PÁRAMO MEN’S BENTU PLUS FLEECE £150 AND MEN’S BENTU WINDPROOF JACKET £110

Reviews by David Chandler

These relatively new additions to the ‘Naturally Páramo’ range can be used separately or combined. There are men’s and women’s versions.

The fleece

The BENTU PLUS is a “thick pile directional fleece” that “offers excellent insulation and is highly water repellent”. This is not just another fleece. It has a different feel to most fleeces: soft, cosy and very nice to wear. It’s heavier than you might expect (403g – but not a problem) and very well made. It also has a different finish – there’s a sheen on the fabric – brush it in a different direction and it becomes more matt. There’s a protective placket behind the two-way zip, a chin-guard to tuck the zip-pull into, semi-elasticated cuffs that allow you to pull the sleeves up for cooling, and a slightly scooped rear hem for a bit more protection.

This fleece didn’t restrict my movement. There are four pockets – a drop pocket inside, a chest pocket with a beautifully discrete vertical zip – both of which will take an OS map, and two zipped hand-warmers. I would like the latter to be a little bigger. Is it good at keeping water out? It kept out a downpour from a watering can, but it took a long time to dry.

The windproof jacket

At 420g this is a tad heavier than the fleece but feels lightweight and packs down small. It’s made from tightly-woven microfibre fabric with “pump liner” in the shoulders and hood and PFC-free water repellent to help keep the wet stuff out. It’s designed to protect you from showers and the wind when it’s not too cold. It doesn’t feel tough enough to cope with pushing through scrub survey work, but most of us don’t do that. It’s well made and good to wear, has a scooped rear, the hem can be cinched in for more protection, freedom of movement is good and the velco adjustable cuffs enable the sleeves to be pushed up.

Like the fleece it has a two-way zip and four pockets. These are all external and zipped – two hand-warmers, and two verticallyzipped chest pockets. Warm lining in the hand-warmers would be nice, but this is a lightweight jacket. The OS map-sized chest pockets were particularly useful – good for a phone or notebook, and their zips worked very well. The hood’s good – it’s adjustable and has a wired peak. This jacket isn’t silent but I didn’t find any fabric noise a problem. There are four colours for men and three for women. Men’s moss is the only one without small reflective patches – it’s aimed at people like us.

The double act

When the temperature drops the two in combination provide “waterproof protection in very wet and windy weather”. They don’t zip together – that’s just so you know, it’s not a criticism. I walked for 45 minutes or more in moderate rain after a harrier roost survey (we had recorded 16 Marsh Harriers coming to roost). This combo kept the rain out.

These are quality garments and a versatile combo that could be good for travelling as well as working well in this country. For something a little cooler try the Bentu rather than the Bentu Plus Fleece. Bentu Plus Fleece available in midnight or dark grey, S-XXL. Windproof in various colours, S-XXL. Nikwax products recommended for cleaning and reproofing. Páramo have laudable ethics. See: paramo-clothing.com