Long-term tests

Paramo Women’s Ventura Jacket £375

The truth about waterproof jackets is that one size doesn’t fit all. For heavy and prolonged rain, Gore-Tex Pro is my personal preferred option, but for freezing cold winter days with a chance of every kind of weather, it’s hard to beat the Paramo Ventura. It has been tested to withstand at least 4 hours of heavy rain, but it’s a warmer, heavier, waterproof jacket than your average hard shell and more akin to a soft shell. There are stretchy panels and a comfy athletic cut, which allows exceptional movement in the arms and body. There is no insulating filling but the combination of an extra layer of honeycombed fabric provides insulation, with the trusted directional moisture management of the waterproof Nikwax Analogy outer layers that keep you dry from sweat as well as rain. One of my favourite things about this jacket though is the hood. It is voluminous and perfectly adjustable to easily contain my ponytail (or a helmet) while maintaining peripheral vision and freedom of movement, and with its substantial peak it provides great protection against the elements.

Verdict

The Ventura is an awesome jacket for comfort and performance in cold mountain weather.

USED BY Jenna Maryniak, Trail deputy editor USED FOR 3 years