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Having got back into some pretty serious off-road running thanks to an inspired bit of house buying a couple of years ago, I was looking for waterproof jacket as I like running in the rain but was getting pretty fed up with getting so damn wet ….. and cold…. I’d tried my trusty Berghaus Paclite Goretex jacket on a couple of occasions but it is not really up to running as it simply cannot cope with the heat generated on the hills round here. It just about copes with vigorous walking so it was no surprise really. Having noticed OMM gear a few years ago, I thought I would check them out in a bit more detail so did my usual internet searching coupled with the ever so important physical check at a retailer. The internet research was easy but finding one in stick anywhere was a bit more tricky but eventually I located one about 20 miles away, went to have a look and found they didn’t have my size !! Anyway, a close up look at the fabric and fit of the medium sized jacket convinced me a small would be ideal. Boy, what a great piece of kit ! When mine arrived it was throwing down, heavily, so off I went in my new jacket only to be staggered by how much rain it kept off – it simply beaded up, bounced off and took one shake when finished to leave the jacket virtually dry in a couple of minutes. The breathability is fine and far, far better than the Bergie with just a hint of perspiration build up after a hard run in cold wet weather. Above all that though is the fit. I’m only a little fella, and the small unisex size fits me absolutely perfectly. it’s very slimline and you couldn’t wear anything too bulky under it – I usually wear a Helly Hansen or similar baselayer and this is an ideal combination. It looks sleek and businesslike and makes me feel great every time I put it on. Two well-placed pockets with sealed zips are ideal for holding keys, gels, iPhone etc and so far, totally waterproof. The hood is something else again. When you fasten the jacket right up and get the hood up (for the full penguin look…) it is no problem running into very, very strong wind without the hood moving from your head – a great design, shape, fit, whatever … I don’t know, but I know it just bloody well works… A cracking piece of kit for foul weather running and my current favourite piece of outdoor clothing.
This has to be the best piece of kit I’ve recently acquired. The new Guide Pro has performed exceptionally well in pretty much every condition I have used it in. You need to work out the best layering arrangement to get the most out of it, but since I did that, the results have been excellent. Its main strength is that you can work really hard, generate a lot of body heat, but you don’t get damp. The Guide Pro sleeves and body are long enough to climb comfortably in and the hood is spacious with lots of adjustment. It’s a great fit, with just the right amount of stretch. The outer surface is strong and very durable. In driving rain, you stay dry for a good hour or so – longer if it’s not too heavy. If you’re out all day in really wet conditions, you might need something that’s specifically designed for that purpose – the Guide Pro is very much an all-rounder. Keeps you dry, fits fantastically well and hard wearing. An excellent buy!
Bought these on a whim – seemed good value for Mountain Trousers at around £60. Felt a bit flimsy at first, as the material is very soft and flexible However – after 10 days in the peak district this winter – found them hardy, wind and water resistant and really quick drying! Nice and warm,with vents for when you’re working hard up hill, or good for summer use too. A good balanced, all year pair of trousers, good for all but the coldest UK weather. Really cool secret pocket too!
I’m on my third pair of Innov8 Flyrocs now for good reason – they are the perfect all-round shoe for trail running, fell walking and any other similar activity. I’ve been up Scafell in them, scrambled along several tricky edges in them and even done the odd Mtb ride when I couldn’t be bothered getting all ‘biked’ up. But most of all, they are happiest, and I am happiest, when running the trails close to home. Up steep muddy slopes, across steep sheep trods, over stiles, down cart tracks, through puddles – you name it, they are excellent. One thing though : they will NOT keep your feet dry. They are not designed for that. I’ve not had any problem with this at all as they breathe really well and allow your feet to sort themselves out, particularly when running, but for fell walking I would recommend something like a Seal Skinz sock. This combination could well be the ideal fell walking combo if you are not too bothered about knocks and bumps to your ankles as the lightweight, comfy fit and sure-footed feel they give more than make up for the lack of protection. My latest pair are finally giving way after two years pretty heavy use with holes appearing close to the toebox where they bend – not sure if this is a weak point or not or just down to the general abuse they receive, but I can’t complain. As a combination of lightweight, supportive, all-round running and fell walking shoes – they are an absolute joy to own and use and are highly recommended if you are doing these activities.
