Páramo Torres Medio Gilet Review 2017/09/22
Having something lightweight and warm in your pack really makes the
difference between a comfortable day out on the hill and a day that
could see you getting cold and damp. This is a full review and a field
test of the Páramo Torres Medio Gilet.
Introduction
Having used a heavy woollen fleece on all of my recent trips I have
started to find it rather big and bulky to lug around all day, even
though it has many advantages; such as not melting when a spark from a
fire lands on it and being great in damp conditions. However changing
this for a modern high tech synthetic turned out to be very rewarding,
especially when walking longer distances.
Design
The Páramo Torres Medio Gilet is a 320g (average weight) synthetic
insulation piece with a 100g fill of Nikwax Analogy Insulator (a
synthetic insulation coated in a DWR*) The Torres Gilet features a
windproof outer fabric that is also treated with a DWR which helps shed
light rain and the finely woven face fabric helps cut the windchill.
Having both the face fabric and fill coated in a DWR helps keep the
gilet from staying damp with sweat or from rain for too long.
Fit and Use
The Páramo Torres Medio Gilet feels great on, its soft and smooth
against the skin and with the insulation having ‘down like’ qualities;
the Torres is light and fluffy to touch when worn. Packing down into
it’s internal pocket it ends up being similar in size to just under two
1 litre Nalgene bottles next to each other so it will easily be
swallowed by your rucksack. When you stop to have lunch or for a quick
rest on the trail you can grab this out your pack and whack it on. You
feel the benefit immediately as it keeps your core warm but allows for
great freedom of movement that comes only with a gilet. Its not super
warm, it’s only 100g of fill so its not suitable for full on colder days
but for fast and light in the mountains, forests and on rivers in chilly
conditions then its fantastic. The pockets are warm and soft on the
inside so you can keep your hands toasty and with the scooped tail
(meaning slightly longer) keeping your back warm it really makes a
difference having with you on the trail.
Conclusion
This Páramo Torres Medio Gilet is well worth a look at. I would
suggest popping into a Páramo store and trying one on. I really
like mine and wear it often.
