What's It For?
Quite a few outdoor people choose to use a combination of fleece and windproof rather than a single lined garment because it's a versatile solution allowing you to use both together or either of the two components individually.
Paramo's taken things a stage further by not only by designing the two garments a windproof and a fleece, to work together efficiently, but also by creating a system that's actually waterproof when worn together.
The Techy Bits
Neither the Fuera Ascent or the Summit Hoodie are waterproof on their own, but in combination they mimic Paramo's Nikwax Analogy directional system and are waterproof as long as they're kept clean and periodically reproofed with Nikwax TX10.
The outer shell repels wind and most of the rain while the fleece acts like one of Paramo's pump liners and moves moisture outwards and away from the skin. And as long as water isn't under high pressure, it works. Just avoid leaning against wet crags and you'll be fine.
How They Performed
Individually the two garments perform pretty much as you'd expect. The Fuera Ascent windproof is windproof and reasonably water resistant, but definitely not waterproof, though it will cope with showers.
Meanwhile the Summit Hoodie is a fleece jacket which feels a tad heavy and has a slightly odd-looking velour-like outer face teamed with a smoother innner. It has, we think, roughly the same insulation value as a microfleece, but with slightly more wind resistance.
The clever bit comes when you team them up. Paramo has had the combo tested for waterproofness at Leeds University and like them, we found the two garments used together were effectively waterproof and performed like a warm-ish Paramo waterproof jacket in fact. We wandered through several heavy downpours without any dampness getting through.
Cut is slightly slimmer than Paramo's voluminous Aspira tops and a little shorter as well, though still long enough for most general use. It's still generously cut though and should fit most people.
Intended use is technical, though this means the hood is slightly confusing - the Fuera Ascent hood is helmet sized, whereas the Summit's is designed to go under a helmet. The problem comes if you run hot and want a non-insulated hood, when you have to leave the inner hood tucked out of the way uncomfortably and put up with a windproof but not waterproof hood. Maybe a detachable hood on the Summit would be more versatile?
Otherwise the combination works well, the cut matches well and huge torso / sleeve vents allow for effective ventilation right through to base layer level, which anyone who runs warm will appreciate. Cuff, hood and hem adjustment all worked well and the hood gave decent protection too.
One point we would make is that the sleeve length, for us, was marginal, so if you have longish arms, try before buying.
Initial Verdict
Effectively a neat waterproof jacket that you can also use as a windproof or a fleece - the windproof, in particular, is the most technical Paramo has produced, complete with a helmet hood and those massive vents.
Together they're an effective waterproof combination at a decent price - £190 - though the hood arrangement means you can only have warm and waterproof or non-insulated and just windproof. Other pros and cons are very much as for regular Paramo, viz, it is warmer than a conventional waterproof, but breathes exceptionally well, is soft and quiet in use and easy to repair if it tears.
Buy if you want a well-priced versatile fleece / windproof combination with the bonus of full waterproofing when worn in tandem and run on the cool side.
