Paramo Service

[Quixoticgeek]

As my old TNF waterproof jacket is slowly falling apart, no longer being very waterproof, and having a couple of holes in it, I've been looking for a while now for a replacement. For a while top of the list was the Vaude escape bike jacket. But a recent discussion with a few people had me curious about paramo clothing.

I spent over an hour trying on different jackets in the paramo store recently[1], trying to make up my mind.

A new job (and with it the first pay day), brought about a need for something waterproof to wear for my cycle commute. Another week of umming and ahing I finally decided upon the Paramo Quito. I phoned up the the store yesterday at about half 1, they had the jacket on offer (20% off), free shipping with FEDEX. Sinéad, who served me talked me through the sizing options, returns policy etc. I handed over the card details, and she said she would try to get it out the door that day if possible. 1337 I had an email saying it was dispatched.

It just arrived half an hour ago, about 20 hours door to door. It's a lovely jacket. Nice and quiet, spacious, if a little long in the arms. But impressive service from the Paramo store in Covent garden.

Will do a full review once I've got a few rain storms under my belt.

Julia



[1]Covent Garden, next to a nice Italian restaurant.

 

[Goatboy]

Paramo are a great company. (Dealt with them professionally and as a customer). They make great kit, have a good business and social ethic and make some pretty splendiferious gear.

I'd become disillusioned with waterproofs (despite selling them) and hadn't worn them for years 'till I got my Pájaro a few years back. Was so impressed I even bought waterproof trousers from them (had been a hater of waterproof trousers for years) and loved them too.

Quiet, great moisture management and so well thought out. OK you don't want to hang around a sparky camp fire in one but a joy to wear in a horizontal howler when steaming up hill.

You also have to treat it more often than a standard GTX jacket but then it's a bit like a racing car against a family hatchback in that way, needs more fettling to get the maximum performance.

Looking forward to your review of it. I think that you may get the full use of it this winter!

ATB,
GB.

 

[Quixoticgeek]

One of the features that really sold it to me is that if I have a bike accident, I can get panels replaced, rather than forking out for a whole new jacket. This really appeals as I've had to write off jackets in the past due to a tear in a sleeve.

Gonna save up for the matching trousers I think.

Julia

 

[MartiniDave]

They're a good firm. They just replaced the worn out zipper in my wife's 8 year old alta 2 coat, they made a cracking good job of it and cleaned & reproofed it too. It's now as good as new again.

Dave

 

[Quixoticgeek]

They're a good firm. They just replaced the worn out zipper in my wife's 8 year old alta 2 coat, they made a cracking good job of it and cleaned & reproofed it too. It's now as good as new again.

That's one of the key deciding factors that lent me to paramo. The fact that they can do repairs like that allows you to justify the price of the initial outlay, knowing that it will last, and it will last for a looong time. If it does have something break or get damaged they can fix it. Am really liking the fact that the waterproof jacket is no longer so disposable...

Julia

 

[cranmere]

I've sometimes seen the argument put that you have to keep re-proofing it, but that is actually dead easy so really isn't a problem. I love my Paramo.

 

[Angry Pirate]

My only issue with paramo is that design-wise they are a good five years behind everyone else, especially in terms of hood design and fit. That said they do last forever.
My old Nevada smock I sold after nearly 20 years due to poor helmet compatability for winter climbing and it was still in great nick. It had kept me dry for day after day of torrential rain on the pennine way and had seen many hill days. Far better than any membrane!
I've replaced it with Furtech jacket (same idea, similar fabric, much better hood, much poorer wrist design) for winter and I've had a Quito as my summer coat for over five years, which is great for lakes summer weather.
Just bought a Fuera windproof which I'm over the moon with. .
I have cascada trousers for walking and aspira trousers for ice climbing. Both ace! I took a big tumble coming off Kinder one day and tore the cascada leg open. Stitched it with fishing line and its still as waterproof as it was. Likewise the aspiras have a number of crampon holes which have been stitched. No loss in performance there either.
I've had the Torres insulated belay jacket and gilet which I was less impressed with compared to primaloft, sold and stolen respectively.
I've always been impressed with their ethical stance and the longevity of their fabric. I'd been through expensive membranes (goretex, triplepoint etc) in less than two years. Paramo just seems to go on forever.
They will do custom stuff too.

 

[big_swede]

That's one of the key deciding factors that lent me to paramo. The fact that they can do repairs like that allows you to justify the price of the initial outlay, knowing that it will last, and it will last for a looong time. If it does have something break or get damaged they can fix it. Am really liking the fact that the waterproof jacket is no longer so disposable...

Julia

Hold on a minute. Which waterproof can you not repair??? I've gotten repairs on a lot of gore-tex jackets an trousers. And with gores "Guaranteed to keep you dry" I have had a 10 year old leaky Tierra-jacket replaced with no questions asked.

 

[Angry Pirate]

Hold on a minute. Which waterproof can you not repair??? I've gotten repairs on a lot of gore-tex jackets an trousers. And with gores "Guaranteed to keep you dry" I have had a 10 year old leaky Tierra-jacket replaced with no questions asked.

True, lots of manufacturers and aftermarket care specialists will do repairs and you can stick on patches in the field. The upside of paramo is that you can just stitch up holes and be done. Unless the hole goes through the outer and inner material it won't affect the way the waterproofing works.
I used to work in outdoor retail for a number of years and the Gore guarantee was a big bugbear. The "lifetime" is that of the garment not the user. Gore told us it was 88 days, i.e. 88 x 24 hours. For an average user, that could be ten or twenty years; likewise you could do that in under a year. My garments have all failed when the taping wore off at the seams.
I am aware that I'm sounding like a Paramo zealot but it really does breathe and wear better than everything else I've used. The downside is it is less waterproof but I find that the breathability keeps me drier overall than a membrane.
A few weeks ago I was out for a weekend using an issue goretex that lives in my boot. The weather was very wet but quite warm and I'd totally forgotten how humid and sticky it feels wearing membrane waterproofs. If only I'd bought my Quito in the green rather than puppy diarrhoea orange (I think Paramo call it butternut)

 

[Quixoticgeek]

Now I've had a think about it, tried it on, bounced ideas off some friends, decided that I am going to swap this jacket for one a size smaller. So now I'll get to see what the store's aftersales are like. I just spoke to the shop (on a Sunday!), who have given me the info I need to post it back. Will post it off on Tuesday morning, hopefully I'll have the jacket by next weekend.

Julia

 

[Quixoticgeek]

I posted back the XL jacket on Tuesday, by RM special delivery. Today (Thursday) before 11, I had a package containing the L (which fits better). Less than 48 hours all told. Excellent service from Paramo.

Only major difference, aside from the better fit, is that the XL was lined with black on the inside, where as the L appears to be lined in a bright blue.

Julia