RIP Hamish Hamilton. (Buffalo founder, Pile/Pertex inventer, Vango Force 10 designer)

[Mole]

A Legend of outdoors gear design.

I remember when Buffalo first came out. In those days, after responding to a magazine advert (from The Great Outdoors in my case), you got information by post, possibly even by sending an SAE (self addressed envelope) and they'd send you various ads and articles about the wonders of the combination of Pertex and fibre pile. All quite rough photocopies too.


It took a few years for me to get round to save up and buy my Survival Aids badged version of the Buffalo Superbag. 4 season Outer.

Our story - Buffalo

www.buffalosystems.co.uk

 

[Seòrsa]

A sad loss & a great inventor.....was the 1st piece of kit I bought when I joined the army in 83, a soldiers best friend The Buffalo jacket.
My buffalo jacket was with me through thick & thin for years and was gutted when it got lifted when my bags went adrift on route back from a tour.

 

[AlanL]

Have slept in a Vango Force Ten and owned a Buffalo shirt. I suspect not many of us of a certain generation haven't

 

[Munro277]

i remember him walking into wastwater in buffalo gear then walking out emptying his boots and alking off up a hill,part of an advertise scene for his buffalo gear bought mine and came on nearly all my early yr scotland winter trips ,only sold it 5/6 yrs ago and bought the Montane copy of it as hood worked better...hardly ever cold enough to wear it these past few winters
allowed to borrow mates dads force tent bamp proof or so it seemed to us RIP

 

[old-skool-lite]

RIP. I always look forward to the winter days when it's cold enough to ride in my old double P cycling shirt.

Bought a surplus British Antarctic Survey parka this winter for freezing workshop & outdoor home duty. Awesome.

I still think of Montane as knock off merchants to this day.

 

[higray]

My Force Ten Mk 5 somewhere in Scotland early 70's With Ford Thames 15 cwt van

 

[Robert P]

I didn't realise he had invented Pertex as well as all his other achievements. Buffalo mitts and a Pertex wind jacket are part of my standard kit and difficult to beat. The mitts are genius.

 

[Nevis]

A sad loss. I still have my RAF mountain rescue buffalo top, its probably 30 years now and still does what it says on the tin. Shame it hasn't been worn for a few years now as it's just not cold enough these days but it has saved my skin on many a winter climb. I always liked the looked on peoples faces when you were at the carpark after a long and Baltic day on the hill and took it off and were just bare chested and people were omg that's all you've been wearing all day...Aye and I've been really warm

 

[One L]

Sad news. I have a few Buffalo tops the mountain shirt gets used for cold weather cycling.I find the Teclite great for running when it's cold and wet as long as I'm not pushing the pace.Which I don't these days. I always fancied trying the sleep system but thought they might be a bit bulky.

 

[cathyjc]

I have various buffalo smocks used for walks from home all the time, according to the weather. I was late to discovering it.
I arrived at a navigation course recently (lots standing around), wearing my buffalo shirt to be greeted by the instructor with "Buffalo - good kit !" - he as wearing one too .

 

[Tweaker]

still use teclite and montane extreme on hills
Always next to skin.....

 

[Bmblbzzz]

I have never owned a Vango tent (might have slept in one) nor a Buffalo garment (though did use to have a Pertex jacket) but that doesn't mean I don't recognise his achievements. RIP. And a question - was he also from the Hamilton publishing family? That Hamish was also a sort of outdoors person (rowing).