About Páramo   

Where to start with this Jacket? Well firstly, let’s talk a bit about the brand. Páramo is a well known British outdoor company. They are top of the scoreboard in the ethical and fair-trade clothing world. Concentrating on sustainability, environmental, and worker’s rights issues, yet also being able to be effective in the great outdoors, in a way most other clothing can’t.   

Just a bit of digging into the company will unearth Páramo’s partnership with the Miquelina Foundation. Your clothing could be made in atrocious conditions in third world countries, often by people paid well below that countries legal minimum wage. It’s a large problem and it’s happening all the time. These coats are made in Colombia, a country where 1 in 10 people are displaced by internal armed conflict. Women without homes get forced into prostitution and drugs. The Miquelina Foundation has been helping these women get off the streets and gain a fair wage, counselling, housing, childcare and a proper education.  Starting in 1992, it once relied on donations and funding. It now produces 80% of Páramo’s gear and has gained an ISO 9001 accreditation. A highly prestigious international standard of quality and dedication!  

Páramo ensures their products are recyclable, repairable, and due to their construction, very long-lasting. We personally find this a great idea as this helps to reduce waste and prevent fast fashion, saving energy and vital resources…as well as our money! Also, unlike most other brands, they ensure their clothing is PFC free. So, if like us, you want to keep the earth green and lush so we can enjoy it in the future as well as the present, you’ll want to shop ethically. We could go on all day about how ethical Páramo is, but you can read more about it here -  

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/fashion-clothing/shopping-guide/waterproof-insulated-jackets 

A great video showing the Miquelina Foundation in action can be found here -  

https://mpora.com/gear/miquelina-foundation-paramo-clothing-columbia/ 

The other most important factor you look for when buying outdoor gear, it’s performance. You want clothing that you can rely on when conditions get rough. Something comfortable enough to wear whilst clocking up the miles and something that can be used and abused, day after day.   

For the last 15 years, Páramo has supplied mountain rescue teams with their weather protection. This fact alone made us try our first items of Páramo and we are so glad we did.   

Waterproof System - Analogy    

The Alta III Jacket forms part of Páramo’s Analogy range of products, using Nikwax and unique fabric to create a jacket that stands apart from others on the market. For this reason, it is hard to compare a Páramo jacket with others on the market. But we’ll give it a go. You see, most manufacturers high-end, waterproof jackets concern themselves with letting no water through and letting water vapor out. In this system, they eventually hit a point of no return, where a build-up of vapor turns to liquid or the user starts to sweat. At this point, systems such as Gore-tex jackets will stop keeping you dry, the liquid inside the jacket cannot escape through the membrane and you end up damp or wet. This isn’t to say Gore-tex jackets aren’t amazing and they are very useful in their own right. But Analogy works a little differently, helping you stay comfortable during your entire walk.   

With Analogy, Páramo aims to not only keep you dry with a hydrophobic Nikwax layer, which forms the waterproof coating of the jacket, but for the coat to then work as a ‘directional’ system ensuring any moisture (be it rain, sweat or vapor) is pushed away from the wearer. They call it a “Pump Liner”. It actively pushes moisture away from you and out of the jacket, keeping you dry even when active. The inner layer acts like animal hair by removing water away from the skin. This means that even if water gets in, or a moisture build-up occurs, the jacket will shift it away from you. The ability to Nikwax it and get it back to its factory-fresh waterproof level time and time again without it wearing out means this should last for years. 

Analogy jackets have a requirement to be clean for the waterproof system to work properly, dirty jackets will lead to saturation and eventually with the wearer getting wet. For this reason, Páramo recommend regular washing with an appropriate cleaner which doesn’t break the bonds of the material or waterproofing.  Nikwax Techwash is the main recommendation here. It washes away dirt, but specifically doesn't remove any of the waterproof layers to ensure water repellancy isn’t affected. Additionally, a full re-proofing of the waterproof layers with Nikwax TX. Direct will be required every 6-12 months (depending on usage). Unlike other brands and types of waterproofing, home maintenance will ensure the jacket can last for a very long time and we’ve personally seen walkers with 10+ year old Páramo jackets which is a statement in itself.  

Features    

Now that all sounds a bit magic doesn’t it? Safe to say we were not sure how well this would work. The tech videos on Youtube and Páramo’s website all look good, but we know sometimes marketing pushes the boundaries of what's possible.   

When we finally decided to purchase one each, the first thing we noticed was the feel of the jacket. It’s double-layered which makes it a little thicker and heavier than a Gore-Tex equivalent and rather than the plastic crinkle feeling of a hard shell, this is as soft as a fleece or softshell. It is silent to wear, unlike pretty much all other waterproof jackets. Its seams are just sewn together, as the aim is less about stopping every drop of water getting in, and more about moving it away from you. Because of this, the seams are not fully waterproof. They don’t need to be! Additionally, because the inner layers work together to remove moisture even if you rip the jacket, it can just be sewn back together if damaged. The biggest concern when picking this up was that it just doesn’t feel like the type of material that will keep you dry but more on that below. I’ve listed here some of the main features of this jacket to give you an idea of how well it’s designed and made.    

• The Nikwax Analogy fabric system provides unrivalled waterproof protection and moisture management.    

