Buff® Partners With Eddie Bauer to Create First Ascent Private Line

Original Buff®, manufacturer of versatile, popular and multifunctional headwear, is very proud to be a part of the Eddie Bauer/Whittaker Mountaineering First Ascent apparel and gear line launching this spring 2009 as an essential and ingenious mountaineering accessory. The Eddie Bauer/Whittaker Mountaineering First Ascent line’s focus is on the bare necessities crucial for mountaineering expeditions by getting rid of the extra bells and whistles that add extra weight and lack necessary functionality.

“We are excited to be part of the First Ascent launch and what Eddie Bauer considers to be essential apparel and gear. Most guides and sherpas who have used a Buff on past expeditions find that it’s the perfect base layer to have and wear on the expedition where every piece of gear counts,” says Shirley Choi Brunetti, U.S. general manager.

In April 2009, Eddie Bauer officially returned to its mountaineering roots with the launch of First Ascent, a line of top-notch, expedition-grade, performance outerwear and apparel. Eddie Bauer has been recognized as the original expedition outfitter, providing gear for more than forty climbing expeditions including several first ascents in the 1950′ s-1980’s.

The First Ascent Original Buff has been named the most versatile piece of gear in your pack because it can be worn over 12 different ways to accommodate different temperatures and offer a custom fit. It is made from microfiber fabric to provide superior moisture wicking and dry comfort properties, as well as helping to reduce skin temperature and maintain hydration. Also, all Buff® models incorporate Polygiene technology for active odor and sweat control by releasing non-toxic silver ions to break down odor-causing bacteria.

First Ascent climber and expedition guide, Seth Waterfall, claims that Buff is “The one piece of gear that I never climb without. Use it as a hat, a neck gaiter, a balaclava, a sunshade, even an eye mask when sleeping. You have to have one and if you don’t have one, you need to get one. It’s one piece of gear that does a million things.”

The First Ascent Original Buff is currently available for purchase online at the Eddie Bauer First Ascent website and will be shipping to five select Eddie Bauer stores in Denver, Chicago, Whistler, B.C., Jackson Hole and Bellevue, Washington on May 15, 2009.

The First Ascent Original Buff is offered in the following prints at $20 retail: Multi, Palm and Steel.

Additionally, Eddie Bauer has assembled a line-up of renowned alpinists to form the First Ascent Expedition team dedicated to developing the line, living in the gear and testing it in the harshest environments known to man. The First Ascent team is comprised of Eddie Viesturs, the first American to climb all of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks, and Dave Hahn, who has made it to the summit of Mount Everest ten times, as well as Peter Whittaker, Melissa Arnot, Chad Peele and Seth Waterfall.

The First Ascent team has already started to put First Ascent gear to the test starting with the Expedition Cotopaxi in October 2008 and the Aconcagua Expedition that took place in January 2009. The team has recently embarked on the Mount Everest Expedition and arrived at Everest basecamp on April 9, 2009.

Stay tuned in to all the action of the First Ascent Mount Everest Expedition on the First Ascent Blog.

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About Buff® Headwear Original Buff® is based outside of Barcelona, Spain, and opened a U.S. sales office in early 2003. Popular for more than a decade in Europe and used since the show’s inception on CBS’s Survivor television series, Buff® Headwear is distributed in more than 42 countries. Buff performance headwear is all about versatility and simplicity – one garment serves many functions. Among other uses, a Buff can be worn as a hat, neck gaiter, balaclava, bandana, scarf, hair band, helmet liner, headband, pirate-style cap or as a sun, wind or dust screen. Designed to offer technical performance and protection from the elements during a wide range of outdoor activities and sports, Buff Headwear is available in hundreds of styles and designs. For more information on the entire line of Buff performance headwear, call 707.569.9009 or visit the Buff® website.