Having been a long standing fan of the original Velez Smock from Paramo, I was looking forwards to the chance to put the new light model through it’s paces! I picked a few of my favourite activities to give it a good test in its own right and few others to compare it to its older model.

A week mixed winter climbing in the Cairngorms was sure to give me an idea as to how good the new fabric was and I wasn’t disappointed. Over five days in the Northern Corries, with just a mountain pull-on underneath, I’m a 16 stone mountaineer and my body-heat builds quickly, but my temperature was regulated perfectly with the venting options and the new lightweight outer allowing an even higher level of breathabilty. Climbing on mixed ground put the lighter weight outer through its paces and it survived admirably where many other jackets have been ruined, being dragged over bristly granite rock slabs and showed no signs of wear from rope abuse using body belays on some stances. For temperature control when I wasn’t active I was more than comfortable enough using a Torres Gilet over the top when sat belaying in a bucket seat and remained static for up to half an hour at a time in what was around -18 with windchill and spindrift rolling around me the high neck and hood (which fits over a helmet just fine) kept everything on the outside not allowing snow to get inside and kept me nice and toasty!

Seeking to answer questions about the new fabric which is how much cooler than the old jacket is it?! I donned my trainers and did two identical 15 minute runs with some good inclines on a mild day with a light breeze. One in my original Velez Smock and one in the new. I had the chest zip fully open but the side vents closed and the cuffs done up at the wrist on both jackets and I fully cooled down after the first run and put a fresh cambia sports vest with the smooth cooler side next to my skin on for each run to make this a fair test each time.

In the original I had begun to feel the build up of heat down my back after 3 minutes and by 10 minutes I was roasting! This was always my only gripe with my Velez that for running I had always found it a touch on the warm side, I was looking forwards to the new fabric!

I pushed myself up the first hill striding out as I had done in the original but I was able to keep pushing! There was no stuffy build up of heat running around my back, all the heat I was producing was making it’s way through the lighter fabric considerably quicker and by the time I had finished the run I was at a comfortable temperature comparable to running in my windproof Fuera Smock.

I see a marked improvement in the lighter Paramo fabric and would recommend this new top to anyone looking for a new waterproof to be used for a variety of outdoor pursuits in all conditions.

Andy Halliwell