Why is Paramo so good?
I have been a fan of Paramo gear for the last 15 years. I remember spending thousands of pounds clad in various Gore-Tex, Triplepoint and eVent jackets, that either leaked or made me as wet inside as well as outside. They were never as “breatheable” as they were advertised by their manufacturers. The first day’s outing in Scotland normally proved the advertising as rubbish.
They also cost a lot for the money, tore easily (especially when mountaineering), and, when the lightweight revolution arrived, I too, was suckered in for the “pay more for less material” bullshit! Now every jacket on the market, it seems, is “waterproof and breatheable”!
Paramo changed all that for me. Here was a nice fabric that felt, dare I say it, sexy! No crinkly rubbery feel to this piece of gear. Soft material that really did keep out the wet. Indeed I never ended up wet inside with sweat too. Sure, the jacket was a touch on the heavy side and too warm for UK summer use, but these were minor considerations.
In fact you can rip the Paramo material, make sewing repairs and the jacket still functions well. Reproofing and cleaning is done periodically when necessary.
Paramo website
Fact Sheet about the material and the qualities
Use in the Sierra Nevada
We have been winter mountaineering here in Spain’s Sierra Nevada since 1998, so I reckon the Paramo gear has been well tested here. The conditions found here for 9 months of the year are perfect for the clothing. By that I mean, very cold and very dry conditions up in the high mountains. The summer months normally necessitate a revert to a windstopper jacket with a lightweight top for the odd shower.
Am I alone in this conclusion?
No. Almost all the UK Mountain Rescue Teams use Paramo clothing. They can’t all be wrong can they?
“Made to Measure” Clothing with Paramo’s Directional Fabric
We have had 5 pairs of salopettes made up for winter use for our guides. Salopettes are great for those really cold days or when we are stood around on winter and mountaineering skills teaching days. They provide a useful pocketed bib and patched knees, ankles and backside for those days spent glissading or ice axe braking.
Cioch Direct, a company based on Scotland’s Isle of Skye, made an excellent job of the manufacture. You can send in your measurements easily via their “Perfect Fit” online form. The prices are competitive, the clothing well made. They are highly recommended.
