Be careful with Nikwax technology. It's not a membrane, so even if it works as advertised, it will not work in all situations. For example, if you sit on a wet chair, Analogy fabric should soak through. The "technical" stuff on Paramo website is a prime example of the BS clothing companies push on the customers. There is nearly zero techncial information there, just uninformative marketing fluff.
I agree about info on a company website, but there are plenty of tests and reviews by knowledgeable outdoors people, including Steve Townsend, who, as a Scott, certainly know wet weather! (
Article)
I own a pair of pants and jacket with the Nikwax Analogy Fabric (made by
Cioch-Direct, not Paramo, since they make custom garments, which is the only way I get the fit I want). I have had it for several years now.
They have kept me dry from rain even in thunderstorms. You are right though, when sitting or kneeling on wet surfaces it does soak through. My pants have reenforcements on the butt and knees, made of a lightly coated fabric, to help slow down the soak through.
I have considered replacing those patches with GTX.
It's important to remember that popular softshell pants, as well as many WPB fabrics with low hydrostatic head (<10,000mm) will also soak through on these pressure points. My daughters demonstrate his every winter, with their waterproof snow pants.
I certainly agree that it you regularly encounter wet chairlifts etc, I would choose a more waterproof pair of pants, especially since legs don't sweat quite as much as torsos, but for jackets, it's hard to imagine a situation where it isn't the most comfortable fabric.
Without any coating or lamination, the fabric hand is soft, supple and silent. it provides light insulation like a fleece lined soft-shell, but has a smooth inner surface that slides well over layers. Air permeability and breathability are unsurpassed, and if, in very cold or very wet conditions, you start to have condensation forming liquid water inside your clothing, it will still move that outwards. It's also still works even with small holes in it and doesn't need to be taped, so if you rip it on trees or something like that, you can simply sew it up and you are good to go.