ZeroDarkBivi wrote:
I have been tempted to try Paramo, with so many converters who swear by it, but even the new designs are just too visually challenging for me to spend money on... Vanity is not a virtue, but there is still a threshold!

Agree - but my new Velez adventure smock is all black and looks great so there are options!

Paramo is quite warm, it's like wearing a 100wt fleece and a windproof

I have a 3rd element, funky design with removable sleeves so it becomes a gilet. Haven't worn it on the bike as I can't really face washing all the mud off it

I'm in Stu's camp, for day rides or rides where I reckon I can dry out in a pub/bothy, I don't mind being a bit damp. For overnighters or more then I'd want something fairly reliably waterproof as pitching up soaked through is misery

The Velez smock doesn't look too bad but I'd rather keep my shell separate from my insulation (usually a down or synthetic jacket); don't want to get into my sleeping bag with dirty wet kit on.

Fuera smock then. Effectively an adventure smock sans insulation.

Fuera isn't waterproof though I don't think

Don't think of Paramo as the same as a down or synthetic insulated top, they have a separate one of those (Torres). You'd need one of those too on a cool bivy

Think of it as wearing a base layer, a warmish midlayer (e.g. roubaix jersey) and a windproof

For most rides these days I'm in a softshell (Rab VR Alpine Lite or Mountain Hardwear Super Chockstone), sometimes a windshirt if I want something more packable

Mines pretty waterproof in the same way as it stopping most of the water getting in, if proofed properly. YMMV of course.

Ordered a new to me Paramo jacket (ex photo shoot demo). Interested to see how the newer Analogy Light holds up to abuse.

I'm also going to have to retire my Montane Minimus at some point this year - starting to delaminate properly. However, it's had a lot of abuse (TD duties, training jacket for it too, and MM/running use) so I don't begrudge it. It's being replaced by a Minimus smock for running - and one of the fancy new OMM Aether eVent jackets for MM/bikepacking use.

At some point this year I'll have to replace my heavier duty jacket as it's delaminating like a bugger. But, it's a 15 year old Patagonia jacket made with Gore XCR, so its had a good run. Will replace it with whatever jacket people on the SRT are reccomending as it'll be used for that rather than anything else.

Montane Minimus at some point this year - starting to delaminate properly.

Mine did that quite quickly. Shame as Montane kit is generally superb and my 1st point of call for any outdoor/bike gear.

OMM Phantom Hoody still working well for me - the only drawback is the lack of ventilation but it seems to cope okay and doesn't become clammy.

GregMay wrote:Interested to see how the newer Analogy Light holds up to abuse.

In my experience badly. However I am definitely an 'abuser' of jackets. Paramo did swap mine for the standard weight one after a month without any quibble.

ctznsmith wrote:

GregMay wrote:Interested to see how the newer Analogy Light holds up to abuse.

In my experience badly. However I am definitely an 'abuser' of jackets. Paramo did swap mine for the standard weight one after a month without any quibble.

Noted, thanks!

Interesting observation from skinning up hill yesterday in sub-zero temp with moderate snowfall (but not melting on contact with jackets). Basically ideal conditions for a vapour permeable membrane, yet many of my group had jackets wet-out from sweat, especially on those areas in contact with their pack. The guys on soft shells where definitely in a better place, although my newish Gore-Tex Pro jacket coped reasonably well with pit-zips fully open.

I still think when it's pissing down soft shells just get saturated and a clammy hard shell is a better option, but packs are best avoided, if possible.