Mid and Base Layers

Páramo Bentu Plus Fleece | Review

A lightweight yet warm fleece that’ll stand up to light winds and rain better than most, with the added bonus that it can be combined with the Bentu windproof to form a complete waterproof system

Why We Chose The Páramo Bentu Plus Fleece: Soft, comfortable, versatile

Fleeces are great. They’re warm, soft and comfortable, and if you pick a lightweight one, they’re pretty breathable too. But they’re pretty rubbish if it gets wet or windy.

Páramo’s Bentu Plus fleece is a bit different though. It uses a special fabric that has all the qualities of conventional polar fleece but copes with drizzle and light breezes better than most. It can also be combined with Páramo’s Bentu windproof jacket in order to create a warm and weatherproof system that is suitable for year-round use.

Who is the Páramo Bentu Plus Fleece for?

Páramo describes the Bentu Plus Fleece as being “for people who enjoy outdoor activities all year”. That’s because it works well in spring and summer as a warm yet light layer to keep you comfortable when you take a rest or if you are out in cooler conditions. However, if the weather deteriorates and you need more rain resistance, it can also be combined with the Bentu windproof jacket for a true weatherproof system.

Bottom line, it’s a great layering piece for hiking, hillwalking, bushcraft activities and more.

Materials

The Bentu Plus fleece is made from Nikwax fleece fabric, a tightly woven, wind-resistant polyester that is finished with Nikwax’s durable water repellent treatment. This makes it more weatherproof than standard fleece, though it’s no substitute for a windproof or waterproof shell.

In terms of weight, the fabric is more substantial than lightweight fleece, giving added insulation over 100-weight microfleece. However, it’s not too warm to wear in most conditions, even on cooler summer hill days. It’s also breathable, wicking moisture well to keep you dry and comfortable.

Features

As we’ve mentioned, the USP of the Bentu Plus is that it combines with the Bentu jacket to form a complete waterproof garment system. Of course, it can be worn alone, and works just as well as a standard midlayer under any other shell too.

It has some useful features, like a zipped chest pocket large enough for an OS map, plus two zipped handwarming pockets, which are lined with Páramo’s mesh Pump Liner. You also get a full length front zip for easy ventilation, with a chin guard behind the zip for added comfort.

The fabric has a little stretch for ease of movement, and the overall cut is reasonably trim. There’s a curved rear hem, though no hem drawcord adjustment. Unusually, the cuffs aren’t elasticated either, which apparently is so they can be easily pushed up for cooling. The flipside is that if you do that regularly, they tend to get a little baggy.

This is a well-designed fleece that provides lightweight warmth, wicks well and feels soft and comfortable. It’s also a little more weather-resistant than most midlayer fleece fabrics.

However, its real superpower becomes apparent when used in conjunction with the Bentu windproof jacket. That combo gives you near enough the same protection as most waterproof jackets, but in a far more versatile package.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I really like Páramo’s weatherproof systems. I like that the brand have done things differently, sustainably and in a way that really works.

“This fleece, taken by itself, is lovely and soft, very warm and practical too. You can see me wearing the size Small in these pictures and this isn’t quite right for my 5 foot 10, fairly slim build. I normally wear a size Medium and I think I definitely would’ve been better off with it in that size.

“With the Páramo Windshirt I’ve found it really does provide a nifty form of protection from the elements, keeping out all but the worst, most relenting rain. It’s not the end of the world when that rain does come around either, because once it stops, the materials all dry out remarkably speedily. And all the while, you don’t have that horrible clamminess that a lot of waterproof jackets bring.

“You do have to keep the Nikwax weatherproofing topped up though. But at least that’s easy to do at home. As it goes, I made this handy guide to using Nikwax to reproof a jacket which you might find useful!”