Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Frogg Toggs Pro Sport Suit > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report

Frogg Toggs Pro Sport Suit - Initial Report

Name: Shandra Hunt

Age: 25

Gender: female

Height: 5' 3"(1.6 m)

Weight: 145 lbs.(66 kg)

Location: Ben Lomond,California

Email:jns170@yahoo.com

Date:4/25/04

Biography:

            Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, I have always been an avid hiker and camper.  Only recently however, I have evolved into a backpacker. I started backpacking about two years ago. Since then I have done many trips throughout California and I also spent five days packing in the Grand Canyon which fueled my love for the sport even more. I try to backpack as often as possible, I think I may be addicted, and I am constantly looking for more efficient and lightweight alternatives for the gear that I own.

Product Information:

URL:www.froggtoggs.com

Manufacturer: frogg toggs outerwear

Measured weight: (Parka and pants combined) 15.5 oz (439 g)

MSRP: $84.95 (U.S.)

Fabric: Polypropylene

Size: Medium

Color: Blue

Initial Description:

         I recieved this suit via UPS ground on April 22, 2004. Upon opening the box which has a shipping weight of 2 lbs (.91 kg), I was pleasantly surprised. I found the contents of the box to be intact, undamaged and packaged very nicely. Frogg Toggs has a very nice, quality catalog that they included along with a stuff sack for the rainsuit, which measures 14 in.(35.6 cm) long and about 21 in.(53 cm) in diameter. The company sent along a bonus, one of their Chilly pad sports towels, which is a very cool item.

            When I opened the rainsuit, I was surprised by the fabric that it is made from. When I viewed this product on the website, it was hard to tell what the fabric would be like. The rainsuits that I have had in the past have been a plastic type material, which is what I was expecting. The Frogg Toggs Pro Sport suit is a very different sort of fabric, the polypropylene is sort of crinkly but also somewhat soft at the same time. In my opinion, this fabric doesn't look like it could be waterproof at all!  I had researched this suit on the company's website but I found it to be far better than I had expected. Upon first inspection, there seem to be no defects and the suit looks well made.  I, of course, had to immediately try it on. The full length parka is a little long on me but the arm length fits well. The parka is large enough that I can fit any type of clothing underneath, even a large jacket.

            I tried the pants on over a pair of baggy jeans and had no problem with the fit in the waist. I have short legs, a 29 in.(74 cm) inseam, and always have a hard time finding pants the right length. These pants are a little too long but I found that by rolling them over once, which is how I have to wear the pants from my current rainsuit, that the length is not a problem.

Product Description:

         The Frogg Toggs Pro Sport suit is guaranteed by the company to be "waterproof, windproof, and breathable". The Pro Sport suit is made from three-ply polypropylene fabric that is suppossed to be waterproof and breathable. The seams are ultrasonically welded for added strength and wateproofness. This suit is ultra lightweight at only 11.5 oz. (326 g) and designed to provide "unrestricted movement and comfort."

The Parka:

            The full length parka has several nice features. The parka has a large hood with a 2 in. (5 cm) front bill and a drawstring closure. There are two exterior side pockets. These pockets are about 10 in.(25 cm) wide and 6-8 in. (15-20 cm) deep. The pockets have zippers that are covered with a flap and secured by velcro. The pockets are hard to access so far, the velcro on the flaps is very strong and the edges are sewn, which makes the zipper hard to access. I will see if the velcro loosens up over time. The front of the parka also has a zipper with a velcro secured flap, again the velcro here is a little tough to open.. The bottom of the parka has a barrel lock waist drawstring  to cinch in the waist and the wrists have a 1 in.(2.5 cm) elastic band cuff. The arms of the parka are not stitched on but rather "ultrasonically welded". The rest of the parka, the zippers, pockets, hood, etc., are all straight stitched seams.

The Pants:

            The pants have a straight cut design and really fit nicely. The waist has an elastic band that is a little over an inch (2.5 cm) thick and also has a drawstring with a barrel pull closure.. Unfortunately there are no pockets in these pants, which is something I prefer. The bottom of the pants features a 10 in. (25 cm) velcro side slit for easy on and off over shoes. The ankle width is adustable with another 1 in. (2.5 cm) velcro strap at the outside of the pant leg. The velcro and waistband are the only part of the pants that are stitched, while the rest of the fabric is "ultrasonically welded".

Test Plan:

         My main goal for testing this rainsuit, would obviously be to use it in the rain to test for its waterproofness. I expect to be backpacking and hiking in this suit and will be testing the breathability of the polypropylene. I have hiked in rainsuits that left me wetter on the inside than it was outside, so the breathability of this suit is very important to me. I also will test this suit as a windbreaker and bug protection. When I first tried this suit on, it was a cool, windy evening and I immediately felt warm when I put it on. I would like to test this suit in different temperatures, to test its breathability and also to test its warmth. I will be backpacking in the Utah desert at the end of June and I expect to experience a wide range of hot and cold temperatures along with rainstorms. This suit will be my main protection from the elements on this trip. I will also be backpacking in the Sierra Mountains in late May, where I expect rain, wind and bugs. I have several other trips to coastal and mountain areas planned and will be taking this suit with me on all of them.

            In addition to testing this suit for its waterproofness and breathability, I will be testing the strength and overall durability of this suit. I will be testing the durability of the polypropylene fabric, the strength of the stitching on the suit and also the strength of the "ultrasonically welded seams". The velcro straps on the various parts of this suit are another main concern for me. I find that they are really hard to use because the velcro is very strong. I hope that they will loosen through use and be a little easier to use.

            This looks like a really nice piece of gear to include into my setup. I look forward to testing this suit and I hope that all of the manufacturer's claims prove true through my testing.

Reviews > Rain Gear > Jackets and Pants > Frogg Toggs Pro Sport Suit > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report