my ears copped it a bit!).

My wife nicks it for running during the winter, too, despite its decidedly 'non-funky' appearance. It isn't waterproof, but works on the principle of immediately wicking the moisture away from the skin and thus keeping you very toasty indeed - this really works for me as I've never seemed to be able to get 'breathable' waterproofs to work with me.

It just seems such a wonderful British design - and it works! Montane also have similar kit, and much more, but I think the Buffalo mountain jacket wins out each time. Mine must be over ten years old now and not showing its age at all.

Just echoing the sentiments above!

 Mines a winter-only jacket for walking, pile next to the skin... Also great for taking the kids to the park in the winter, or when out and about with the camer in the autumn/spring

Yada, yada, yada - Wot they all said! 

If your run hot, you'll be limited in suitable times to wear it. But it's superb in its environment - cold, clear, windy winter days. And weird too, having those side zips open, blizzard whistling through and still toasty!