Most surviving examples have sleeves, but a minority are sleeveless. (Removable sleeves were common for men's clothing in the 17th century.) Sleeves could be of a single thickness of leather from shoulder to wrist, or alternatively of a double thickness from the shoulder to the elbow, with a single thickness, to allow freedom of movement, to the wrist. All buff coats had deep skirts attached, which protected the upper legs of the wearer. The thickest parts of the leather were generally placed so as to protect the wearer's legs while on horseback. The extant collection of buff coats preserved at Littlecote House dating to 1649–1660, contains examples with leather varying from in thickness and entire coats weighing between .