• Fantastic ventilation and temperature regulation from long upper arm vents and a two-way locking front zip. Adjustable cuffs easily push up and secure.    

• A fully adjustable hood guarantees vision in all conditions and can be stowed away when not in use.    

• Six practical pockets:    

• Two waist-high hand-warming pockets.    

• Two external chest pockets: one with hook and loop closure and D-ring attachment, and one for OS maps.    

• Two internal zipped chest pockets - one large and one small - for safe stowing of maps and valuables.    

• A directional Mesh Pump Liner® reinforces the shoulder and back panels, preventing water ingress in heavy rain and when load carrying, whilst maximizing airflow.    

• A classic longer length cut gives maximum protection from the elements without compromising freedom of movement.    

• Ergonomic panel placement provides excellent shoulder/arm articulation and prevents the jacket from riding up.    

• Glove-friendly zips allow for easy, single-handed operation.    

So, we have a jacket that’s extremely breathable, waterproof, and has all the features a true mountain jacket requires. But How does it fit?     

We are both average build and height and both find the fit to be spot on. There is room enough to wear a layer under, but snug enough to wear on its own with a t-shirt. Multiple drawcords allow the jacket to be tucked in and fit securely. The pockets are all a good size, and multiple inside and out provide you with more than enough storage on the go. The sleeves have a large zip around the armpit for excellent ventilation and aside from the summer months, it’s never really been too hot or too cold (although some warmer days it does stay packed away). Speaking of which, packability with this jacket isn’t great, the two layers just do not pack down well enough for a pack-away and it’s much better suited for days you know you’re getting wet.     

Due to the Analogy system, there is a chance some water will make it through the first layer of the coat, this is fine and part of the design. The internal layer will wick away this water and push it away from you, along with any moisture build up inside the jacket. It's an odd sensation for sure, but it works well and when you get rained on you become happy to carry on and just ‘walk It off’.  

The last thing of note is the hood. It is outright the best hood on a jacket I've ever owned. It stays put in the wind and rain, moves with you when you’re looking around, and is a perfect size.     

Performance     

Now all the technical bits are out the way, let's talk performance. It’s difficult to compare to other waterproofs, so it’s easier to explain what we have put this jacket through to give you an idea of how well it works. It’s odd, but you have to come to terms with the fact that you might have water ingress into your jacket and that you’re then relying on it being pumped away. It did make us a little nervous when first taking this out. 

So off we went to Snowdonia in January, pouring with rain and our Alta jackets at the ready. We headed off on these two walks here & here and on the first day, it rained heavily, non-stop for around 4-5 hours. At points, we did have tree shelter but obviously, trees don’t stop all of the rain. Around a third of the way in, Rachel walked under a waterfall to “test” the jacket, she came out feeling dry, so we carried on. Wandering through the woodland and fields getting quite a lot of water falling on us, once at the top, the wind picked up and as you can see in the video below it wasn’t a pleasant day (I'm not actually sure why we decided to go walking...) By the time we had gotten down into Betws Y Coed, it had finally started to slow down to a light rain that would come and go. We wandered around a few more shops before heading back to the B&B.     

When we got back, it didn’t look good, there were patches which had wetted out and the coats had so many droplets of water on them you just knew the wind had forced some through the basic seams. I was 100% sure that although I was warm underneath, I must be wet. Upon removing the jacket, however, we found the complete opposite, it had worked flawlessly. We were completely dry with no signs of any moisture whatsoever, I’m sure on a day like that, sweat alone would have made me damp in a Gore-Tex jacket so that’s an amazing result.     

The second day, we woke to our jackets still being a little wet on the outside, but we decided to give them another go anyway. It wasn’t the wettest day this time, but enough rain to test a coat and a similar story followed. 4 hours later returning and looking wet but being very dry. We were sold, so much so that Rachel went to buy a new pair of Páramo trousers from a local stockist.      

Conclusion    

Here we have a high-performance jacket, with all the bells and whistles you would expect at this price range. It’s ethical, consumer-friendly, and does waterproof different than anything other product with fantastic results. It’s fit and features are up there with the best. That said, this isn’t the jacket for everyone. It’s not lightweight and not particularly packable like others on the market. But it keeps you warm as it's got layers. If you have a problem with overheating, maybe take a look at the review for the Ostro combination Jacket. The Alta comes into its own in spring, autumn and winter. 

It is on the expensive side. Some good jackets can be found for half the price of this. Although you can find deals. Initially, it was very hard to justify, but with the hope that it’s as long-lasting as it seems to be, it will pay for itself within a few years. In fact, since buying this we’ve met people with 10 to 15-year-old Jackets that are still working perfectly. Also, you need to remember you are not only paying for the quality. You are funding green projects and ensuring decent wages for the manufacturing workers too.  

It’s now my go-to jacket in bad weather, beating my Gore-Tex coats and anything else I have buried away. The system just works, and I can easily see why other people are more than happy to spend big on Páramo. Additionally, knowing mountain rescue relies on these jackets in extreme conditions, likely much worse than you would willingly submit yourself to, gives you a feeling of being properly clothed when in the mountains.  

A serious contender for anyone wanting to take on the great outdoors. For me, it's the perfect jacket. 

All reviews are our own thoughts, we are not paid to write any of our reviews. If we are sent gear by manufacturers is will be clearly marked, however will not impact our views of products.