Ut & Aboot

My rain and windproofs for all seasons are from Paramo.  I've used these in extreme rain, wind and cold and the NikWax material has kept me warm and dry, even when other's rainproofs have left them damp.  This picture is from my 10-day ski-camping trip on Hardangervidda (2019), where the previous day the paramo gear was sheltering me from 50 mph winds, -8'C, whiteout blizzard!  They breath far better than any other rain gear I know, rain or shine.  When many others have been suffering from frost forming inside their GoreTex, I have been warm and dry - and not for lack of sweating!

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I would thoroughly recommend the Paramo Alta III Jacket and Paramo Cascada II Trousers, though I do wish that they would improve the zip quality - having a critical zip fail on my jacket fail mid-way through the trip could have been a disaster.  Fortunately the NikWax can be sewn without destroying the waterproofing - but sewing in freezing tent by the light of my head torch, as my friend was already asleep, was not a highlight of my tour.

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My previous Paramo Alta II jacket lasted a full 10 years, and I would happily recommend Paramo gear over any other rain gear.  In hot weather, when I think that I will most likely will not use a rain jacket, I do have a Outdoor Research Helium II jacket which I like, but will always take the Paramo Alta if I expect to wear it for any length of time.

I'm prone to finding a path through a bog and hiking in all weathers, so waterproofness is key, and I don't believe anything other than leather can hold up well.  I have been very pleased with my Crispi Skarven Boots both in the snow, in the rain and on hot sunny days.  They are by far the most comfortable boots I've owned - bug also the ones with the biggest price tag...

I've only been using them since 2018, but they do seem to be heard-wearing, and I'm yet to get any blisters from them, despite many multi-day hikes.

For many years I have used a Paramo Torres Medio Gilet as a layer to throw on top of others when stopped, and am very happy with it, and have it with me in summer in winter.

For my more demanding winter trips I wanted something more so bought a down jacket from Outdoor Research.  I was initially happy with it, but am now looking to replace it after one season, as the down has migrated away from the core, and it was never really warm enough for what I wanted - putting a single layer on top of my "moving clothes" for breaks during cold skiing trips.

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