Did you know that we are one of the few independent Paramo stockists near London?

Yep, it's true. In fact we are the closest store just outside London to stock Paramo jackets, pull ons, and waterproof trousers.



We are based between Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted, around 30 miles and a 45 minute drive from central London.

So if you're based in Luton, Aylesbury, North London, Watford, come and see us for all your Paramo gear. 

Down jackets are great pieces of outdoor clothing. They are ideal for cold and dry days, but are generally not be suitable for wear in heavy rain.

A down filled jacket is insulated with the soft feathers from duck or geese. Down is a fantastic insulator as the down (mix of feathers together) creates loads of tiny air pockets which trap warm air and retain heat, thus keeping the wearer toasty warm.

HOW TO WEAR A DOWN JACKET

This may seem like a silly question to many of you, but the reason for this post is because we've seen some outrageous uses of down jackets over the last few weeks, so we thought we'd help answer the question - how do you wear a down jacket?

Here are a few important down jacket rules to live by:

1) DO NOT Wear In The Rain - Many down jackets will have a water resistant outer layer but the majority are not rain resistant. You may think the jacket is keeping you dry, but in reality all that is happening is that the moisture is seeping through to the down filling. Moisture within the down means the jacket loses its insulation ability. In addition, the down jacket will take a long time to dry out when wet!

2) Don't Store Your Down Jacket Compressed - Down jackets are generally quite lightweight and ideal for travelling as they compress well and pack down small. Down also has a high resilience after being compressed, so once unpacked it will regain its shape quickly. That said, keep it stored compressed and packed means that the down jacket may lose its insulating ability gradually over time.

3) Do Not Use In Abrasive Environments - This may be a weird comment, but what we mean is the outer layer of a typical down jacket is not hard wearing. The fabric shells usually have ripstop technology, but if you brush past a jagged wall or building too quickly, the fabric can rip and you may lose some down filling.

Many people think that down jackets are more functional than fashionable, and they would be right, but a nice dark grey or black down jacket will go with any outfit, whether you're out for a country walk, or if you'e rambling to the pub on a cold Sunday afternoon.

We've got quite a few down jackets in stock - take a peek at the selection of men's and women's below.

MENS DOWN JACKETS

     

WOMENS DOWN JACKETS

     

Do you have any other tips on how to wear a down jacket? If so, let us know in the comments below! :)