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Paramo Velez Smock
Tested
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Price:
£160.00
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Weight: 758 grammes (including hood
and stuffsac - medium) Note Stuffsac no longer supplied 03/07
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Features: Paramo
Analogy Directional fabric, articulated shoulders and
elbows, drop tail, fully wired and adjustable roll-away /
detachable low profile hood, tin front vent zips,
singlehanded cuff adjustment, large external chest pocket,
iinternal 'dry'pocket, takes OS map, adjustable hem with
drop tail, refelctive piping front and rear, ultralight day
sac. Also: two-inch drop skirt.
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Comfortable feel, decent moisture management.
A tad warm if you run hot, will leak under direct
pressure.
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The Concept Paramo's directional clothing works differently
from anything else on the market. In strict technical terms - think
lab tests - the fabric isn't waterproof, however, in the real world,
the combination of Paramo's windproof / water resistant outer fabric
and the pump liner means that you won't get wet.
The Velez is a multi-activity jacket aimed at runners, bikers,
walkers and climbers, but it's cut shorter than more traditional
designs, so if you prefer a longer jacket with a more all-enveloping
hood, you'll need to look elsewhere in the range.
Features We've already mentioned the directional fabric - the
analogy Parmo use to explain the way it works is with animal fur
pumping liquid away from the skin btw - but you should also note that
the latest version is 25 per-cent lighter than earlier incarnations
thanks to a lighter lining.
Otherwise you get two big side vents, now with reversed zips for
more abrasion protection, big exterior chest and interior zipped
pockets, adjustable hem and cuffs, articulated sleeves and a fold-way
/ detachable wired hood.
The Velez also comes complete with a neat little stuff sac that
converts into a small pack for carrying the top when it's not needed.
Oh, the latest version is also available in cool blac.
In Action We've tested an earlier version of the Velez before
- see
this
story - so this is a bit of an update with the latest model used
in cold, winter conditions. This new version, by the way, weighed in
at around 100 grammes lighter than before, so a saving, though not a
huge one.
The first thing we noticed was that along with the weight
reduction, the latest Velez is cut slightly larger than its
predecessor, making for a more generous fit, which was good news.
It's snug but not restrictive with the articulated sleeves working
fine. We like the droptail too, particularly when running or
biking.
Whether
you get on with Paramo seems to depend a lot on how hot you run. The
pump liner acts as an extra insulation layerl and for those who
really chuck out the heat, it can all get a bit too much unless it's
really cold. The lighter lining goes some way towards resolving that
problem.
The the latest Velez is appreciably cooler than its predecessor.
Open up the generous and easy to use side vents - they work well even
wearing a pack and with gloved hands - and you can lose more heat.
It's still warmer than a single layer conventional shell or windproof
garment, and we still found it on the warm side in milder conditions,
but definitely better than before.
It's also very effective at handling excess moisture when you do
boil over. Some mountain biking mates were amazed by the steam rising
from the Velez during a rest stop on a hectic night ride. Really,
clouds of steam rising from the surface of the garment. The bottom
line is that while you may sweat a little more, the Paramo system
does handle the excess moisture very effectively.
It also kept us dry on wet days, so no complaints there. We do
know from previous experience with the fabric, that it will let water
through under pressure, say, if you lean your shoulder against a wet
rockface. Mostly though it's not an issue.
Stuff like zips, cuff adjusters and the hem cords were all easy to
use and the detachable, adjustable hood with its wired peak gives
close-fitting and reasonable protection. Like the rest of the Velez
it's designed for fast movers, so for full-on winter mountain use,
you'll be better off with an Alta 2 or Aspira jacket or smock.
Paramo seems to polarise opinions, but we reckon the latest Velez is
an excellent and very breathable wind and water-proof option for fast
movers in cold weather. Those who run cool will also find it useable
in milder conditions, but only you can really judge how hot you
actually run... Those vents also go some way to keeping temperatures
under control too.
One downside for some users may be that reduced insulation value.
If you run cool or stand around a lot in cold conditions, you'll find
the latest Paramo may need to be supplemented with additional
clothing in a way that the old one didn't.
Another consideration is that the soft feel of the Paramo Analogy
fabric and its lack of rustle will defiintely appeal to some users
who dislike the 'plasticky' handle - oops, technical term - of more
conventional waterproofs.
Finally, while the Velez may be light for Paramo, it's certainly
no lightweight in comparison to other options on the market, so if
weight is a major issue for you, look elsewhere.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time:
Lighter, blacker version of Paramo's fast-movers
waterproof and breathable smock. It's still warmer than
conventional waterproofs, but definitely improved and offers
great moisture management and decent breathability. Whether
it suits you will still depend largely on how hot you run,
but a lighter lining and big vents definitely broaden the
appeal. Not particularly light however.
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