 I don't see caring for Paramo products as a problem though one or two magazine testers mention it from time to time. Do any longterm Paramo users have any observations? How often do you wash it? Does it smell if you leave it unwashed for a while? How long does it take for the DWR finish to deteriorate? Do you use just Nikwax products for treatment or other stuff as well?
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 Got this west winds smock top which uses the same pump fabric as paramo use I've used Grangers wash in and I've had no probs.to clean it, soap flakes or techwash, but in this hard water hell hole you need a whole bottle of the stuff otherwise you get this white residue, which looks real bad , but doesn't affect the performance.
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I've got a Paramo Cuzco jacket which I Nikwax (Tech Wash) every 6/8 weeks based on regular useage of 3/4 times a week. I have had the jacket since October and I have needed to re-proof (TX Direct) it once. I based this on the fact that rain-water did not appear to be beading/running off as it should. Re-proofing sorted this immediately and restored it's DWR.
A lot of the issues suggested are purely personal and individualistic but the maintenance issue for me is not a problem in anyway. I have followed an indentical regime with my gore-tex jacket prior to using my Paramo jacket.
I have never had an issue with odour and yet again I think that is a personal issue. As we know some people unfortunately suffer from body odour a great deal more than others. I do find the breathability of the jacket far surpasses anything else I have used and when worn in conjunction with my Mountain Pull-on (Parameta S) the issue concerning running hot is corrected by a system that works together to aid breathability/wicking.
The Paramo concept seems to stimulate great debate amongst out-door enthusiasts. My personal observation and experience would suggest that a little extra weight increases the breathability and warmth on offer. It's then down to personal choice and overall feel of the garment.
Noisy, crinkly plastic bag V quiet, soft Paramo. Sorry, couldn't resist.
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 Well I reproof mine about every 2 months with tx direct which seems to keep it waterproof, I left it for 4 months and although I did not get wet it felt like I was, as heavy rain soaked the jacket . Anyway Jon if the Paramo is to hot for you at temperature of zero what do you normally use that would cope with your running hot I assume you were walking and not running?.
Anyway what's happened to Baga must have taken a huff, maybe they didn't let him in Mixed routes :-)
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 Maybe he just got *anned from OM a few more times....
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I do run hot, and I'm pretty straight about that, but then I move quite quickly as well. I don't think I'm particularly unusual in that. On the flat and going down when the heart's just ticking over, Paramo's fine for me, but on hills, too warm outside of winter. I would estimate that the extra insulation from the pump liner is a little like wearing, oh I dunno, half a microfleece or a warm baselayer.
Baga? He's not been around for a while, perhaps he'd converted everyone here so his work was done?
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 Funny he didn't ask to join Mixed Routes.
I must say that when I first saw this thread I said to myself "oh no not again", but thankfully it's not gone <i>that</i> way yet.
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 YEY <|:->
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<l:-)>
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have been using paramo everyday for over 10 years now..
did get side tracked by the advertising and bought a paclite jacket which i thought was the biggest waste and most dangerous way to spend 300 quid...frankly i think that the advertisers should be had up by the trades description act..
i run hot too, well actually i just run sweat all the time..dressing in a plastic bag makes me cold..
having worked in the outdoors for nearly 15 years i find that it is so much more important to be warm...dryness is an option that you can go for at altitude but not in the uk and especially not heer in wales where it is wet most of the time..
big deal if the outside wets up...do folk get all funny when their buffalo wets out cos of the uv degradation...
chuck it in the washing machimne, don't use dtergents...left mine for a whole season once, so it got wet... just get your tent out...put up the outer ... light your stove , make a cuppa have a smoke and by then you will be dry... and comfortable being outdoors is all about managing your state not being dressed in wonder tec
anybody wanna buy a fartex jacket!!!
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 There is nothing like a good balanced argument, and that WAS nothing like a good balanced argument! ;)
Surely spending £300 on badly trained Pit Bulls would be more dangerous than buying a jacket!
Anyway, I think I will have to try this stuff, as long as I can get one that I can ge relatively cool in.
I used to wear gaberdine with a base layer underneath whenever I was outdoors. If I stopped moving I had a Buffalo and a Goretex suit that I wore underneath the gaberdine - worked great but I am not sure I was always comfortable, just alive!
But it's only my opinion, and what are opinions like Si? ;)
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 Assholes mark.
Si(C)
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Doh!
You were not meant to say it!!! ;)
p.s. Do you have a program running in the background that looks for your initials?
Lets test him.... Si.......
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Not sure where I'm going to find a marquee big enough to cram a bunch of schoolkids into when they get wet....and I'm deffo not letting them smoke to get dry!
;0)
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Spoilsport......
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I refuse to turn nice kids into kipper fillets.
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Oops, sorry mark, thought it was a serious question!!
Anyway...back on topic...
I think Alex was trying the new aspira jacket last weekend in Snowy. With any luck he'll pop in a give us HIS opinion on it.
Si(C)
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 I've already put this in my review but..............I found the zips on this jacket far too flimsey and broke mine within a very short space of time. So I sent it back and paramo were very good and swaped it for the Smock version which has been superb.
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I did wear the new Aspira Jacket at the weekend and I liked...
the fabric.
BUT the rest of the jacket was a pile of shite. Dangly, elastic drawcords, nasty self opening zips, odd "vents", sticky in the back rucksack pads...all added together to make a load of crap out of a fabric that did actually work.
I never felt over sweaty, even when working hard, and whilst I was standing around chatting I was happy and warm a lot of the time in just that Aspira and a baselayer.
All in all nice material, shame about the features.
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 the mountain rescue team i am a member of uses all paramo gear we recently changed our jackets from the alto to the aspira some dont like the jacket at all saying its to short but everyone else likes the jacket the new weight is excellant and dont find the over heating a problem.overall a great jacket and you dont russle like a paper bag like gortex
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