Hi All.
Anyone with a Paramo Trail shirt care to comment on how bulky it is when stashed in pack compared to a cheap fleece? Does it compress much?
I'm considering getting one these Paramo shirts, but I'm also interested in reducing bulkiness of kit in 'sack.
It seems they (Paramo trail shirts) weigh in around 370-400g, how does that compare to other mid layers made for hiking (rather than high street cheap fleeces)?
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 Well first up its notably heavier than a straight up micro fleece pullover (+- 250g depending.). Cheap fleece is probably heavier than that. 370-400g can get you a pretty warm fleece. Two components to that - the first is the pockets/front openings etc which judging from the mountain pull on 'cost' about 40g. The second is the fabric, which is just heavier than a thin micro fleece. Some side benefits for this - its fully usable as a base layer, that odd reversible thing and iirc from reviews a bit of wind resistance. Maybe warmer, not sure. You'll have to decide if either the features or the fabric is worth the extra weight. If planning to mostly carry then perhaps not, to wear could be another matter. Also do check the fit!
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 what martin says but you are comparing two completely different fabrics which can have completely different uses. if i want warm then i would use a fleece. if i want a more versatile wearable top then i'd chose the paramo. that said, i've never carried a paramo trail garment as spare insulation; i wear it. i nearly always carry a spare fleece though. for this time of year always carry a fleece. when colder i wear the trail garment and carry an insulation piece e.g. a fleece.
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 Paramo products have many fine qualities and (living 10 miles from Wadhurst, as I do) I have a lot of their stuff. However, packability and light weight are *NOT* two of the virtues they have and on my proper treks I take none of it, I use it for daywalks only.
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.jpg) JerryW, not too clear ,what you mean about the virtues.? If you don't pack it cos. of the weight and packability,only use it for daywalks.Do you mean on a daywalk you wear it all the time, or are prepared to carry it on a daywalk in case you need it.Cheers.
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 Consider the Explorer, the core venting is more "through". I prefer it to the trail shirt. Whatever everyone else said, you wear such items and don't pack it, requires it to be sufficiently cool, I'd say below about 13C, the reversibility is real but minor from an insulation perspective but more real from it being warm when wet when fleece-side-in. More of baselayer than a midlayer. If packing insulation then fleece wins on weight/insulation/cost grounds, although I've not packed fleece for some years as I find over-layering more flexible than mid-layering.
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 Bump on Parky - I like my Trail shirt but I'll either be wearing it or it won't be coming with me at all. The Paramo may be a little bulkier / heavier but it's much more versatile. Obviously you get the reversible aspect but you also get sleeves you can roll up (my arms are too big for comfortable sleeve rolling in either of my fleeces).
I suggested to Paramo that they change the pockets to zip pockets and make them accessible regardless of which way around you wear the shirt. Also, if they moved the wrist slit around, you could use it as a comfortable thumb hole to cover the backs of your hands. I'm guessing that they didn't think much of my ideas as they never got back to me : )
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Warhippo wrote ( see) I suggested to Paramo that they change the pockets to zip pockets and make them accessible regardless of which way around you wear the shirt. Also, if they moved the wrist slit around, you could use it as a comfortable thumb hole to cover the backs of your hands. I'm guessing that they didn't think much of my ideas as they never got back to me : ) I also wrote to Paramo with a number of suggestions for making their products more useful for trekking, but they never got back to me either..
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| Edited: 05/08/11 16:24 |
I believe that this is proof that Paramo are wicked and evil. I shall now never buy their products.
I take that back! I love Paramo : )
Well they can't be that bad - they printed my 1 sentence 'review' of the Torres gilet in one of their catalogues - evidence of their amazing taste. And since they made me a published journalist, I'm just waiting for my payment. It's been months and months but I'm sure that it will be turning up any day soon. Hang on, there's the door bell....
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The bottom line with Paramo is that their products are well made and strong and do what they say.. which means they are perfect so long as weight and packability are unimportant to you. I have two Taiga fleeces for example that are brilliant and will last for ever, but they weigh not far short of a kilo, so they will never be going trekking...
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