I’m a huge fan of Paramo – I have two jackets already. I use a Velez Adventure Lightweight Smock in the summer months and an Alta II Jacket in the winter. So the Paramo Cascada Waterproof Trousers were next on the list. I took them out for a short dog walk, just to make sure they fit okay and weren’t going to cause me problems, but it wasn’t until a couple of weekends ago that I actually wore them in anger. I walked from Patterdale up to Place Fell and then across to Angletarn Pikes, accompanying a friend who was completing his Wainwrights. We agreed that it was some of the worst weather we’d experienced for a couple of years – a combination of ridiculous winds and heavy rain made a great test for the pants and a challenging day on the fells. The Cascada pants are going to serve a dual purpose, that much was clear from the outset – these are not just waterproof pants, they are also warm winter pants. The Analogy waterproofing system provides three layers of material and this proves to be wonderfully warm, as well as extremely efficient in waterproofing. As we all found out on the fells that Saturday – nothing is waterproof – nothing at all. You can spend as much money as you like on Gore Tex, eVent, Analogy, it doesn’t matter – after a while the water is going to get through. But for me, Paramo has the most efficient system going – it keeps me drier than anything else I’ve tried over the past few years and I’ll keep coming back to it. The pants are lovely and soft against the skin – no weird-feeling coated layer that becomes uncomfortable very quickly – they feel like silk pyjamas – which leads to one of their only downsides. I found they tend to slip down after a while and I found myself having to hitch them up every mile or two. They really need some sort of anti-slip material stitched into the inside of the belt band. I have some suit trousers that include something like this and the Cascada could do with some too. The only other downside I found with the pants is the fit. I’m 6’4” tall and my inside leg is something like 34” – so I have to take a “Long” leg length – the Cascada “Long” leg is actually a little too long for me – so I had to fold the belt band over on itself to draw the pants up my legs a little. This did seem to help with the slipping a bit though – so it worked out ok. The pants have a draw-cord in the belt band – as most waterproof trousers do, but they also have belt loops too – which is great, because I really needed to add the belt to help stop them slipping. They also come with two, zipped, front pockets which is something you rarely see on overtrousers. The leg vents run from the top of the thigh all the way to the bottom of the leg, where a press stud can be used to reduce the volume if you desire. The zip makes the process of getting boots on and off a doddle, but it also allows for venting in warmer wet weather. I still don’t think this makes them an all-year round trouser though – they would be just too warm in the summer months. I will continue to wear the trousers through the winter – they are so comfortable I want to wear them round the house, but I’d slide off the furniture! I’ll report back on them after a couple more walks and update with any new insights, but until then if you need a pair of winter walking trousers – or waterproof trousers then these are well worth a try. You could save some money by buying one pair of trousers that will serve both purposes.
I’ve not been a great fan of waterproof trousers, as they tend to be noisy and you get as wet from condensation as if you weren’t wearing them. Having bought a Paramo Velez Smock and being very impressed with the breathability and waterproof qualities, I decided it was time to try their latest trousers.
This is just the best stove I’ve owned. I can cook pretty much anything on it, it kicks ass in terms of power and heat output, but also I get great simmer control too which is exactly what I need. Totally recommend it and as of yet never had a problem with it. Response: Glad you like the stove Sarah .. we are testing some new MSR stoves currently! We\’ve got the new Whisperlite, Microrocket and Reactor all in on test. We will be out in Scotland and the Lakes with them again this week so expect to see some more reviews coming shortly. Light, fast and effective
Great all-round jacket
The best all-round trail shoe ?
Paramo Cascada Waterproof Trousers
Paramo Quito Waterproof Trousers
They are very quiet to wear and can be put on without taking boots off (after a bit of practice!), plus the full leg zip allows plenty of venting options.
They’ve been used in the Swiss Alps in a wet summer over shorts and Scotland in winter with normal trousers and have performed well at all times.
One slight ‘feature’ is that the material means that sitting on a wet surface results in a wet bum, so you do need a sit mat, but they are great at keeping the elements out and can be re-proofed in no time at all.
After many years of no waterproof trousers, I’ve been converted!
MSR Dragonfly