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Paramo Aspira Jacket First
Look
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Price:
£250.00
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Weight: 940 grammes (men's
L)
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Features: Nikwax
Analogy pump liner (25 per-cent lighter for 2003), new
reversed zips, high volume foldaway hood, fast access chest
pockets, adjustable upper arm vents, increased venting
through storm flap and chest pockets, fast access chest
pocket, twin handwarming pockets, 2-inch drop-skirt and
dropped tail, low bulk waist, foam inserts in back area,
reduced arm volume. Adjustable waist and hem
cord.
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The
Aspira jacket is new for 2003 from Paramo and while it's based on
last year's Aspira technical smock, it has a load of new features and
detailed improvements over previous Paramo tops and, of course, a
full-length zip.
The most fundamental of these changes and one that it has in
common with the rest of this year's Paramo range is a 'pump liner' -
the strange bit that's claimed to work like animal fur - that's 25
percent lighter than before.
That still doesn't exactly make for an ultralight garment - we
weighed a size large at 940 grammes - but it's an improvement on
previous Paramo Jackets, which were offputtingly heavy.
How it works...
If you've encountered Paramo before, please skip this bit, if you
haven't, here's a quick look at how Paramo's directional system
works. Despite the jacket being described as waterproof, the actual
fabric isn't. In fact there's an outer windproof microfibre shell
over what Paramo calls a 'pump liner'. This feels like a fluffy old
housecoat, but is claimed to work like animal fur and 'direct liquid
water into the right spot'.
The
pluses are that it copes better with sweat than conventional
waterproofs, is immune to puncture damage and has a soft feel. The
downsides are (for some) that it's warmer than conventional
waterproof clothing, lets water through under pressure (for example
if you lean against a wet rock and compress the liner) and - though
no-one mentions this - it absorbs enough water to up the weight when
wet, which is a factor if you want to remove and carry.
The lighter 2003 liner in the new Aspira seems indistinguishable
in performance from the previous version and generally works well,
though we found it too warm over just a base layer stomping up hill
in temperatures around zero, even with the hood down, cuffs rolled up
and vents open. But then we do run hot. Good for colder folk and
instructors though. For a longer explanation see the Paramo
site.
The Works: Technical Features
At
£250, the Aspira is Paramo's top-end technical mountaineering
and climbing jacket, so you'd expect things to have been thought
through carefully. Some of the detailing we really like - being able
to roll the cuffs up is great, there are loads of pockets none of
which are obstructed by a harness, and a huge map pocket twinned with
a Velcroed-shut compass one.
The vents at the front of the upper arms are accessible but, we
thought, of limited effectiveness and would be right in the line of
fire from spindrift when climbing and reaching up, though to be fair,
no worse than many pit zips.
Nice hood...
The hood has been redesigned for 2003 with a higher volume and
cordlock adjustability and is very effective. The combination of soft
fabric, and shockcord volume and aperture adjusters topped with a
wired hood fit comfortingly closely over a bare head, but also
accommodates a BD Half Dome helmet with ease. And, a nice touch, the
elastication in the front of the hood allows you to slip it off, over
the helmet without loosening or adjusting either this or the main
front zip.
The downside is that the lined material is quite warm, so if you
run hot, it's a recipe for overheating, especially on uphill
sections. Update Interestingly OM member Guy Newbold, a
longstanding Paramo user, actually preferred the older version liner
for its extra warmth in cold conditions. He also found that the
reversed zip on the new jacket wasn't up to the job and after
breaking it, chose to exchange his jacket for a Smock version. See
link to user reviews below.
Cut
The cut is looser than we'd like on a top-end technical jacket.
The soft drape means that it doesn't billow out as much as some, but
there's still an excess of loose fabric under a pack and harness.
We'd like a closer cut for more efficient insulation and wicking.
Otherwise things work well. The sleeves don't pull down when
reaching high and a low bulk skirt helps to reduce bulk under a
harness or pack belt. The fasteners are also glove friendly, even the
pop studs, which look as if they might be awkward to use.
Not perfect though. The waist draw cords are hidden, but the hem
cords hand loose at the sides in just the right place to tangle with
racked gear on a harness loop. They really should be captive and
hidden away.
Paramo stirs strong emotions in some users. Its positive qualities
include good moisture management (though it can still feel damp
inside when you're sweating away), durability, added insulation and
the fact that's it's made in Colombia.
The new lighter liner means that the weight is now more in the
ballpark, but for us - and bear in mind that we do run hot - even
this latest version is too warm for anything other than full winter
conditions. If you run cooler or stand around a lot, say,
instructing, the extra warmth may be a bonus, but while it's welcome
on a winter belay ledge, it's not so great when you're burning up an
approach slope. The hood, in particular cooked our head and aided
overheating. And of course leaning or kneeling on wet surfaces is
still a bad idea.
The debate over the fabric has tended to overshadow cut and
design. The new Aspira's a basically competent top with an excellent
(if warm) hood. For our tastes though, while detailing like the
pockets, cuffs and hood are good, the overall cut needs to be
tightened up for climbing use. At the moment there's simply too much
excess fabric in the sack-like cut for us. If you're bulky yourself
though, that might be an asset.
We're going to give the Aspira a bit more of a caning in the next
few months and see how things develop, but initial impressions are
that it's a comfortable and very protective winter jacket with all
the traditional Paramo pluses and minuses, but at a lighter weight.
For us it's a shame that the cut is still on the loose side, though
bulkier mountaineers may find that an asset. Perhaps we should be
eating more pies.
Know more or want to?
If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check
out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If
you have questions you can mail
us direct, ask
Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear
forum.
Jon Doran
