Anyone have any experience of these? I have an ancient pair of paramo salopettes which have long since been relegated to dog walking/gardening duty - mainly because I found them too warm a lot of the time.
Looking for a top for winter night biking use - something to keep the chill and drizzle off but not too hot. The Velez smock (or its Adventure Light cousin) seem ideal but has anyone actually worn these either on a bike or on the hill?
Thanks.
I wear it and other paramo items on the bike. Wouldn't use anything else.
Yes the full top can be a bit warm, but you get two massive vents on the side and a 1/3 zip on the front so venting is pretty good.
Much more waterproof and breathable than any goretex ive ever worn (and I've worn some very expensive and reccomended stuff)
I'm looking at the adventure light Velez at the moment for something a little cooler and i can leave in my pack.
ETA: also, although its technically a walking jacket, the rear is plenty long enough for bike duties.
The newer Paramo stuff is much lighter and less warm than the older stuff so it's much better although still quite warm. There is a new more bike oriented jacket which has come out recently that I'm told is very popular with Ambleside based mtbers... but had sold out of my size so I got one of the lightweight Velez smocks which is much more adaptable than my 8 year old Velez.
If you're a YHA member you get discount on Paramo apparently if that's a help?
Have a look at the quito jacket from the same company iirc was made with biking and other high active sports in mind.
Although it is the older weight Paramo I`ve got the Cuzco (ie Velez with full zip) which is quite good but very very warm....so rarely gets worn, and sleeves seem to wet out badly despite proper washing and retreatment
I have an older Velez and during the winter it's always the top I go for. It also gets used with only a t-shirt during most of the autumn and spring as well.
Yes, it can get a little toasty at times, but it does an amazing job of wicking away the sweat keeping you pretty much dry... far better than anything else I have worn.
It really is a fantastic piece of fit... and am sorely tempted by one of the new adventure light versions. I just wish they weren't so pricey!
They are pricey, but absolute value for money. They last for years and get worn for pretty much any activity or just lazing about. Industry standard. Couple this with a Buffalo fibre pile smock and you won't ever need anything else even in extreme conditions.
EDIT: 'as well as' Not coupled, that would just be silly.
Thanks for the swift responses. General consensus seems to be that they are great kit but warm - which can be a good or bad thing - everyone has their own ideal temperature. Will try to pick one up cheap from fleabay or might be prepared to splash out for the adventure light as seems to be a better cycling weight.
Bonty Buns - I have a Montane fibre pile and you're right - it is kit for task but definitely winter only - heatstroke is possible in anything other than snowy conditions!
I got my velez about 10 years ago and it's still in nice condition - I like their kit. It does, as others have noted, get a bit warm for anything other chilly weather.
I think there are three weights of Velez - the older heavier one (all the Paramo stuff pre 2005-ish), the newer lighter one (everything post '05) and then the 'light' Paramo range. Mine is the middle one. I've worn it in t'North for MTBing and it was great on one of those March days when it just never stopped drizzling, and I didn't get too horribly cold when I had to remember how to fix a chain whilst on the most exposed point at Gisburn. It's also been worn for lots of horse-riding, some skiing, and a fair bit of walking. Highest temperature was an unusually hot spring day riding in Wales when I'd got sunburnt on my arms the day before and it was the only long-sleeved garment I had - I wore it on its own and didn't melt, though I was appreciative of any breezes to help the vents get the hot air out! I guess it was somewhere in the mid-high 20s. Coldest was during an extreme weather front in the Alps, dropped below -20 plus windchill and the wind got up - never felt anything like it, wife got frost-nip and everyone retreated off the mountain as the lifts shut. I was just wearing the Velez, Cascasa trousers, a short-sleeved baselayer and a lightweight fleece. Could have done with more but I survived!
Down in the South I tend to wear a Paramo Fuera over various different weight base layers, though last winter the Buffalo S6 came out in the snow. I might wear the Velez if it's chucking it down and it's a longer ride - we shall see...
Tried a Velez on Friday, the sleeves were well short on the medium size which fitted fine otherwise. Ordered the Quito from The Mountain factor late Friday night, sitting in front of the computer trying it on now, and finding the sleeves much better suited for skinny cyclists like me.
I am finding I wear my Paramo (Aspira) staff uniform all the time on the bike now the weather is heading chilly. Paramo is growning and growing on my, especially when teamed with a [url= http://www.montane.co.uk/products/men/windproof/lite-speed-jacket/46 ]'sorta waterproof'[/url] for when the weather is warm.