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Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suit > Owner Review by Pamela Wyant

Owner Review:  Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suit

 

Owner Information:
 
Name:  Pam Wyant
Age:  47
Gender:  Female
Height:  5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Weight:  165 lb (77 kg)
E-mail address:  pamwyant@yahoo.com
Location:  Western West Virginia, U.S.A.
Date:  February 19, 2005

Backpacking Background: 

Last year I acted on my long time interest in backpacking, and started day hiking, researching backpacking products and techniques, and purchasing gear.  I took a few overnight trips, including one solo.  I currently day hike often, am planning several overnight and weekend trips this year, and hope to take a weeklong trip and do a winter overnight.  I hike and backpack mainly in the hills and valleys of West Virginia, and use a hammock sleeping system.  For a two-day trip my pack typically weighs 22-30 pounds (10-14 kg), which I am working on lightening.

Frogg Toggs jacketProduct Information:

Manufacturer:  Frogg Toggs
Year of manufacture:  2004
Manufacturer Website: http://www.froggtoggs.com/
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price:  $74.95 U.S.
Size:  XL
Listed weight:  not given
Actual weight:  jacket 10 oz (283 g), pants 7 oz (198 g)
Fabric:  patented 3-layer microporous polypropylene

 

Product Description:

The jacket features a hood with a draw cord around the face that can be tightened by a cord lock on each side.  The hood rolls and tucks into a zippered collar.  There are two front hand warmer style pockets that fasten with a snap, a storm flap with snaps that fasten over the front zippered opening, and elastic at the sleeve cuffs and bottom of the jacket to keep it snug.  The only seams in the jacket are at the collar and sleeves, and these are not taped.  The pants feature snap closure pocket style slits, but with no actual pockets, so the wearer can access the front pockets of pants worn underneath.  The pants also have an elastic waist, elastic at the bottom of the pants legs, and an 8 in (20 cm) long zipper at the bottom of each pant leg.  There are no seams on the outside of the pants legs.  The front and rear seams on the stomach and buttocks area and the seam on the inside of the pants legs are taped. 

Frogg Toggs PantsThe fabric has a papery feel to it on the outside.  The inside of the fabric feels similar, but with a very slight feel of a membrane coating.  A label inside the pants provides laundering instructions to hand or machine wash in cold water and to drip dry only.  The label warns not to heat dry or dry-clean, to avoid open flames or other ignition sources, and that oil or alcohol based products cause permanent stains.

The manufacturer guarantees the product to be waterproof, windproof, and breathable, and provides contact phone numbers and names of staff members, as well as an e-mail address on their website.


Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suits are available in a variety of colors.  Mine is a mottled charcoal gray color, which I like due to its muted appearance.  The jacket and pants can be rolled together into a cylinder approximately 7 x 12 in (18 x 30 cm) for storage in my pack.

 

Field Conditions:

I have used my Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suit for approximately eleven months in a variety of temperatures, ranging from approximately 40 to 80 F (4 to 27 C), on day hikes, backpacking overnights, day events, and camping.  Terrain has varied from nearly level to steep, but walkable; trail widths from single file paths to wider fire roads; and surfaces from grassy fields to rocky ridges.  I usually stay on established trails and do not do much bushwhacking, especially in rainy conditions.  The longest use so far was a 14-mile (23 km) trip on the Greenbrier River Trail, with near solid rain and temperatures in the 40 F (4 C) range for the first day of approximately 7 miles (11 km).

 

Frogg Toggs DetailsField Use:

Although at first the papery feel of the fabric made me doubt its ability to shed water, my doubts were soon overcome.  I have found the manufacturer’s claim of waterproof, windproof breathability to be accurate.  Rain has never penetrated the fabric during the numerous times I have worn the rain suit, and I do not overheat as much in the Frogg Toggs as I have in polyurethane rain suits.  The Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suit also blocks the wind, and adds a bit of warmth, so I’ve also found it useful even when it’s not raining.  When hiking and backpacking in wet windy conditions with temperatures around 45 F (7 C), I have stayed warm enough with only a lightweight base layer underneath.  I have found that if I expect rain and temperatures 60 F (16 C) and under, I feel most comfortable wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants under the Frogg Toggs.  One the one occasion that I wore only short sleeves in the rain with temperatures 60 F (16 C), my arms felt cold and clammy where they were in direct contact with the fabric.  The only other time I have felt uncomfortable wearing the Frogg Toggs was during a light rain shower on a warm, humid summer day, during which I ended up taking the jacket off and holding it over my head for rain protection with more ventilation, as I was feeling very hot with it on.  In most conditions, however the fabric seems to keep me quite comfortable, leading me to conclude it is fairly breathable.

So far, even after nearly a year of use, my Frogg Toggs have held up well.  I have experienced no rips or tears.  The only sign of use that is visible is a slight “fuzzy” appearance to the fabric where some small fibers have pilled.  I have been very careful to make sure my rain suit is completely dry before storing it after use.  This usually involves re-arranging the way the jacket and pants hang a few times, because any where the fabric is folded together (such as under the sleeves), it does not dry well.

Summary:

My Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suit fits me very loosely, being larger than the size recommended for my size and height according to the manufacturer’s web site.  Although the jacket won’t fit over my backpack when hiking, I have found it will fit over my daypack, a 2400 cu in (39 L) model measuring approximately 19 x 14 x 7 in (51 x 36 x 18 cm), and keep it protected from rain.  I have found the rain suit very comfortable, and would definitely consider purchasing Frogg Toggs if I need new rain gear in the future.
 
Even in the extra large size, the entire suit is light enough that I don’t mind taking it along on any hike or backpacking trip.  The packed size is reasonably small, and while it is bulkier than ponchos I have owned, it provides much better coverage.  When significant rain is expected, it’s become my favorite rain gear due to its light weight.

 
Frogg Toggs rolled

Things I like:

Totally waterproof
Light weight
Comfortable
Reasonably priced
 
Things I don’t like:
Pilling of fabric
Can be clammy when touching exposed skin in cooler temperatures
When wet, overlapping fabric doesn’t dry easily


Read more reviews of Frogg Toggs gear
Read more gear reviews by Pamela Wyant

Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Frogg Toggs Pro Action Suit > Owner Review by Pamela Wyant



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