Newest Buff Headwear product hit stores spring 2004, offering runners the versatility and performance of original Buff(R), along with sun protection.

With more than 12 different ways to wear it, original Buff performance headwear addresses a lot of varying weather and outdoor situations. As Visor Buff hits stores in spring 2004, add one more to the list--blazing sun.

Created for people who demand serious sun protection along with a strong style element, the new patented Visor Buff combines the versatility of original Buff headwear with the protective qualities of a neoprene visor.

Visor Buff is designed for a wide range of outdoor pursuits--everything from running, hiking, and cycling to surfing, tennis, volleyball, or just lounging on the beach. It provides sun protection thanks to its neoprene bill, keeps your head cool and dry during active endeavors thanks to its moisture-wicking microfiber, and serves as a number of different garments, including a visor headband, cap with a bill, or sahariane, with the tail hanging down in the back to offer sun protection for your neck. For Caviro, introduction of Visor Buff, the cold-weather oriented Polar Buff in fall 2003, and original Buff earlier in 2003 caps a year in which the company has taken three products to national distribution, and established the Buff brand as the market leader in the new and growing category of performance headwear. Caviro, the manufacturer of Buff products, opened a U.S. sales office in early 2003.

"As a category, performance headwear, led by the Buff brand, moves people's thinking beyond hats, scarves, or neck gaiters--items that serve a single purpose--and into the realm of an item versatile enough for multiple uses and changing weather," said Shirley Choi Brunetti, who oversees Buff sales in the U.S. "Now, with national distribution of Visor Buff to complement its product line, Caviro has clearly staked out the terrain as the market leader in the growing category of performance headwear."

Neoprene was selected for the visor material because of its ability to resist degradation due to sun exposure and extreme weather conditions. Neoprene--which remains useful over a wide range of temperatures--also resists damage from the flexing and twisting that are crucial to creating different types of garments with the Visor Buff.

The rest of the Visor Buff is just like original Buff Headwear--a seamless tubular garment made from high-performance, breathable microfiber fabric that resists wind and wicks sweat to keep you cool in warm weather. When the weather turns cold, the fabric has thermal and wind-resistant properties similar to soft-shell fabrics, providing the same performance benefits that athletes demand from the rest of their clothing.

Available in 10 different designs, the Visor Buff also makes a strong style statement. The graphic images on the Visor Buff are applied via sublimation, so they won't flake or fade over time. The process also maintains the microfiber's softness.

The Visor Buff is available in 10 different styles and retails for $23. Original Buff is manufactured in more than 150 different designs and retails for $18.50. Polar Buff is manufactured in more than 60 different designs and retails for $25.

About Buff Headwear

Popular for nearly a decade in Europe and now distributed in 22 countries, Buff(R) Headwear expanded its U.S. distribution network in early 2003 by establishing an office in California. Buff has been featured on CBS's Survivor television series. Buff Headwear is manufactured by Caviro, S.L., which is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain.

The beauty of Buff is simplicity--one garment serves many functions. Designed to offer technical performance and protection from the elements during a wide range of sports, Buff Headwear can be worn as a hat, headband, neck gaiter, helmet liner, balaclava, sun or wind screen, bandana, scarf, pirate-style cap, hairband, or wristband.

Original Buff(R) Headwear--a seamless tubular garment made from a high-performance microfiber fabric--performs well for hiking, cycling, motorcycling and skate sports in the warmer months and skiing and snowboarding in the winter. It provides the same performance benefits that athletes demand from the rest of their performance clothing. In warm weather, Buff(R) is breathable, wicks sweat, and helps keep you cool. In colder temperatures, it has thermal and wind-resistant properties similar to soft-shell fabrics.

For more information on the entire line of Buff(R) performance headwear, visit www.buff.us.