Rich asks about the Third Element. “Was it really that good?”
The short answer is yes. This might be the perfect backpacking jacket for the UK’s cooler months (and for some of the warmer ones as well).
The Third Element jacket is a kind of Heath Robinson affair. All in one it is a full Paramo waterproof that gives you all of the protection that you expect from wind and rain. The sleeves and the hood are detachable. In this mode the jacket becomes a gilet or, weirdly, you can apparently wear just the hood and the arms.
The ability to detach the arms makes this a very versatile jacket. On something like the Challenge Paramo allows me to leave behind a mid layer. Over the years I’ve realised that this set up is no heavier than a conventional system with a mid layer. The problem with Paramo comes when you get to a pub, café or so on. Often it is too warm or uncomfortable to be sitting in jacket but just too cold to be sitting in just a baselayer. With this jacket the sleeveless mode is just right.
On many days you can walk quite happily without the sleeves, the jacket providing quite a lot of protection from wind. Even when the sun comes out you will be able to keep walking with the sleeveless jacket on. Colin Ibbotson, who also used one on the Challenge didn’t ever take his off.
With just a little practice it becomes almost second nature to zip the sleeves on and off. The sleeves can be removed without removing your pack — although I still tend to remove the pack.
Both the front zips and the arm zips have storm flaps and poppers (rather like the mainstream Paramo jackets) which make the jacket water-tight. When wearing this as a full jacket the arms can be zipped open a little to provide very effective, pit-like, ventilation.
At least three of us wore this jacket on the Challenge, Colin Ibbotson, David Alban and myself. We all raved about it.
I shall be back in the Cairngorms at the end of next month. The weather will have to be very warm for me to leave the Third Element at home.
A great piece of kit.
If you look at the previous post Colin is pictured wearing his Third Element.
And if it starts to rain when I’ve got the ‘giblet’/vest part on, I get the arms/hood bit out of the side pocket of my excellent ULA pack and put it on (until the rain passes) without taking the pack off – amazing!!!
I’d recommend taking the pack off to remove the arms/hood though or you could get in an awful muddle!!!
*want want want*
PW
PW, PW…. Yes the 3rd Element is a great jacket, but, are you not happy with the Cioch Glamaig that you just bought?
Heh… I’m delighted with the Glamaig, Gordon, but the problem is that I just seem to want *all* the good kit…
PW PW
Gordon: you have to appreciate that Shirl is a complete/real gearhead!
… but a very nice one all the same!!!
Had a closer look at a Paramo Velez Adventure lite this afternoon. In fact I tried one on. Think I like it in the woman’s colour (blackish grey) best …
But will be sticking with the 3rd Element. am interested to see how far into the summer I can wear it before switching back to my Montane Litespeed/Quickfire combo when it gets too warm.
I am amazed with how good it is. Used now on several trips and it is flawless. Too warm!!. When is it ever warm in the hills raining? Not often to be honest. Take it to the Cairngorms and be warm and dry.
Great stuff, will have to go and try one out.
Rich
Might help to put my question about 3rd Element being too warm in summer into context. I wore it on the Cape Wrath Trail last September and on the Challenge last month which was fine and spent much of the time (except for very wet or windy days)in just the gillet over a merino baselayer. But it would definitely been too much for me during the spell of lovely hot weather we’ve just had and I don’t tend to run hot!!!
What a quandary! Paramo Velez Adventure or Cioch Glamaig or Paramo 3rd Element?
The Velez seems a little short, the Glamaig is tempting and is as light as the Velez, but I’ve not seen one in the flesh. Then people you seem to be raving about the 3rd elelment. Decisions, decisions!!
Any view from people in the know?
The Third Element is a superb backpacking jacket. It is not as good for full on bad weather as say the Alta II only in that it has a short front. But for backpacking versitility you simply cannot beat it.