The lightest wet weather garment in the Velez family from Páramo. Here’s how it fared during our on-the-trail tests.
Conventional, membrane-lined waterproof jackets are the common choice for anyone looking for rain protection, but anyone who has worn one of these will know what the main drawback is: the clamminess. No matter how hard a brand works to make their membrane, “breathable”, the reality is that moisture in liquid and vapour form is going to have trouble escaping once its inside the jacket. But then there’s Páramo’s approach to things.
The Páramo Adventure Light Smock uses the forward-thinking British brand’s innovative Analogy Light fabric, which is designed for “full directional waterproof performance and perspiration removal”. I’ve used a number of jackets that use this Analogy system, including the original Páramo Velez, the Aspira 360 and the Torres Smock, and I rate it highly. This is the latest one I’ve tried and I’ve been out assessing its performance in wet mountain conditions in Snowdonia and testing it’s breathability during some April gravel rides on Wiltshire bridleways.
Our Top Line on the Páramo Velez Adventure Light
Designed for multi-sport use, this smock uses a unique form of weatherproofing that prioritises breathability and a quick drying time. It’s made by a British brand that has a reputation for innovation, thinking outside of the box and also for hugely progressive environmental and ethical measures. It might be a little heavy and warm for some situations, but it’s very well suited to cold or cool days and days when the rain is on-and-off and you don’t want to have to keep stopping to remove or add a shell layer.
I faced a good splattering of rain out in Wales during my tests. Photos: Dave MacFarlane.
Key Features
Fabric: The Velez Adventure Light uses Nikwax-treated fabrics and a pump liner to repel and transport water away from the body.
Hood: The hood has a mouldable peak and three-point adjustment.
Ventilation: You can open the jacket up at the sides for airflow.
Ethically made: This smock was made by Páramo’s partner, the Miquelina Foundation, a Fair Trade Status manufacturer that provides meaningful employment to vulnerable women in Colombia.
Materials
The lightest jacket in the Velez family, this jacket combines a light ripstop polyester outer with a mesh polyester liner. These materials are, by their very nature, water resistant, but that resistance is kicked into overdrive by its embedded Nikwax treatment.
Páramo jackets feel noticeably different to other waterproof jackets as soon as you pull them on and this one is no exception. It’s soft and non-crinkly, so it feels extremely comfortable to wear – even against bare skin – and it’s also quiet. You don’t get that annoying swishy or rustly noise that you get from most other conventional waterproof systems.
I’ve been using this throughout this spring, largely on dog walks on the chalk hills around where I live but also on some trips to the Welsh mountains while I scope out routes for a guidebook I’m working on. As expected, I’ve found that this offers an extremely impressive balance of rain resistance and breathability. Generally, with membrane-lined jackets, I find that I only really want to wear one if it’s either raining or very cold. With this jacket, I can happily wear it even when it’s dry – because you don’t feel clammy in it. In light to medium heavy rain, the Velez Adventure Light has been exceptional, beading all moisture away effortlessly. It’s limitations do come in heavy rainfall however, as I have eventually found that the materials do saturate past a certain point. Still, once the rain relents, the material dries out very fast – much faster than a membrane-lined jacket would.
With all that in mind, In my eyes, this is not a jacket for all kinds of conditions, but in certain situations it really is unrivalled. Where it’s not ideal: long spells in constant, driven rain that doesn’t let up. Where it’s perfect: cold or cool days where it’s raining on and off and you want something that you don’t have to keep taking off and on.
My advice is to pair it with a high-wicking synthetic base layer or fleece. That way, you’ll have an entire system that is constantly working to push moisture away from you and out of the fabrics.
Durability
One of the other things to appreciate about Páramo wet weather systems is their durability. I’ve found this smock to be highly abrasion resistant, handling branches and rough rock faces just fine. If a tear does occur however, the garment can be repaired easily – whether that’s just at home with a needle and thread or at Páramo’s repair centre. If you’re a sewing whiz and you carry a repair kit with you, it would even be totally feasible to make repairs on this while actually out in the field.
The side vents are super handy.
Features
Thanks to the twin full-length zips that run up each side of the jacket, it can be taken on or off easily. They’re also fitted with double zips and backed with press studs, so you can partially open them in almost any configuration you want, for excellent ventilation. Also, unlike most waterproof jackets, the cuffs can be comfortably pulled up and worn at the elbow to keep your forearms cool.
I’ve found the hood to be highly effective. In strong winds, the three-point adjustment ensures it stays close to your head without billowing and the wired-brim is mouldable and broad. The volume isn’t big enough to accommodate a helmet within it, but Paramo have placed the back adjustment toggle low down at the back of the head so you can wear a helmet over the hood comfortably.
There’s one kangaroo style pouch on the front of the smock which is the ideal size for an OS map. There are also zipped hand warmer pockets that can be accessed when the side vents are opened.
Fit
I’ve liked the fit of all the jackets I’ve tried in the Velez family from Páramo, but I’m not so keen on how they’ve approached this iteration.
It’s very short at the front of the hem. I’m 5 foot 10 and I had this in a medium, which is my usual size, and I found the front was just too short for me. At the back, it dropped down nicely but it only comes to about belt height for me at the front. This is great when you’re cycling in the jacket as it prevents bagginess when you’re crouched over handlebars, but for any other use, I found myself wanting a bit of extra coverage. For this reason, I think I’d opt to size up if given the choice again.
Reproofing
The PFAS-free Nikwax solution that this jacket is treated with is only temporary and after a few big days out in the rain it does noticeably start to lose its effect. No problem though, because it’s super easy to re-apply Nikwax at home. Here’s a handy video I made which shows you how to do that.
The kangaroo pouch is the ideal size for an OS map.
Verdict
It’s not the most protective option from Páramo but I’d say it’s the best I’ve come across at balancing protection, breathability and weight.
Its best deployment, from what I’ve seen, is during cool to mild days from spring through to autumn, and it should suit high-tempo activities in winter too. For the shoulders of spring and autumn, the slightly thicker Velez Adventure Smock might be your best bet. Looking for something for winter hiking? Check out the Alta III or the Torres Smock. If you want something lighter, for wearing through summer showers, try the Fuera Smock.
As expected from Páramo, the features and details are all spot on. For me, my only real qualm is the short hem at the front, but again, that’s something that maybe the cyclists and climbers might appreciate.
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