Basically a windproof with good water resistance if washed and treated correctly. Certainly a "softshell" but not like the ones suggested earlier. The material is quite thin and light, silky type of feel, and not particularly warm as it isn't lined. THe waterproof comes when it's matched with a particular Paramo garment that does the waterproofing by ..erm.. well the "Paramo" waterproof system.. Look it up..
im worried it might be too waterproof though, as it says if you double it with the hoodie then it is fully waterproof!?
What kind of material is it? does it feel like a goretex shell, or a softshell jacket, for example.
Will,
It's definitely not waterproof but it's pretty water resistant. The seams at the hood have been the first to leak for me but it'll hold off medium showers pretty well and I haven't had to worry about wet snow/sleet at all. I wore it almost daily during the 2010 winter for hours at a time with base layers underneath.
Paramo says their windproof material is made from a closely woven microfibre fabric and is referred to as a "directional fabric" which "allows the movement of moisture away from the body". All I know is that it breathes better than any other windproof I've owned and has turned into one of my "go to" pieces of kit.
If you treat it with Nikwax aftercare products as per directions the water resistance is renewable. For a windproof, AKA softshell, it has worked well for me.
If combined with the Paramo "Summit Hoodie" Paramo says it becomes a "waterproof" system. I don't own the hoodie but have "Nikwaxed" a Patagonia R1 Hoody and layered beneath the Ascent and sustained hard rain hasn't penetrated through the R1. I suspect the Summit Hoodie would work even better. LOL.
im worried it might be too waterproof though, as it says if you double it with the hoodie then it is fully waterproof!?
What kind of material is it? does it feel like a goretex shell, or a softshell jacket, for example.
Will,
It's definitely not waterproof but it's pretty water resistant. The seams at the hood have been the first to leak for me but it'll hold off medium showers pretty well and I haven't had to worry about wet snow/sleet at all. I wore it almost daily during the 2010 winter for hours at a time with base layers underneath.
Paramo says their windproof material is made from a closely woven microfibre fabric and is referred to as a "directional fabric" which "allows the movement of moisture away from the body". All I know is that it breathes better than any other windproof I've owned and has turned into one of my "go to" pieces of kit.
If you treat it with Nikwax aftercare products as per directions the water resistance is renewable. For a windproof, AKA softshell, it has worked well for me.
If combined with the Paramo "Summit Hoodie" Paramo says it becomes a "waterproof" system. I don't own the hoodie but have "Nikwaxed" a Patagonia R1 Hoody and layered beneath the Ascent and sustained hard rain hasn't penetrated through the R1. I suspect the Summit Hoodie would work even better. LOL.
OM Summit Hoodie Review
Dan S.
Hmm, I have a mid 1990s KIMM fleece (polartec100-something that is single sided). It was apparently supposed to have different wicking properties depending on whether it was reversed or not. I never could tell the difference.
Looking at the structure it looks slightly similar to a paramo liner which I guess has to work by capillary action on a hydrophobic material. I visualise the material having to almost make cones with the wide bit at the top and narrower end at the skin.
I wonder how such a fleece would work, if proofed and reversed? I have a windproof as well to add to the mix.
Of course, I'd need to take my Velez (or old Scala jacket) as a backup if I did get round to trying this in real weather...
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Basically as breathable as you can get for the wind resistance. 
