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I wore my Paramo jacket in heavy rain for the first time last night. Long story short - I got soaked. The shoulders were sodden and also the chest. When I got home I hung it up to dry and in the morning it was still very damp.
I know it's not an impermeable shell, but I'm a bit surprised at how wet I got. It's only a couple of years old so it's not as if the fabric is degraded. So I'm wondering should I have reproofed it with an appropriate Nikwax product. Or is that just the way they are?
If it is new it should work very well in the heavy rain (take it back to the shop as something is not right).
If it's used, then re-proofing will improve the performance.
In my experience, they need washing in Nikwax more often than Goretex shells, and reproofing with TX Direct at least once a year (depending on useage). I’ve occasionally had dampness around the rucksack straps on mine - and that’s a sign it needs reproofing. Washed and reproofed it should be fine.
As above I think Paramo say wash more frequently than a hardshell, and reproof only if it doesn't bead after washing/drying.
They definitely benefit from proofing more often than a membrane. A membrane garment (eg Goretex) is waterproof, and the 'proofing' is to ensure the water beads up and maintains breathability for longer. Paramo needs the treatment to work.
Many years ago, just after they came out, I splashed out on the Aspira salopettes (not cheap) and the following weekend went for a long walk in the Lakes - that turned into a short walk as the salopettes simply wicked everything up and I was soaked up to my chest. I contacted Paramo, who were apologetic and asked for the batch number and for me to return the garment for a full investigation - they suspected that my pair appeared to have missed the factory treatment. I was due to go away a week later for a week in Scotland (February), so we agreed not to return the salopettes, but they sent me a significant quantity of wash and proofer.
So, my experience of inadequately proofed Paramo is that it's awful, but it's just a matter of maintenance (we have a few jackets and trousers between us). And Paramo do give a damn if it goes wrong.
I have a 19-year-old jacket and although a bit threadbare it still keeps me dry. It's used daily through the winter. At 10 years old I sent it back to Paramo as the poppers kept undoing, they replaced the poppers, professionally cleaned it, reproofed it and apologized that they couldn't get an oil stain out! So, yes, they do care and the after-sales service is excellent.
It gets washed in tech wash when it needs it, 2-3 times per year and re-proofed perhaps every couple of years.
If yous is not keeping you dry then there's something not right, I'd suggest reproofing as a first step.
Thanks all - I'll wash it and reproof it and see what happens.
If I use Nikwax products in the washing machine, do they rinse away, or will I reproof my underpants next time I wash them?
Paramo: more Marmite than Marmite.
People either love it or loathe it. Having used it myself and spoken to other users I'm now 100% certain that the differences in performance people report (it's the only thing that keeps me dry Vs it leaks like a sieve) is entirely down to the expectations and type of usage of the owner.
If it works for you great, if not, ditch it!
@DrJ - you should be more concerned about residue from bio detergents or fabric softeners left in the machine affecting the washing of the waterproof.
in any case, waterproof boxers are much underrated!
Paramo: more Marmite than Marmite.
People either love it or loathe it
It took me a long time to try it.
I think it's pish! 😅
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I think it’s pish!
I think it's only really suitable for certain applications. I love my paramo salopettes for winter climbing and ski touring but if it's going to be a wet walk in I wear a conventional hardshell. In above freezing temperatures it's just too warm for the things I do and I don't find it keeps the water out for long even when new or newly proofed.
As someone who used to laugh at Paramo (and with mates owning then for nearly 20yrs),<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;"> I bought the Alta 3 when it came out due to being let down by so many other costs. I've been very impressed with it from day 1. For walking, scrambling etc in crap weather it's excellent. Never been wet once and I've been out in awful weather all day long, multi-day winter backpacks etc.</span>
If it's not very windy and above 5C they're mostly just too heavy and overkill. I don't know what you guys are doing to find them so poor. Are you tornado chasers? Or swimming in them?
Don't do it in the machine, there'll be detergent residue that will have a negative affect on the nikwax. And once you've reproofed in a bucket you realise you don't want the stuff in your machine anyway!
I do my salopettes in a bucket of warm water and then rinse out in the bath. You want to wear rubber gloves unless you want waterproof hands!
I bought a big bottle of the nikwax and use it on other stuff too - tents, rucsacs gaiters etc. It's quite good stuff although I am not sure of its eco credentials as it goes down the sink afterwards
I've had a Velez light smock for about 12 years of regular use and it's been brilliant. Can't really say I wash and reproof a great deal either although I've had that wet shoulder thing where water is pulled through when wearing a rucksack a couple of times. It does say on the care label that you can use normal detergent or even dry clean if it's proper filthy as long as you use the tech wash and tx water proofing after.
I don’t know what you guys are doing to find them so poor.
Just going out in the rain and moving at more than a snail's pace seems to do the trick!