The Paramo Velez Rain Jacket is a water-proof/breathable rain jacket and not using a waterproof/breathable membrane like Gore-Tex. Rain jackets with membranes can solely vent water vapor in a gaseous state, whereas Paramo clothes just like the Velez Jacket can vent water vapor and liquid within the type of condensation or perspiration, leaving you a lot drier.
- Gender: Males’s (girls’s obtainable)
- Pockets: 4
- Piz Zips: No (however there are higher arm vents)
- Velcro Cuffs: Sure
- Adjustable Hood: 2-way, with bendable wire brim
- Hem Adjustment: Sure
- Zipper: 2-way
- Weight: 24.2 oz (Males’s L)
- Execs: Keep drier as a result of the jackjet can vent liquid, not simply water vapor, hotter than jackets with waterproof/breathable membranes
- Cons: Heavy, too heat in scorching climate, Costly
How does the Paramo Velez Rain Jacket work? It has a smooth, quiet microfiber exterior material and an inner mesh backer that traces the torso and sleeves. This makes it a relatively heavy rain jacket to put on, weighing 24.2 oz in a males’s Giant. The outside of the jacket is handled with PFAS-free Nikwax DWR so it sheds rain, which beads up and rolls off the jacket’s exterior floor.
The mesh backer hangs free contained in the jacket and absorbs water vapor, liquid condensation, and liquid perspiration. It additionally insulates the jacket by trapping heat air inside and making a temperature differential that helps transport moisture by way of the microfiber exterior in gaseous or liquid type. The Jacket can nonetheless launch moisture when the DWR coating wears off, however at a diminished charge by way of the microfiber floor or by way of vented pockets. Paramo’s advertising spiel likens this course of to animal fur, calling it directional venting, however I feel it’s far much less mystical or magical than they attempt to make it out to be.
There’s no cause why you may’t put on the Paramo Velez Jacket when it’s not raining, like winter, however I’ve discovered that it turns into uncomfortably heat because the temperature approaches the mid-50’s Fahrenheit. After I put on it in colder climate, I normally take off my mid-layer as a result of the jacket’s mesh liner makes it too heat to proceed carrying.
Temperature Regulation
Whereas the Velez Jacket doesn’t have pit zips, it affords a number of very efficient venting choices. These may also help scale back the jacket’s inner temperature when worn, so that you perspire much less.
- The jacket has a two-way zipper so that you will be vented from the entrance. Two snaps on the base of the zipper assist maintain the zipper monitoring correctly.
- There are two mesh-lined chest vents that, when opened, result in zippered handwarmer pockets, that are hipbelt appropriate and likewise made from mesh. That you must watch out when utilizing these to retailer gadgets so that they don’t unintentionally fall out, though this shortly turns into second nature.
- As a substitute of pit zips, two vents over the biceps may also be used as pockets. Objects saved in them can drop down your sleeves into the hole between the mesh liner and microfiber shell, however are simple sufficient to retrieve.
- Each sleeves have velcro cuffs, so you may pull them up your arms to dump extra heat.
Velez Jacket Hood
The Paramo Velez Jacket has the very best hood I’ve ever used on a rain jacket, and one that’s designed at the start for hikers and never climbers or skiers. It has a rear quantity adjustment and buried cords within the entrance that allow you to alter the scale of the face opening. There’s additionally an prolonged brim with a thick, shapeable wire and a excessive neck to guard you from driving rain and wind. My head sits at the back of the hood, properly protected, even in driving rain. Rain jackets made within the UK incessantly have nice hoods, however this one takes the cake.
Efficiency
The Velez Jacket is nice to put on in colder climate and throughout the shoulder season months between winter and spring, when it could possibly snow or rain. It sheds prolonged rain fairly properly however reveals some indicators of moist out the place the DWR coating has worn off and the outside material has turn into saturated. Regardless of that, the inside of the jacket the place it touches my baselayer, stays dry and cozy. That’s very completely different than after I’m carrying a water-proof/breathable jacket with a membrane, the place the inside will turn into chilly and moist as a consequence of condensation, soaking the clothes beneath.
Is the superior efficiency of the jacket because of the mesh liner or the dearth of a breathable membrane? That’s a tough query to pin down, however I feel it’s each. The mesh liner is sweet for wicking moisture to the outside material the place it could possibly evaporate, whereas the dearth of a membrane implies that the jacket can vent liquid condensation or perspiration, one thing that waterproof/breathable jackets with a membrane can’t do. The mixture implies that you’ll keep hotter and drier longer with the Velez jacket.
Advice
The Paramo Velez Jacket is a water-proof/breathable rain jacket that doesn’t have a water-proof/breathable membrane like Gore-Tex, which provides it the power to vent liquid condensate or perspiration, along with water vapor. Lined with a wicking mesh, it creates a temperature differential that strikes moisture out of your pores and skin to the outside of the Jacket the place it could possibly evaporate extra successfully. Whereas comfy in cooler climate, the Velez Jacket turns into too heat to put on as temperatures enhance into the excessive 50’s or larger.
Disclosure: Paramo donated a jacket for evaluation.
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