Páramo’s Velez Adventure Smock has been around in one guise or another for more than two decades. We know a few hillwalkers who’ve had theirs for almost as long, and they’re still going strong. It uses the tried and tested Nikwax Analogy system to offer complete weather protection and has plenty of functional yet versatile features. These make this smock suitable for biking and even climbing as well as backpacking, hiking and hillwalking. It works best in cold and wet conditions, so is ideal for the tail end of the year here in the UK.
I’ve been wearing mine regularly for the last four years now and it’s a smock I’ve come to rate highly. In fact, I’d say it tends to be the first option I reach for when I know that the weather is going to be really rubbish. And it genuinely makes those bad weather days easier to tolerate.
Is It Waterproof?
When it comes to keeping you dry, the Páramo Velez Adventure Smock uses a Nikwax Analogy waterproof system. If you’re a regular reader of Outdoors Magic, you won’t need us to tell you about this fabric technology – we’re big fans and have already covered how it works in detail many times before.
Páramo Velez Adventure Smock
Key Páramo Velez Adventure Smock stats:
- Weight: 720g
- Available in men’s and women’s versions
- RRP: £290
However, for those who aren’t versed in Nikwax Analogy, it is different from most other membrane-based systems, such as Gore-Tex. Instead, it uses a water-repellent outer fabric combined with a mesh “pump liner” to keep you dry. Unlike a waterproof-breathable membrane, it is capable of moving liquid water (sweat) away from your body.
It also helps liquid vapour to escape too. Many users swear that it keeps you drier and more comfortable than any other waterproof jacket – and I’m one of those. Plus, all Nikwax Analogy garments have been tested in the Leeds University Rain Room, meaning they are guaranteed to withstand at least four hours of heavy, continuous rain.
My verdict? Yes, it does keep you dry in most conditions. I’ve trusted mine through some seriously nasty weather. It does, however, have a threshold, and in prolonged, extreme conditions there will eventually be some ingress. But what you’ll actually find is that this moisture starts to disappear as soon as the rain eases off, because the jacket’s system is constantly working to push that moisture – and moisture vapour – out into the atmosphere. It works particularly well if you’ve paired the shell with wicking layers underneath.
These days, I’d say that Gore-Tex jackets have a similar threshold: once the outer fabric “wets out,” it stops the membrane from breathing and allows condensation to build up rapidly. You’ll end up wet – and for longer – because once that moisture is in, it isn’t going anywhere. And that’s not the case with Páramo’s jackets.
Is It Durable?
Like I said, I’ve had mine for a good few years now and it’s held up remarkably well – especially considering how often I wear it.
Like a lot of Páramo kit, it’s robust and reliable, easy to reproof with Nikwax aftercare products, and easily repairable too. Put it this way: if you shred your Gore-Tex waterproof jacket, you’re probably in for a tricky and costly repair. If you puncture a Páramo, there’s no such drama – it’ll keep on trucking. And if the damage is bad enough to need fixing, you can usually do it yourself with a needle and thread.
What Is The Velez Adventure Smock Best Suited To?
This smock is ideal for multi-activity use including hillwalking, backpacking, cycling, climbing and snow sports. It’s designed to offer full protection in cold, wet weather as a robust and reliable outer layer that is weather resistant yet also keeps you dry from the inside out. How? By moving moisture vapour and liquid water (sweat) away from the body. The smock’s twin zip design also allows a backpack to be worn without compromising ventilation, so you get optimum comfort and temperature regulation.
While this is one of the lighter jackets in Páramo’s collection, it’s still on the heavy side when compared to typical membrane-lined shells. For that reason, it’s not one for the ultralighters. On some of the summer multi-day trips I’ve been on in recent years, where the conditions have looked generally warm and fair, this has been left behind in favour of a lightweight shell. But I’ve also been on backpacking trips where I’ve been happy to carry the extra weight of it in exchange for its high protection and comfort levels.
Eco Credentials
This smock is made from polyester, and while the fabric isn’t recycled, it is fully PFC-free and fully recyclable. Páramo are also one of the few outdoor brands never to have used environmentally persistent perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in their water-repellent treatments, since the Nikwax finish is water-based and free of harmful chemistry.
This garment is also made by the charitable Miquelina Foundation in Bogotá, Colombia as part of Páramo’s longstanding ethical manufacturing partnership. Through the Foundation, the brand has offered vulnerable women training and employment since 1992. This alliance has benefitted thousands of at-risk women in practical ways, helping them to build houses, and providing a kindergarten and canteen for their children. With Páramo’s support, Miquelina holds ISO 9001 accreditation, which assures dedication to quality. In 2017, Miquelina attained guaranteed Fair-Trade status from the World Fair Trade Organisation.
