Originally Posted by
Bekologist
Paramo? like old Buffalo Pile?
not a chance.
Buffalo is "you get wet, but stay warm" while Paramo is "you don't get wet". So completely unlike. (Your reply is a bit weird - it implies that you know what Buffalo does, but if so you couldn't possibly confuse it with Paramo from the description I gave. I suspect that you have a bit of a Walter Mitty relationship with your hiking clothes catalog...)
and pertex treating it with Nikwax? would not perform like Epic fabric.
And you know this because...?
Black Diamond makes tents out of Epic fabrics, haven't heard of a pertex tent yet.
And if you were the expert that you imagine yourself to be, then this would really mean something.
seriously, anyone looking for an amazing near universal storm gear, try an Epic encapsulated shell like the "wind"Shells from Wild Things.
Epic has a reputation for being ok in light conditions, but not really the thing when it gets heavy -
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/f...N=8549&SP=&V=8
I wear epic fabric mountain bike trousers in the winter, it's a nice breathable-ish windproof fabric, but it isn't that water resistant, it seems to be that once the water starts to come through it just keeps coming and doesn't want to go out again.
It's odd stuff.
Pertex is much better in the same situation.
eVENT is waterproof and dead breathable.
- by comparison Paramo is the favourite choice of mountain rescue teams in the UK, where windchill and very heavy rain combine to produce some of the most dangerous wet weather in the world. In the US Army clothing system the Epic shell is reserved for moderate conditions and a goretex one substituted for anything else. Something a Paramo Velez will handle both roles with ease.