Paramo Alta II vs Aspira ?

Daytona said:

I've read the previous comments on the Paramo Directional range, but now they've
made them cooler I'd like to know what people think. Which model is meant to be
the cooler, Alta II or Aspira ?

IIRC the Alta II.

Quoted message said:

It seems to be a great piece of kit, which is why I'm reluctant to rule it out,
but I'm looking at 3 season UK use, only wearing it when windy or wet

Not really what it's designed for. The Paramo stuff is designed to be
worn the whole time, and unlike Goretex et al it /is/ basically
breathable enough for this to be a working proposition, as long as it
isn't just more clothes than you want. If you /only/ want something to
wear when it's nasty I think you may well be better off with a light
conventional breathable which has the advantage of taking up
/considerably/ less space in your bag when you're not wearing it.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

Not really what it's designed for. The Paramo stuff is designed to be
worn the whole time, and unlike Goretex et al it /is/ basically
breathable enough for this to be a working proposition, as long as it
isn't just more clothes than you want.

Thanks Pete, once the temperature is above about 10C I'm happy just wearing a
base layer top, as long as it isn't too windy, so my dilemma is whether I'd get
too hot in even the new, cooler, version if I wore it all the time. If I was
comfortable, then it seems like a bombproof solution, which is good for piece of
mind !

As an alternative I'm considering a Montane Featherlite Smock (85g, £36) which
I'll have a look at later today. Then I'll need a rainproof jacket of some
sorts.

Cheers

Daytona

I've spent all winter wearing a pair of Cascada trousers, an Alta II top,
with a merino woll icebreaker underneath. Even in the depths of winter when
the temperatures have been way below freezing, with serious wind chill, this
has been all I've needed. No fleece, (although I carry a small spare in the
sack for emergencies), but now that days are getting warmer I've put the
Paramo away. I know you are supposed to be able to wear them all year, and
if you are not working hard you probably can, but I'm sweating buckets on
the uphills, so the lighter stuff has come out.

"Daytona" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've read the previous comments on the Paramo Directional range, but now
they've
made them cooler I'd like to know what people think. Which model is meant
to be
the cooler, Alta II or Aspira ?

It seems to be a great piece of kit, which is why I'm reluctant to rule it
out,
but I'm looking at 3 season UK use, only wearing it when windy or wet

The blurb on the Aspira makes a specific play on this issue - "...Aspira
offers
excellent protection against cold and wet conditions, yet versatile enough
to be
worn on hotter days in the mountains." yet it doesn't have the zip
ventilation
of the Alta II which has set me wondering.

http://www.paramo.co.uk/UK/acatalog/AspiraJacket-16-139.html
http://www.paramo.co.uk/UK/acatalog/MensAltaIIJacket-16-147.html

Cheers

Daytona

I have an Alta 2, and if the temperature is vaguely above freezing i just
have a really light t shirt on under and that's it.

If it's like -10 then i have a havier Paramo top on, that's all I need.

The jacket is too hot for summer.

The trousers are a little better because they unzip all the way, but still
too hot for warm days.

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

Daytona said:

Thanks Pete, once the temperature is above about 10C I'm happy just wearing a
base layer top, as long as it isn't too windy, so my dilemma is whether I'd get
too hot in even the new, cooler, version if I wore it all the time.

You have to try one, really. Some people are fine in them, others (me
included, sadly) not.

From yours and the other comments it seems as if the odds are against it so it's
not worth the risk for ~£160.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As an alternative I'm considering a Montane Featherlite Smock (85g, £36) which
I'll have a look at later today. Then I'll need a rainproof jacket of some
sorts.

You could get the Aero smock and save almost 20g! ;-)
I have one, and they're a neat solution to just a brisk wind if it isn't
otherwise too cold.

I placed an online order after failing to find one on my visit to Cotswold
Outdoor. The visit vindicated my dislike for physical shopping; only the most
expensive kit was on display - so no hope of seeing a £36 wind shell. A waste of
time from my pov.

The weight difference is actually only 10g <g> no doubt down to the use of
Pertex Microlight on the 85g Featherlite and Pertex Quantum on the 75g Aero. I
went for the Featherlite as it's more durable, and one reviewer commented on the
fact that the Aero showed early signs of wear from rucksack belts. Having said
that for £22 you're talking throw away money anyway.

Daytona

Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

Daytona said:

Thanks Pete, once the temperature is above about 10C I'm happy just wearing a
base layer top, as long as it isn't too windy, so my dilemma is whether I'd get
too hot in even the new, cooler, version if I wore it all the time.

You have to try one, really. Some people are fine in them, others (me
included, sadly) not.

From yours and the other comments it seems as if the odds are against it so it's
not worth the risk for ~£160.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As an alternative I'm considering a Montane Featherlite Smock (85g, £36) which
I'll have a look at later today. Then I'll need a rainproof jacket of some
sorts.

You could get the Aero smock and save almost 20g! ;-)
I have one, and they're a neat solution to just a brisk wind if it isn't
otherwise too cold.

I placed an online order after failing to find one on my visit to Cotswold
Outdoor. The visit vindicated my dislike for physical shopping; only the most
expensive kit was on display - so no hope of seeing a £36 wind shell. A waste of
time from my pov.

The weight difference is actually only 10g <g> no doubt down to the use of
Pertex Microlight on the 85g Featherlite and Pertex Quantum on the 75g Aero. I
went for the Featherlite as it's more durable, and one reviewer commented on the
fact that the Aero showed early signs of wear from rucksack belts. Having said
that for £22 you're talking throw away money anyway.

Daytona

I've had the Paramo Viento jacket and trousers for about 18 months,
and am extremely pleased with them. The best outdoor clothing I've ever
worn, in that it's windproof and waterproof, but still extremely breathable;
and I "run hot" and sweat a lot, so breathability matters.

They're supposed to be wearable in summer, but I find them *much* too
hot then, and go back to conventional clothing. But for the three cooler
seasons in the Lakes, they are marvellous; I just wear a base layer under them
(plus a microfleece in the coldest weather) and keep them on all the time.

As Pete was saying, the problem is that you can't easily find out
whether they suit you (and what model suits you) without trying them; and
they aren't cheap enough to buy just on spec.

Hope this is useful!
Mark
--
Mark Manning [email hidden]

I bought an Alta II before Christmas. I really couldn't understand what the
difference was between it and the Aspira (other than the latter having more
pockets). I rang up Paramo, there being no dealer here in Birmingham. They
told me that the Alta is cut longer, and the the Apira is designed to be
used with a harness and so is shorter.

I ordered an Alta II and have been very impressed with it.

--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK

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