Buffalo Systems

Buffalo Systems has been making weatherproof clothing in Sheffield since 1979, when Hamish Hamilton started it with one idea borrowed from Arctic clothing. A fibre pile lining sits under a Pertex shell and is worn next to the skin with nothing underneath. The pile wicks and stays warm when wet, the Pertex stops the wind, and the whole thing works as a single layer. The Mountain Shirt won the Golden Boot in 1986 and has not changed much since. Buffalo still cuts and stitches in Sheffield, and repairs there too. The brand says this isn't outdoor fashion. It's fast-drying, windproof, breathable gear. One customer swapped a 30-year-old shirt for a new one and wears it in the Peak District. Another found a jacket lighter and less clammy than their old Patagonia.