Characteristics
A factor of the two-fabric system is that it inevitably adds insulation, due to the requirement of the inner "pump" liner: being a fur substitute with a definite and designed structure it traps air as well as channeling water, which has an insulating effect. While this can be useful in cooler conditions it is less suitable for higher temperature and/or high activity conditions where overheating is more of a problem than an alternative which provides less insulation. Adding venting features to garments helps address this problem, but it is only a partial solution.
Clothes made from Analogy can also be heavy compared to many examples of waterproof "hard shells" (but not necessarily to the combined weight of these and an insulating layer) and are relatively expensive. Though the veracity of this may depend on the system it's compared to, as for many applications it means that less overall items need to be carried, potentially reducing the total garment count and expenditure. The weight issue has been addressed by the production of Nikwax Analogy Light which uses a lighter windproof outer with the same Pump Liner fabric, resulting in garments that are 19-20% lighter than the same style made in standard Analogy fabric. Examples of these are the Velez Adventure Light Smock, the Quito Jacket, the Vista Jacket and the Velez Adventure Trousers.
The high "breathability" of the system makes it more suitable than conventional "hard shell" waterproofs for general use, as opposed to only being used in foul weather. This can offset the extra weight of the system, as extra garments for different conditions are less likely to be required.
Read more about this topic: Nikwax Analogy