All Páramo garments use innovative fabrics engineered by Nikwax – designed to actively ‘Direct’ water (liquid water as well as water vapour) to where you need it to keep you comfortable. This ranges from the reversible, next-to-the-skin base layers to the outer weatherproof protection of Nikwax Analogy.
As a result of Directionality, Páramo gear outperforms all other outdoor garments; better than ‘breathable’, more comfortable than ‘waterproofs’, as supple and silent as ‘soft shell’, and, unlike other systems, working just as effectively whatever the temperature or humidity.
All Páramo designs originate and are refined by a design team based in the Lake District. They are tested extensively in laboratory conditions and by experianced gear testers.
Páramo style emanates from function, comfort and safety rather than fashion. Each garment works superbly on its own but is also designed to be combined effectively with others in the range. Through-to-skin ventilation sited for maximum impact, pockets in the sizes, shapes and places to be most useful, adjustable hoods and cuffs plus excellent articulation for unrestricted movement.
With Páramo, there’s the guarantee of performance and comfort that will last. There’s no laminate or coatings to break down in your garment, instead the simplicity of aftercare with Nikwax products to maintain the waterproof performance of your garment indefinitely. Even puncture of the outer fabric does not compromise the performance of Paramo waterproofs; you could stick pins all over the garment, take them out again, and still not get wet in the rain!
Nikwax® Directional Textiles are different, more than waterproof and better than breathable they are different for a reason, providing significant benefits for active outdoor professionals and enthusiasts looking for gear to keep them comfortable, dry and safe in all weathers.
Fabric breathability on its own is not enough, it’s essential to avoid a build up of water in your clothing when you are working hard. Too much moisture in your clothing will lead to sudden and rapid cooling when you stop and rest. An adult working hard can produce upto 1 litre of sweat per hour, no breathable waterproof can transfer that amount of water as moisture vapour, even when the outside air is dry. In addition greater amounts of sweat is produced at some parts of your body’s surface than others, unless that moisture is spread it can’t evaporate to cool you down. The less efficient evaporation of sweat is the more sweat you produce leading to even greater build up of condensation inside your clothing.
Directional® Fabrics keep you more comfortable and safer because they move both sweat and liquid water to where your body needs it to be. The outside of your garment to keep you dry and therefore warm or spreading it evenly around your body to keep you cool and prevent it pooling. Combine Directional base layers and fleeces with Directional waterproofs and you get a clothing system which lets you control water and air movement to achieve the optimum body temperature whatever the weather and whatever your activity.
Nikwax® Directional Textiles between them provide the four key functions that are important in any outdoor clothing system:
1. Wicking
2. Warmth/ Insulation
3. Windproofing
4. Waterproofing
Comfort in the outdoors depends on achieving the right balance between these four functions to suit the weather conditions, your activity level and your physiology.
Fabric Function
Parameta® A and Parameta® T Reversible are Nikwax Directional fabrics that rapidly spread perspiration over a large area to provide maximum evaporation and keep you cool at higher temperatures. Lightweight and comfortable, these garments will evaporate moisture in minutes and are ideal for next-to-skin layers in high temperatures and high energy activities.
Parameta® S and Parameta X are Nikwax Directional fabrics that wick but also direct water to one face and capture still air in the other. They provide excellent next-to-skin layers, either worn alone or under a Directional outer.
Parameta® S isalso reversible where water naturally concentrates in the smooth face of the fabric only. Worn smooth face to the skin it cools you and with the fleecy face next to the skin air is trapped and water drawn away so warming the body.
Páramo® Windproof garments are made from Nikwax® Windproof fabric. It cuts the wind and deflects the rain whilst providing excellent moisture vapour transfer and breathability.
Nikwax Analogy® Fleece, like mammal fur, both repels rain and actively pushes water away from the body. All fleeces warm you by trapping still air between their fibres but wet a conventional fleece and it loses up to 95% of its insulation. Páramo fleece offers superior comfort especially in humid conditions.
Páramo® Directional Waterproofs are made with Nikwax Analogy® which mimics the action of mammal fur. Directing water away from you whilst protecting your insulation to keep you warm and dry. Conventional breathable waterproofs can only cope with 20% of the sweat you produce, for real comfort you need Páramo Directional Waterproofs.
Nikwax Analogy® Insulator fabric combines a windproof outer with a moisture-repellent fill. It warms the body quickly by very efficient retention of body heat, while the down-like feel and performance continue to work well even when wet, resisting moisture ingress but still allowing excellent moisture vapour transfer