I’ve had my Páramo Velez Adventure Light smock for over six years and there is nothing I’d rather wear for cycle touring, gravel riding and pottering about on a bike in the rain.
Through hundreds of hours of sodden riding, the jacket has reliably kept me dry and comfortable.
Most recently, it performed flawlessly on a two-week tour around Scotland, protecting me from drookit weather while my tandem partner’s much newer jacket wetted out, uncomfortably sticking to bare skin “like a slice of ham”, despite a pre-trip reproofing.
The Velez Adventure Light has also been a reliable companion on summer and winter mountaineering trips, and has proven surprisingly durable.
The jacket is fairly expensive (£250, international pricing N/A), quite bulky and requires more maintenance than a typical laminated waterproof jacket but, despite all of that, it’s still my go-to jacket for most riding.
All of this makes the Páramo Velez Adventure Light smock a worthy entry in High-Mileage Heroes, and the best waterproof cycling jacket I have ever used.
How do Páramo jackets work?
Waterproof jackets typically achieve breathability and weatherproofing by laminating layers of wind and waterproof fabric to a breathable membrane.
These membranes have tiny pores that allow water vapour (perspiration) to escape, while preventing rain droplets from passing through.
Páramo jackets go about this in a very different fashion.
Páramo’s proprietary Nikwax Analogy waterproof fabric is a unique unbonded two-layer system that combines an outer wind- and water-resistant shell with a fleece-like ‘Pump Liner’.
The Pump Liner mimics the function of animal fur, “pushing liquid water outwards to protect you from rain, condensation and perspiration”, according to Páramo. The tightly woven microfibre outer layer provides protection from the wind and rain.
Condensation caused by sweat and body heat builds up on the outer face of the pump liner, where it can then transfer to the shell.
Páramo's own explainer video explains this concept very well.
Speaking from extensive experience, these claims ring true – provided you look after them (more on this later), Páramo jackets provided unparalleled comfort in wet weather.
Even when worn with just a baselayer – which I have done on several occasions – the soft liner layer never feels clammy.
As a perpetually damp man who runs too hot even in the depths of winter, that’s impressive.
BikeRadar’s High-Mileage Heroes
High-Mileage Heroes showcases the products that have stood the test of time and become part of our everyday riding.
These aren’t reviews, but rather a chance to talk about the kit we depend on and the products we choose to use when we’re not reviewing fresh gear.
More from High-Mileage Heroes:
- Jack’s Halo TK fixed gear hubs
- Matthew’s Speedplay Zero pedals
- Tom’s Shimano ME7 shoes
- Simon’s Bont Vaypor Classic shoes
- Alex’s ancient and most favourite tools
- Stan’s Chrome Industries Mini Metro bag
- Oscar's Castelli Gabba 2 jacket
- Matt's Garmin Forerunner 45
- Simon's Elite Direto XR smart trainer
- Oscar’s favourite workshop tools
A versatile and well-considered design
The Velez Adventure Light smock is one of Páramo’s lightest waterproof jackets. It's not cycling-specific, with a baggy cut and no dropped tail. However, for less strenuous cycling where aerodynamics are not a consideration, it’s an ideal choice.
The Velez smock is also available with a harder-wearing outer shell (the Páramo Velez Adventure smock) or as a standard jacket (the Páramo Velez) for greater protection from the elements.
I prefer a pullover jacket because I find the large kangaroo pouch chest pocket very useful.
While an unlikely scenario, unlike a full-length zip, the smock would still provide useful weather protection if the ¼ zip happened to fail.
The capacious hood easily accommodates a road bike helmet. Easy-to-grab elastic adjusters on the nape of the neck and around the aperture of the hood can be used to cinch it in place.
However, zipping the ¼ chest zip right the way up is enough to hold the hood up while riding.
Large pit-to-hem zips provide ample ventilation for strenuous efforts and I can shut out the elements with Velcro tabs on the cuffs.
The quality of Páramo’s fasteners should not be overlooked. In six years of use, none of the poppers have fallen off, the zippers still zip merrily and the Velcro patches on the cuffs continue to grip tenaciously.
Repairable without compromise
Despite heavy use, the outer shell of the jacket remains tear-free. This has surprised me because the outer feels flimsy compared to a laminated shell.
Should I ever take a tumble and tear the jacket, the outer can be repaired with a needle and thread without compromising the jacket’s waterproofing.
Laminated jackets must be repaired with glue-on patches or specialist tape. Speaking from experience, this can be a messy process, and one that is hard to do well.
As someone who values user repairability and likes a night on the ol’ Singer, this is a huge boon.
Bulky, but worth it
Though the jacket is light in the context of hardcore mountaineering jackets, it’s portly compared to a typical cycling jacket.
It weighs 680g for my size-medium jacket. For comparison, the Rapha Explore Pullover pictured above weighs 250g in the same size.
Weight aside, the jacket’s real downside is its bulk. Though it will (just) pack down into its kangaroo pocket, the jacket is still quite chunky.
This rules it out unless you ride without a sizeable bar or saddle bag.
The cuffs and other high-wear areas also get grubby from bodily oils and general wear quicker than a jacket with a hardy durable water-repellent (DWR) layer.
The Velez Light is also about as aerodynamic as a wheelie bin and puffs up like a nylon tangerine in a headwind – not one for go-fast road riding, then.
I generally turn to my Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Gore-Tex ShakeDry jacket for road riding in the rain.
For packability and weight, you cannot beat the best ShakeDry jackets. My Rapha jacket packs down to the size of a kiwi and is as light as a fart, but is also worryingly delicate.
Carrying a pump in my jersey pocket while wearing the jacket has worn small holes into its rear and I panic every time I see a bramble bush while wearing it.
With the Velez Adventure Light, I have no such worries.
High maintenance, high performance
Páramo jackets benefit from more regular washing and reproofing than a laminated waterproof jacket.
With no durable water-repellent (DWR) layer, they rely on regular reproofing to stop the outer from wetting out.
I’ve always used Nikwax Tech Wash detergent and TX Direct waterproofer, following the recommended instructions religiously.
The process of reproofing a jacket is easy, but the cost of regular treatment adds up. I recommend you buy in bulk because it works out a lot cheaper in the long run.
Páramo also offers a professional cleaning and reproofing service. My jacket looks pretty rank after years of wear, so I may consider this soon.
Dad-approved tech
As a final point, my dad is a seasoned mountaineer who spends a lot of time tramping around the dreich Scottish Highlands.
He’s also fussy and, in common with many men of his age, sometimes sceptical of new tech.
Despite all of this, he’s cast aside the clammy embrace of laminated waterproofs and made a wholesale move to Páramo kit, including the brand’s trousers.
He lauds the unparalleled breathability of the jackets and the dry feel when worn against bare skin.
He also uses Páramo kit when cycling, generally on his way up a glen to doss in his tent. His one request to Páramo? Please make the trousers less baggy.
The only jacket I need
The versatility, performance and comfort offered by my Velez Adventure Light is unparalleled.
While it’s not an ideal choice for road riding, it’s suitable for almost all other riding, as well as off-bike activities.
In a world where I am left with but one waterproof jacket, it would have to be the Velez Adventure Light.
