There can’t be many serious walkers here in the UK who have not heard of Paramo. Many of them swear by the stuff. In my experience there is nothing more comfortable to wear in really heavy rain than Paramo waterproof gear.
Those who worry about Paramo worry about its weight. Paramo waterproofs are made of two layers an inner pump-liner which sucks moisture away from the body and an outer layer which protects the liner. However, Paramo waterproofs do replace two layers and for most of the year a walker can happily exist with one of these waterproofs over a simple base layer. But as an increasing focus is put on weight Paramo have had to respond with a new, lighter, series of waterproofs. The first of these products was the Velez Adventure Smock and now this has been joined by the Velez Adventure Trousers.
Paramo waterproof trousers can be wonderful. They are properly waterproof and can be worm all day without having to stop and pull outer shell trousers on and off. For many Paramo users it is their trousers that they would give up last. The best seller trouser is the Cascada. While I really appreciate my Cascadas I have never really been properly comfortable with them. The problem with the Cascada Trousers is not the waterproofing but the cut.
I have now owned two pair of Cascada Trousers and I’m somewhat confused at who these have been designed for. The problem is in the cut of the leg for they seem to have been designed for those who have legs like tree trunks. As a result there always seems to be tons of surplus material flapping around and getting soaking wet. The Velez trousers are not only made of lighter material they are cut very differently and it was the cut that made me buy a pair.
And I’m glad I did. The Velez trousers are cut like a normal pair of walking trousers and as a result feel more comfortable. Comparing them to my Cascadas they seem to use a hell of a lot less fabric and this must contribute to the lower weight as well as to comfort.
The Velex trousers save weight by using an all round simpler, design and not just by using lighter outer fabrics. For example, there is still a gaiter system but this is achieved by the use of velcro rather than poppers. Heavy wear areas are reenforced a little but gone is the heavy knee reenforcement of the Cascadas. The waist system is also more conventional, using a belt that can be removed rather than the old draw chord system. There is still a thigh vent but this finishes at knee level whereas the Cascadas are able to zip right down to the ankle (which involved using more heavy poppers). The new vents are similar to that found of Paramo’s summer clothes, and they work well.
While lighter and simpler the Velex trousers remain fully-fledged Paramo waterproofs. I thoroughly enjoyed using mine and suspect that I will be using them more often in the cooler months than I did the Cascadas. Indeed, their first outing was on a reasonably warm and dry February day.
Over the last few years I think a few of us have shown how Paramo can sensibly find itself at the centre of lightweight, cool month, walking kit. These new trousers underline this.
The average weight quoted on the Paramo website for a pair of Cascadas is 572 grams and the Velez 398 grams.
On my last two TGO Challenges I have relied on Paramo Stretch Pants and a pair of lightweight Montane windproof trousers. The average weight for the Stretch Pants is 256 grams and the Featherlite Windproofs weigh in at 120 grams (for a medium size). You can see that this combination is only a few grams lighter than the Velex pants. I’ll do a real weight comparison over the next few days.
Ultralight Colin Ibbotson has had his own Paramo trousers for him. These use the light Pertex fabric that is used with Featherlite trousers. These are probably the lightest Paramo-type trousers ever produced. Most of us aren’t going to go to the trouble of having our own trousers made for us but the Velex Trousers do give us a new lightweight option. It might be that I use the new trousers on this year’s Challenge, if I manage to get on. I’ll certainly be using them on many more occasions that the Cascadas.
A good move Paramo. These should sell in big quantities.
One final thing, the Velex trousers seem only to be available in regular leg lengths at the moment, fine for me but not for someone like Colin. Different leg lengths are promised soon but have not arrived yet.
Nice review – I am really looking forward to trying a pair of these but I need a longer leg length too. As soon as the London Paramo shop has them in I shall bag myself a pair.
they may well be the bees knees if you pardon the pun but at a £140 they can keep them
Interesting!
I’ll be interested to see how they hold up to sustained use. The new cut sounds like good news, for sure.
True Chris, they are expensive. But this is the first bit of gear I have bought in yonks!
They may be lighter but they do seem pretty robust.
