Paramo Directional Clothing Systems Halcon Traveller Rugged Travel Jacket

If you like a little room then order a size up but I think you'll find the sleeves long if you do

Size issue, I bought this thinking that I would order it going on my previous clothing from this company. Alas it was too small. I was devastated because these really are class Sport/Leisure clothing producers.

I purchased the Halcon Traveller jacket for summer wear. I wanted something that was light-weight primarily. A jacket that didn't need to be treated with care and would look OK with a few creases and travel stains!The Paramo Traveller jacket fitted the bill. I didn't really need so many pockets, but most were hidden anyway and it turns out they are really handy.I'm on the small and slight side and found the xs size to be just about right. I can see that sizing might be small on a normal size 'small' person though, so you may have to take a punt / try one on in a shop to satisfy yourself.The pockets are all good sizes. The external ones are fairly traditional but do include a couple of mini pockets for sun glasses, pens and a multitool. The hand warmer pockets are hidden behind the bottom front pockets and don't have any fastenings. Of course, if you use them for sticking your hands in then that's perfect, just don't put your valuables in them. The other pockets are all secured; either with zips or elastic (in the case of the two internal pouches. The only thing that does concern me is the material used as pocket linings on all except the external ones. Paramo have used a porous cargo-type netting material which, presumably keeps weight down and reduces insulation on those long hot summer days. Although the gaps in the material are small you may lose very small items through them. More of a concern for me though is how long will the material last? It looks very light-weight and doesn’t feel robust. I expect that it's tougher than it looks though as one of the promotional videos from Paramo have someone stowing their camera lenses and other bulky / heavy items in them!I have put the odd lens in the internal pockets of this jacket and it does seem to support them well. I was surprised that I didn't experience the weight and pendulum movement when weighted down and the jacket zipped up. Although I've only put one lens in the inside pocket for a short time, so it isn't really a good test to make any judgements.The outer material is very thin. It's definitely a summer / warm weather jacket. It has a rip-stop construction, so I'm sure it will survive the odd accident. I expect any repairs would be easy to undertake too (Paramo have an excellent repair service). What the material is not is waterproof; not even slightly. That's how it's designed though. If you read Paramo's own website and description on the labels then you might be lead to believe that you can add some water repellancy to this jacket. Trust me, you can't. I tried with their Cotton Proof (twice) and, although you get some initial beading with a very fine mist of water spray, the material rapidly wets out. The only reason you might want to treat the jacket would be to reduce stains, but it's a summer jacket and not a substitute for a waterproof.Overall, it's a really well thought out garment. I hope that it lasts longer than the light-weight material suggests. They do have a newer version now, with some refinements, but the original version is still very much worth looking at (and can be much cheaper).

NOT purchased from Amazon. As already stated, the sizing of these jackets is on the small side, although the arms are cut very long. Be aware of this if you are ordering online. I bought a size larger than usual and it is just large enough.The jacket itself is very nicely made with good quality zips and more pockets than you know what to do with. A comfortable and classy looking cotton fabric is used but as supplied this has ZERO water resistance and will soak up water like a sponge. In the modern era of technical waterproofing and nano-coatings, I find it disappointing that for UK use you have to proof the jacket before it is of any use.