Time Waster
Veteran
The whole point is that Paramo is not waterproof just that it wicks sweat and actively moves moisture from inside to the outside better than almost anything. The thickness of the liner layer helps with giving the point at which it gets overwhelmed at bay for longer. But it is possible to overwhelm any variant of paramo.
On the flip side is what does the alternative do? They stop all water getting into the garment so are waterproof, but they do not do anything with moisture inside the garment. Long before you would get wet with a paramo you get wet in hardshell membrane garments from internal moisture when in use. IF the hardshell does have special weaves on the inner layer ot move sweat outwards that sweat / moisture can not get to the outside because the outer layer has high moisture content by then so there is no driver to force the moisture through the membrane and outside the outer layer. Boil in the bag ensues as there is no bulk to the lining that can take moisture build up.
So the real choice is not warm and dry vs wet and warm but is is wet and warm in paramo vs wet and warm in membrane fabrics. However it is possible to be dry and warm in paramo for longer than you are dry and warm in membranes. IF that makes sense. There is basically no solution that truly works in heavy and prolonged rain. So there is the matter of what is comfortable when the system fails (paramo and membranes). IMHO I would rather be in a paramo even the lighter versions than membranes for the sole reason that paramo dries you out so much quicker when it stops raining. I have been totally wet in paramo and eVent and Goretex. However once it stops raining you have no choice but to take off the membrane to dryout. With Paramo you dry quicker by wearing it than taking it off. That to me shows the advantages.
Of course the standard analogy system is better than the light ones if you want to be drier for longer and recover quicker. If you are happy being wet and warm then light might be ok for you.
On the flip side is what does the alternative do? They stop all water getting into the garment so are waterproof, but they do not do anything with moisture inside the garment. Long before you would get wet with a paramo you get wet in hardshell membrane garments from internal moisture when in use. IF the hardshell does have special weaves on the inner layer ot move sweat outwards that sweat / moisture can not get to the outside because the outer layer has high moisture content by then so there is no driver to force the moisture through the membrane and outside the outer layer. Boil in the bag ensues as there is no bulk to the lining that can take moisture build up.
So the real choice is not warm and dry vs wet and warm but is is wet and warm in paramo vs wet and warm in membrane fabrics. However it is possible to be dry and warm in paramo for longer than you are dry and warm in membranes. IF that makes sense. There is basically no solution that truly works in heavy and prolonged rain. So there is the matter of what is comfortable when the system fails (paramo and membranes). IMHO I would rather be in a paramo even the lighter versions than membranes for the sole reason that paramo dries you out so much quicker when it stops raining. I have been totally wet in paramo and eVent and Goretex. However once it stops raining you have no choice but to take off the membrane to dryout. With Paramo you dry quicker by wearing it than taking it off. That to me shows the advantages.
Of course the standard analogy system is better than the light ones if you want to be drier for longer and recover quicker. If you are happy being wet and warm then light might be ok for you.
