Paramo Jacket?

Velez? not sure if the adventure hood stows, but it's one of the shorter cuts.

Welcome to OM, PJQ

The hood on the Velez does stow, that on the Velez Adventure Light doesn't, don't know about the standard Adventure either. I don't find the lack of a stowaway hood on the VAL a problem, mind.

Velez / Velez Adventure Light is a smock!

In jackets you have a choice of weights:

  Lighter material: Quito, Vista.

  Heavier material: Alta II (and Cascada, Halcon, Pajaro).

Most find the heavier jackets too warm for summer. I reckon the lighter models are more versatile. The Vista has a "retainer tab for easy stowing of hood"; I haven't see one, so I don't know how it works. I have a Quito and I like it. I have never tried stowing the hood and I don't know whether it can be stowed. 

owned Velez, smock obviously but the hood folds and is buttoned into a collar flap, or is removable.

Own the Quito. You roll the hood as tight as you like and then hook a velcro loop to keep it in place. If you roll it too tight it tends to want to wrap the front zip in so its best loosely rolled, its not got a flap to put it.

No Vista experience, touched one years ago so vague impressions. 

I'd say for your stated needs, the Velez is the better hiking in hills top, it has side vents and the chest vent together work well and works well with hipbelts, you feed through the sides and the hand-warming area is still able to be accessed. There's little to go wrong with it and not being the latest lightest, can be got in sales for about 80ukp if you're patient, or less 2nd-hand.

For about-town day-to-day use which can be used in the hills, probably the Vista, its basically just a jacket, chest pockets and a front zip, closests to your described needs but I can't remember how the hood tucks away.

For biking primarily which can be used to go in the hills, the least mountain-type is the Quito, its got so many zips and so little fabric in the front it tends to be quite cool, which is what I wanted. It can be augmented to become more mountain-capable, by adding a windproof over it. I tend to move fast and it was the best choice due to the massive pitzips, but it is for sure a geeky looking design.

You also not mentioned but you can get a short Paramo waterproof out of the Summit Hoodie and layer a windproof either - the one Paramo offer is the Fuera Ascent. Short but neither have the roll-away hood, the SH hood just flops back there, you can cinch it tight so its not too hanging behind, and the Fuera hood I think rolls and velcros at the nape of the neck like the Quito does. I own this combo and its never got used as its just too heavy to pack and too warm most of the time to wear. However, its a good combo for living at home in, wear the fleece indoors and just throw in a windproof as required outdoors. Not really for packing up a mountain though.

My Quito gets used mostly when its cold+wet and packs small.

 Best place to buy? Try ebay 2nds there's a link off Paramo's site.

" Stowaway hood is a must."

"The hood on the Velez does stow, that on the Velez Adventure Light doesn't, don't know about the standard Adventure either."

Depends what you mean by a stowaway hood.

The Velez Adventure and Velez Adventure Light both have rollaway hood which popper out of the way to form a collar. It's a different setup from the detachable hood on the original Velz which rolls and stuffs into the smock's collar, but the effect is much the same - the hood stays out of the way when you don't need it. If anything the rollaway version on the Adventures is easier to use and as a hood it's certainly more protective

Matt C wrote (see)

 If anything the rollaway version on the Adventures is easier to use and as a hood it's certainly more protective

Steve which is your favourite out of the "several Paramo jackets" you have got?

I bet you got them all at the Mountain Factor didn't you, you little scamp!

Get a Cioch Glamaig - made to measure or off-the-peg, with alterations if you want them.

Cioch and the Glamaig

Yeah paramo has a seconds store on Ebay, from what I hear its only very minor problems with the garments, one reviewer said all was wrong with his was some double stitching at the hem about an inch long.

Supposedly all the items they sell dont have any defects that affect performance, Ive seen the Velez smocks go for around £70 on there.

Paramo 2nds on Ebay. So... its something of a repeat of the relative prices for specific colours and sizes. Those who like bright yellow and are XS or XL will get a bargain.

 I got a Torres Gilet Light medium from them, I  can't see any flaws and it has been a great item I've worn most days the last 6months, very comfy over base or over a midlayer, one of those "just right" useful items.

 I got a Velez from them, black, in medium. I owned a Velez large before. I paid 85quid delivered. I am concerned it won't fit, smocks have to go over head so need to be baggier, if it doesn't fit, I sell and probably break-even. Its in UK at a relative's house, they looked at it and say they cannot see flaws.

 I got a Cascada jacket, in medium, paid 85quid, I'm not so concerned about fit of that as I have medium jackets from Paramo in Quito and Fuera, but my relative says it looks well worn......

 So long as the 2nds prices are similar to price for used kit then its a low-risk way to get items at a low cost. I'd say their 2nds are like new with flaws none of us can spot, or at worst like a used item.