Starting out?

I saw this, and just wanted to add that I bought paramo trousers, jacket (and gaiters) in 1992, and I still use them.

As has been said in this thread, they are warm (I tend to regard it as a softshell and wear a cool baselayer, and no midlayer).

They are great for winter, less so in summer.

I have also re-proofed the clothes, indeed the (scala(?)) trousers I bought from the Nikwax shop in Wadhurst hadn't yet been waterproofed when I bought them, so I was supplied with the proofing (Tx direct?) to wash in.

It worked.

I have used the jacket extensively, and as my commuting jacket so pretty-much daily use for a lot of this time.

In case you can't tell, I am a satisfied customer.

I just used my '92-vintage trousers on Thursday, cycling 13-miles to work in Stockport from the Peak District.

I rolled them up and used them as waterproof "shorts", and with all the vents open.

I kept completely dry (and without any sweat buildup), which isn't bad for 16-year old kit and given the snow/sleet/rain that day, combined with cycling fairly hard.

I have chosen my cycling jacket for visibility, so that isn't as breathable.

I used the Velez smock Cascada trousers and cambia long sleeve shirt and long johns to walk to Everest Base camp this Nov and to summit Kala Patthar. Both were early starts and its pretty chilly when the suns down on the Khumbu. I couldnt believe just how warm I was.

I also gave them a hammering on Snowdon, even though first time out the Cascadas leaked (not properly proofed, fixed very quickly by the London store, thanks Matt) were still warm and windproof.

I'm off to get the g/f a Velez adventure and myself an Aspira smock this weekend.

Nah would recommend them to anyone, I want to keep thenm for myself and laugh at those rustly people in their Gore.