I must be the oddity, as I’ve not got a problem with the cut of my Cascadas. Perhaps it’s because I’ve got legs like tree trunks (or maybe they just got the proportions right on the Girls’ Extra Small Short)?
That’s not to say that I wouldn’t be lured into looking at Velez Advernture Light ones, mind. Aside from the excessive bobbling on the pump liner, I’ve been really pleased with my VAL Smock so far.
Long leg is the issue with me. I like the look of them. I am a big fan of Paramo after getting my waterproof. Alan give us the heads up when they are available.
Hi Andy
Thanks for this. I had not heard of these from Paramo. I must have a look as I love my Cascadas but do find them v.hot in summer despite the vents. Wouldn’t be out them at any other time though. Wonder if the robustness may be a problem, catching on walking pole tips, crampons, branches and wearing rapidly from scrambling days and on bum parts from siting on rocks? Hmmm
Gayle – the women’s version seem to be cut differently!
Funnily enough, I’ve always thought that the blokes’ Cascadas were cut quite narrowly. Clearly, from what y’all say, they don’t feel that way when you have them on. They do look quite slim legged to me, though. Mine, on the other hand…
Hmm, the mystery of the Cascada fit. All I can say is that the Velez are better!
A great review Andy I have had mine since October and they have been on every trip since. They are very comfortable, warm but not too warm and are now my go to cool/cold weather pants.
Andy my Paramo style jacket and trousers are built with a Momentum fabric shell and not Pertex like the Featherlites are. Weights are 186g for the trousers and 310g for the jacket. I also decided not to get them built by others but designed and built them myself.
Considerably lighter than the Velez trousers !!!
You’ll be wearing them on the Challenge?
Yep!
The belt buckle on my pair kept slipping, and was not really up to the job. I’ve replaced the belt with a similar one, with a stronger buckle and that has been fine.
I’ve still found them a bit warm at times, so they are probably still limited to the colder months, unless it is raining all day.
It is a bit flimsy but is the same belt as used on their summer trousers.
Hi everyone,
I got a pair of these on 06-08-2010. Tried them out in the Cairngorms last weekend. .
First of all they’re very comfortable and light compared to cascadas. However I have serious reservations about durability.
The blurb says the’re suitable for scrambling and climbing. After descending Cairngorm to Loch Avon via Coire Raibert (typical Scottish walking over moderately rough ground) a couple of small tears appeared, one around the ankle and another near the pocket.
The material around these areas appears to be a lighter type of material than elsewhere on the trouser.
Overall I would say they’re suitable for the fells only. certainly not scrambling or climbing.
I wish manufacturers were more honest about what they’re gear is suitable for and what it’s not.
Regards
Bruce,
These are certainly more comfortable and useable than Cascadas. The lighter fabric is more durable than I feared it would be, but I’m thinking here about walking through brambles and so on. I don’t think I’d be using them for serious climbing or scrambling. I would agree with your observations here.
I have a pair of Velez and they soaked through the first time they encountered heavy rain
Over priced and not fit for purpose
Jim,
That sounds very peculiar. Paramo do not have a completely waterproof outer layer but the combination of the two layers should keep you very dry.
I have used mine for over a year now in very bad conditions and they have worked just as efficiently as any Paramo waterproof.
In my experience they are very fit for purpose!
After reading here I looked at the Velez Adventure Trousers in my local store. Looking for a 3 season every day trouser that happened to be fully waterproof. (I own Cascada Trousers and Valez Smock which are great for winter). In my quest to lighten my pack I hoped these were the answer.
I found: Comfy yes, fit ok a bit baggy, would feel like wearing mc hammer/waterproofs all day. Im concerned the material would not hold up to much normal ware n tare. A cool day on the hills I imagine they would be spot on but as soon as the suns out/still air surely there gonna be to hot?
I didnt buy them.
Took my brand-new Velez trews into Knoydart for three days of wild camping/bagging. After four hours of constant but not heavy rainwater was trickling down the inside of both thighs, crotch to ankle, not good, particularly as I had two more days to go. I have ‘retired’ ten-year old budget overtrousers that would have fared better, for £140 less, Velez AL smock was ok.
apologies for the poor grammar, I was mugged by the spell-checker, should have been “……but not heavy rain, water was ….”