Paramo 3rd Element Jacket Tested
It may look as mad as a bag of rabid badgers, but we have to admit, the thing works brilliantly
Posted: 1 February 2002
by Jon
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Paramo Third Element
Jacket
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Price:
£180.00
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Weight: 835 gm (complete) 420 gm
(sleeve/shoulder section) 415 gm (Men's
Medium)
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Features: Nikwax
Analogy fabric treated with Nikwax TX10i Elastomer,
detachable shoulder and sleeve section, roll down hood with
wired peak, drop tail, elasticated draw cord at hem and
around bottom of shoulder section, twin hand-warmer
pocketys, one containing a pound coin and internal zipped
pocket, Velcro cuff fastening, high collar(s)
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Excellent breathability and wicking as usual plus high
comedy value
 Plain
weird.
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Billed as an 'Active Travel Jacket', the 3rd element actually has an
invisible fourth element thrown in for nothing - huge comedy value.
Donning the detachable arm, head and shoulder section over, say, a
baselayer top will have passing strangers convulsed with laughter.
Let's be honest, it does look quite silly. Let's be doubly honest, we
rarely use it in that role as a result.
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On the face of it, a perfectly
normal Paramo jacket...
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Think open-topped convertible and you're on the right lines. The 3rd
Element is classic Paramo, a bit like the excellent Velez, but with a
twist. You can wear it either as a full jacket or as a 'gilet'
(waistcoat to us Brits.) The sleeves, shoulders and roll-off hood
simply snap off like some sort of deranged bolero leaving you gileted
but disarmed. The science behind it is actually spot on - your head
and forearms are both high heart areas, so uncovering them is a good
way of cooling down.
If you run hot and move fast, Paramo's Analogy fabric, with its
directional lining can get really warm, even in winter. Yes, Paramo's
breathability is excellent, but it won't stop you sweating even if
that excess moisture will be gone faster than with a conventional
waterproof. We found the 3rd Element worked perfectly for winter
mountain biking and walks (uphill ones anyway). Stow the upper
section in an outer pocket and the gilet strikes a great balance
between protection and ventilation. Sure, your arms get wet, but so
what?
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But then this happens... It's
like Transformers
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Then, at stops, just chuck the upper section back on to avoid
chilling. If it's really cold you can always wear both and have the
benefit of a full waterproof Paramo jacket. The upper section clips
in place with four press-studs and an elasticated cord to pull it
snug and is quick and easy to don and remove, though having two front
zips to deal with can be tad confusing.
The seal between the two is good, though in really, high winds,
there might be potential for some draughtiness under the arm pits -
the rest of your torso is protected by the gilet remember. Other good
points are the drop tail, which is excellent on a mountain bike in
particular and the roll-away hood, which has a wired peak and is
surprisingly effective. You don't get Paramo's classic side vents,
but then that might have been a feature too far and you can always
rip your arms off, if you'll forgive the phrase.
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And suddenly you're left with a
gilet...
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The arm section? We chose mainly not to wear it on its own for
reasons of vanity, but it's quick to put on for stops and you can
also chuck it on over a rucksac to minimise stopping time. Neat.
The Fabric
We've said it before, but Paramo's directional fabrics work really
well although they are heavier and warmer than conventional
waterproofs. The main advantage is high breathability and wicking so
you don't stay damp for long. Some testers raise the need to
occasionally re-proof the fabric as a disadvantage, but to be honest,
it's an easy operation with a wash-in proofing agent and only has to
be carried out occasionally.
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Verdict: Mad but brilliant. Used
as a gilet, the 3rd Element gives decent protection with
high ventilation but when things get colder, you can opt for
the full jacket version, which you can throw together in
seconds. If you don't run hot, then it's probably a bit OTT,
but for stop - start, high intensity activities it works
very nicely thanks and a decent hood is a bonus as well. The
cons? Well, it does look a bit silly and the press-studs and
zips can be fiddly with cold fingers, plus it's not as light
as some conventional waterproofs. After initial dubiousness,
we grew to love the 3rd Element. Excellent winter kit though
not cheap. It's made in Colombia.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for time:
Mad three-in-one solution that works amazingly well. The
sleeves and shoulders come off for high intensity or warm
weather work, but reattach much faster than with a jacket
where the sleeves simply unzip. You can chuck them back on
for stops and even over a rucksac if you choose to. The
fabric is brilliant, breathes well and wicks sweat fast, but
is warmish and heavier than the lightweight competition. If
you wear the sleeves and shoulder/hood unit alone, people
will laugh at you. Don't do it... Good if weird kit. We
like.
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