Do you know those times when you really need to leave the house, but when you peer through the window and the rain is horizontal?  Yeah, that’s when I grab my Páramo Halcon jacket.

There’s no getting away from the fact that at £330, the Halcon is an expensive investment, but I’ve had this jacket for 5 years now and first reviewed it back in 2012 when it was 12 months old, it was a great jacket back then, and it still is today.

As I’m often reminded by the Muddy Madam (aka Karen Lee), the Halcon will never win any fashion awards, but I don’t care.  Working alongside outdoor professionals, Páramo created the Halcon for the outdoor enthusiasts not the trendies amongst us.

With 9 deep pockets, the Halcon is incredibly practical and with articulated shoulders and sleeves for maximum movement, it’s comfortable and easy to wear too.  And that isn’t the best bit, because they use the soft yet tough Nikwax Analogy Waterproof fabric, it’s quiet and without the rustle that you can get with some waterproof jackets.

So it’s waterproof then?  Yup, it’s tested to resist at least 4 hours of steady rain back at the factory.

Is it warm? 

I’ll say so!  Thanks to the Nikwax Analogy fabric I’ve been known to just wear a base layer with it and I’ve been fine, even in cold, windy conditions.  If I get too hot then there’s some carefully thought out ventilation options so I don’t have to keep taking layers on and off.

What else is there, well, there’s a two way reversed zip with poppered internal storm flaps that offers good ventilation and internal access.  It has a fleece lined collar and a fully adjustable roll away hood which has wired peak

To regulate your temperature even further there’s upper arm vents too that help you keep your temperature under control and easily adjustable cuffs that allow them to be tightened or rolled up for cooling.  There’s also concealed waist and hem drawcord pulls that can be tightened using one hand

On the subject of comfort the Halcon has a reinforced shoulder construction and removable foam insert strips in the back for when I’m carrying a rucksack or my Kata 1N3 camera bag.  And weighing in at only 0.967Kg it’s lightweight and can be easily rolled up and stuffed in the top of my aforementioned Kata.

The Páramo Halcon jacket isn't just a normal waterproof and breathable jacket, it's technically supreme, amazingly comfortable, reassuringly dependable, and very practical. If I have only one complaint about the Halcon, it’s that it only comes in green!

Website:  www.paramo.co.uk

Price: £330.00