Weight 580g

Cost £180

+ Durability, breathability, waterproof, can be reproofed and repaired indefinitely

- Too warm for summer use, short arms

To those that haven’t tried it, the Paramo concept can be hard to explain in a short review, so I would urge you to read more about it elsewhere. Feeling soft like a shell suit, it can be hard to believe that the Nikwax Analogy fabric could keep you dry, but with Directional Waterproofing abilities it works exceptionally well. The regular Velez Adventure Smock has been widely acclaimed and is used by many experienced kit aficionados as well as mountain rescue teams, however, it is a bit on the heavy side at 774g. The new Analogy Light fabric drops weight by 20% to a more reasonable 580g. Although heavy compared to other jackets I’ve had on test it outshines everything in performance tests, being superbly waterproof and breathable, as well as soft and comfortable to wear. Sizing is a little odd, with short arms, though this may be addressed and custom sized versions are available. The smock may not be to everyone’s taste but it’s great ‘fit and forget’ kit; once on it can be worn with just a baselayer in all but the coldest of conditions. The extra layers of fabric unfortunately provide extra insulation that makes it a bit too warm for summer unless you run really cold, but for really bad weather use it works exceptionally. A large front pouch pocket will swallow an OS map and clever side vents expose two internal handwarmer pockets. The wired-peak hood fits well and moves with the head, though is a little small to fit a helmet under. Superb comfort, breathability and waterproofness in new lighter weight format. Highly recommended for winter or expedition racing.