Paramo or Goretex? What's My Preference And Why?
/WRITTEN by CHRIS & ANNE ENSOLL
I’m often asked which I prefer – Paramo or Goretex. It’s a bit of a Marmite queston – people are often very much one way or the other. I’ve used both myself, and I’ve talked to lots of clients about their preferences. I’ve seen how both perform in the same weather conditions on the same day out in the mountains. So which do I prefer, and why?
Paramo
Many years ago I was lent a set of Paramo waterproofs to try out - I used them when climbing on Skye, and found then to be very good. After that I used them whilst working in Scotland in the winter, on the recommendation of my good friend and colleague Alan Kimber, but they just didn’t work for me in cold wet conditions. In the last couple of years I started wearing Paramo again when my neighbour gave me a jacket that had been passed on to her, but it was too big for her. I’m sure this recycling would make Paramo happy – they have their own recycling programme, and they will take back any garment except underwear, and they will either find it a new home or recycle it into new fabric.
The garments are made from fabrics that are designed not to become obsolete. They are easily repaired, and you can expect a jacket to still be performing well after 15+ years. All garments have a lifetime guarantee, and all garments are PFC free.
Paramo is sustainable, ethical, and doing good for the people who make it, which has to be good. Watch this video …
The company works with a number of conservation organisations, including World Land Trust and the European Outdoor Conservation Association.
So how does it perform?
It breathes really well and is great on days when it is showery and cool. When it rains hard and I’m not moving about much, say on a Rock Climbing Instructor course, I get wet and cold. This is bearing in mind that I run cold and don’t sweat much. People who run hot and sweat a lot don’t seem to have this problem. It is relatively heavy and bulky to carry in a rucksack
Goretex
I use Arc’teryx hard shell and have found it significantly better than other Goretex jackets that I’ve had in the past. I was introduced to Arc’teryx when they became a sponsor of the British Mountain Guides, about 7 or 8 years ago. So I’m really comparing Arc’teryx with Paramo, rather than Goretex with Paramo. I find that I stay drier with Goretex. I’m currently using an Arc’teryx Alpha jacket that I’ve had for over six years, and have used for many days each year, climbing and skiing, summer and winter.
Arc’teryx also have a good track record on sustainability. They are committed to using less water, less energy and less chemicals in their manufacturing processes. Their vision for the future includes zero waste manufacturing with garments designed for repair and recycling.
Conclusion
I own both and use both. Both can be washed and re-proofed regularly with Nikwax Techwash and TX Direct, which really helps the performance. On really wet windy days, which happen a lot here in the Lake District, I put my Paramo on underneath my Goretex, and it works very well. On drier days I wear the Paramo and carry the Goretex in my rucksack as a ‘just in case’ layer. In my experience if you run hot, you will prefer Paramo, but if you run cold, then Goretex will work best for you.
What about you?
Which do you prefer, and why? Leave a comment below - we’d love to hear from you!
Goretex and Paramo in action on a Mountain Leader assessment course
