Páramo

	"For many years I have been exploring the mountains of Greece on horseback. During the last few years I have made four long expeditions, culminating in the last ride, which was over 1000 miles long. In spite of the reputation that Greece has as a tourist destination, the mountains and border areas are the wildest and least known in Europe. The weather conditions are extremely harsh. Waterproof clothing designed specifically for the horsey set is often somewhat heavy (keeping one's weight really low is not a factor in every day riding) or is 'shower proof' or ‘windproof’ and is sweaty if it is waterproof. In the end I saw one of the Páramo jackets in a shop with a tap running water over it. This helped me make the decision to buy one of your jackets, even though it is not cut to accommodate sitting on a saddle. I bought a jacket that was too big, so that I could let it go over the back of the saddle without having to sit on the lower seam. I was thus also able, when walking, to carry a small rucksack under the jacket instead of over. Since I have very long arms I didn't have a problem with the arms being too long, and anyway I often let the sleeves cover my hands to protect them from wind and rain. I must say that the jacket never let me down ever. I have used it on three one-month trips and one three-month trip since then. Since I normally sleep outside, but do not carry a tent, it was invaluable in its second use as a tarpaulin... It is very unpleasant to ride on a cold wet saddle, and although my saddle is synthetic, I covered it along with one or two saddlebags with the jacket at night. This kept it from being soaked by rain or dew, and lessened the time I had to spend drying things in the morning before I set off. The jacket itself dried VERY quickly, even if I had managed to get it wet inside as well as outside. On my fourth expedition I travelled constantly for three months. Obviously I was not able to treat it with Nikwax during this time. By the end, though it was very obviously in great need of reproofing, it still managed to protect me up to the last day, when torrential rain was followed by fog, followed by freezing fog followed by a heavy ground frost. I do not think that ANY other waterproof could have stood up to this. I had the additional problem that the area from my waist to my knees was constantly and continually being abraded by my saddlebags, and knees, and was being used with the zip open from below to allow me to sit in the saddle, which put a lot of strain on the zip, which is still perfect. Another test that the jacket passed with flying colours was the ‘screw up then squash’ test.. When it wasn't being worn it had to be packed up really small to get in my saddlebags. I must say that the wired peak in the hood didn’t take too kindly to this, though you could bend it back into roughly the right shape. Riding jackets are designed to protect your knees while riding and have a system so that you can strap the part across the knees which holds it in place and offers greater protection to the knees, but my Páramo did pretty damn well without this. In addition I constantly used it as a groundsheet for sitting down to eat lunch etc. It shook off the mud easily, and never looked half as scruffy as one might expect. Sometimes it was damp for days on end and it never even tried to go mouldy or smelly (unlike my socks and feet). Do use my letter to endorse your product if you want, I was very pleased with it. Thankyou, for the protection over seven very tough months."

	Penny Turner