As Winter kicks in for real across the UK, I have today entrusted my original Buff to my good lady wife for a bit of a wash, as, frankly, after a Summer’s use as a headband and wristband, mine smells pretty bad.
I first bought it a couple of years ago while we were skiing, just to keep the chill off my neck. But I soon fell in love with its versatility as a neckband, headband, skull cap, face mask and balaclava.
Just for once, here’s a product that is even better than the good-natured and fairly silly in-store video says it is. And I’m a copywriter for goodness sake. But I still spent the whole week of that holiday thinking (and probably speaking aloud) such old hat American ad-clichés as ‘I don’t know how I ever managed without one!’ and ‘It’s the best 20 dollars I’ve ever spent…’
So how much more excited was I when I realised that it was also great as a headband, sweatband and weirdo hat thing that protects your neck from the sun too? Well, very, is how.
But where the Buff really comes into its own is when Winter kicks in and I have to go out running in sub-zero temperatures along the sea wall. That’s when even if I’ve got hail and sand blowing into my face, the Buff takes care of it, by being just see-through enough to let me roll it completely over my face, while still seeing where I’m going.
OK, so one of these nights I’m probably going to be arrested for running in a full face mask and scaring the local hoodies. But more importantly, when the local fuzz run me in, I’m going to be as warm as toast.
And did I mention that a Buff also makes a handy sling for when you’ve ‘fallen down some stairs’ and even a makeshift tie for when you have a pressing appointment with the magistrates and need to look your best?
Trust me, if you’re a runner, you need a Buff. And no, I haven’t been paid to say that. Yet. But if the good folks at Buff want to reward my pathetic sucking up with a new Buff, I’d like the record to show that I’m certainly not too proud to say yes.
While I keep promising myself that I’ll return to the ‘jumpers for goalposts’ simplicity of my youth, I’m afraid that the lure of the mighty gadget just won’t go away.
The kit I received included the watch unit you see above, an extremely comfortable chest strap, with removable transmitter unit, Polar S3 stride sensor and a USB dongle to plug into your PC.
Now, at a list price for the kit I had of around the £350 mark, you really do have to be serious about listening to your heart while training. But if you really are that committed, you’re going to absolutely love the 800CX.
As you can see from the shot on the left, these are great looking trail shoes, which only lack a bit of leather and possibly some studs in order to become the most macho footwear imaginable. From those tough, grippy soles to the Gore-Tex lined uppers, they scream outdoor performance in the most manly way imaginable. So why, 
As a long time fan of all things Gore-Tex, the most instantly appealing feature of the Hedgehog GTX XCRs, apart from their rugged good looks, is the tag telling you that these things are waterproof as well as breathable. Because if you’re as fond of muddy trail runs as I am, you really appreciate a shoe that can keep the great outdoors outside where it belongs, without reducing your feet to sweaty, wrinkled slush puppies.
Once I left the concrete of the sea wall, I ploughed into the steepest set of dunes this side of the Sahara, where the spiky Hedgehog soles dug right in and the soles offered sufficient flex to make short work of the soft sand. Just as importantly, whether I was running up or down the steep inclines, my feet felt fully supported, with my heels and toes experiencing no discomfort whatsoever.
Once I reached the blessed relief of the turnaround point, putting the wind at my back and several miles of hard sand in front of me, I was able to really enjoy the comfort offered up by the Hedgehogs. The ‘Northotic™’ insoles with Vibram soles really are supremely comfortable on a longish run, and even though I was by this stage splashing through the shallows of the Irish Sea, my feet stayed completely dry, all the way home, as you can see.
Whether you’re heading out for a hike or a serious trail run, I simply can’t recommend the 
And so, before heading off to make a small donation to my nearest hedgehog rescue centre, I have no hesitation at all in giving the North Face Hedgehog GTX XCRs not one, but a resounding 5 Jelly Babies.
Having posted about Beetroot juice a couple of weeks ago, I have since been dutifully consuming 500ml of the stuff every day, either first thing in the morning or 20 minutes before my run in the evening.
