Mid and Base Layers

Páramo Ostro Fleece | Review

A cosy, technical fleece with excellent versatility for a range of conditions

Why We Chose The Páramo Ostro Fleece: Versatile, technical, innovative and very comfy

Innovative, light and packable – but still highly functional – and with a bunch of admirable credentials in regards to ethical and eco-friendly manufacturing, there’s a lot to like about the Ostro Fleece from Páramo. Designed to help you handle all kinds of conditions, this is the kind of versatile item that can come in handy right the year round.

Who Is The Páramo Ostro Fleece For?

This’ll suit all kinds of activities. Hikers will certainly appreciate its breathable warmth, fit and features, so too will climbers and mountain bikers. We can even see this performing well as a thick baselayer for any gnarly mountaineering expeditions.

The Material

The Ostro is made from Nikwax Fleece, a synthetic fabric that’s rather different to the standard fleece material we’re all familiar with. It’s streamlined rather than bulky and it’s densely woven but still lovely and stretchy.

It’s a close, baselayer-like fit. Photo: Mike Brindley

It’s also wind resistant and water-repellent thanks to the Nikwax solution that it’s pre-treated with. Free from any of those nasty eco-hazardous PFCs and super easy to reapply at home, Nikwax offers an effective wet weather solution that we’re big fans of here at Outdoors Magic. It works by spreading any moisture out thinly and pushing it away from the fleece’s fabric so that it can evaporate into the atmosphere – ultimately making for a super quick drying time. It’s clever stuff.

The Ostro System

While the Ostro Fleece offers an impressive amount of water resistance, in any really wet stuff, Páramo advise combining this with their Ostro Windproof.

“I remember being really impressed at just how quickly it dried up.”

This will make for a windproof and highly water resistant system, one that will keep you warm without that clammy feeling you often get from a membrane lined jacket. You’ll find our thoughts on how well this fleece works with a Páramo windproof in the Tester’s Verdict below.

Details

Perhaps the most notable detail is the hood – more specifically, its zip. The collar goes right up to just below your eyes making for a ninja-like look. The zip is also offset for greater comfort, coming up to the side of your cheek instead of sitting on your chin and lips.

The badge to show its Nikwax credentials. Photo: Mike Brindley

Made from a synthetic material that can be returned to Paramo to be recycled at the end of its lifespan. Photo: Mike Brindley

The hood is ultra protective and will fit comfortably under a helmet. Photo: Mike Brindley

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“Wet weather protection without a membrane and taped seams. Sounds very interesting on paper, right?

“I’ve been testing out the Ostro fleece with Páramo’s Fuera Classic Smock which is designed to work with it in exactly the same way as the Ostro Windproof would. One of the most notable testing occasions was a wet, windy and quite frankly utterly miserable wild camping trip in the Brecon Beacons recently.

The pockets can be opened up for extra ventilation. Photo: Mike Brindley

“I remember trying to make camp in a damp and windy spot quite late in the evening and being very glad to have the warmth of the fleece. The material got pretty wet while I was trying to put up my tent but I decided to keep it on as I got into my tent as I needed the warmth still. I remember being really impressed at just how quickly it dried up once I had got in. This meant I was actually able to carry on wearing it right through the evening without any discomfort.

“I appreciated how light and packable it was. It was certainly no burden to have in my backpack.”

“The weather the next day was really bad. Not only was the rain atrocious and the terrain challenging, but I seemed to have picked up a stomach virus overnight – probably from my water filter not doing its job. It was certainly a day where I really needed this windproof and fleece combo to come through for me.

“I ended up getting wet, with the rain getting through to my Páramo baselayer t-shirt. However, I wouldn’t say I got saturated and I could really sense the two layers working away to push the moisture out and away from my body. When the rain did eventually ease up, the two layers seemed to dry up in an instant. So the system was impressive in that regard.

The zipped valuables pocket on the inside chest – perfect for a phone. Photo: Mike Brindley

“What was also particularly noticeable was that despite the long and steep climb wearing these two layers with a heavy pack, I wasn’t left with that lingering clammy feeling that a waterproof jacket would’ve created, and I was grateful for that, especially considering how dreadful I already felt due to the virus I had!

The crucial thing to note is that the rain eased up for me on this occasion, and this meant the Nikwax treatment could do its quick-drying job. On those days where the rain just doesn’t quit, I reckon you’d end up pretty wet and cold. So with all that in mind, I’d say the Páramo fleece and windproof combo is great for those on-off conditions but it might be problematic in really relentless conditions.

Will wearing the Ostro Fleece and Páramo’s Fuera Smock together. Photo: Jordan Tiernan

“Aside from the wet weather performance of the Ostro Fleece, I found it a very comfortable item to wear and I appreciated how light and packable it was. It was certainly no burden to have in my backpack.

“Bear in mind that it’s designed to fit quite close and snug – like a baselayer essentially. Performance-wise, this is good, but it does make it look quite technical. If you are thinking about this as a garment to wear casually – down the pub, say – then you might just want to consider sizing up.”