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

Frogg Toggs Pro Sport Suit - Long Term Report

Name: Shandra Hunt

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 3"(1.6 m)

Weight: 145 lbs.(66 kg)

Location: Ben Lomond,California

Email:jns170@yahoo.com

Date:10/24/04

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

Testing:

I have had the opportunity to test the Frogg Toggs Pro Sport suit on many occasions. When I first received the rain suit, I did an initial test in my yard under the sprinkler. I had several concerns after my initial test about the fit of the parka hood, which I have found to be an on going problem. The parka hood is hard to keep in place each time I have tried to use it. When I pull the drawstrings the hood bunches up, which causes water to leak down the front. If I don't pull the drawstrings the hood doesn't stay up at all!

My first true test of the Frogg Toggs rain suit was hiking through a raging waterfall at Hetch Hetchy Valley, in Yosemite National Park. This was an experience that was similar to having buckets of water tossed on me. I had the same problem with the hood and also had leaky cuffs. The bugs were pretty bad on the trip and I found that the Sport suit works very well as a bug shield. I had a great opportunity to test the Sport suit during a desert rainstorm on a ten day trip that I took to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, in Utah. I had the same problems on this trip with the hood and cuffs leaking. The Pro Sport suit served as a great wind breaker and an added warmth layer when the temperatures dropped and the wind came up unexpectedly.

Two weeks ago was the beginning of the first major fall rainstorms where I live. It rained 8in (20cm) in a week. I was concerned after I accidentally dried the Sport suit in the dryer, that it would not be as waterproof as it was before. This was not the case. I went on an overnight backpacking trip to Castle Rock State Park. As the recent storm started this suit kept me dry, except for that hood thing again. I hiked with the Frogg Toggs pants on over a pair of cargo pants. Even though I have to roll the waist over because the pants are a little too long, I found them to be comfortable, even with my pack on. One of the problems I have had with previous rain pants is that they do not breath when I hike with them on. I was impressed with how well the Frogg Toggs pants breathed. The only place my pants underneath were wet was on the knees, which were continuously in contact with the fabric of the Sport suit pants.

Since it has been raining on and off where I live for the last couple of weeks, I have been using the parka when I go out. I have not worn the pants for everyday use because it takes some work to get them on and off over regular pants. The Velcro straps on the pants and the parka are very strong, which makes them hard to use. I was concerned that the Velcro might be a problem when I first received the Sport suit. I was hoping that with time the Velcro would relax and become easier to undo. This is not the case. Not only is the Velcro still hard to undo, the velcro on the flap that covers the parka zipper sticks to the fabric. This makes the flap that covers the zipper useless without a lot of hard work to unstick it. I see this as a major problem when trying to put this suit on quickly, both for the parka and the pants.

Overall; I like the Frogg Toggs Pro Sport suit, it is very light and easily packable, both of which are important for backpacking. Aside from the previously mentioned problem with the fit of the hood, the Sport suit has kept me dry in many different types and intensities of rain. It is comfortable to hike in the Sport suit, it fits well over a variety of clothing and breathes well. This suit is durable, even after it was mistakenly dried in the dryer. I have hiked through thick, dense brush and rocky terrain with this suit and I have not noticed any rips, tears, or frayed edges. The zippers work well, although the zippers on the pockets are hard to use because the Velcro flaps over the pockets are too strong. There have been several times that I have used this suit when it was not raining. The Pro Sport suit serves as a great bug shield, wind breaker and an added warmth layer. I think this is a versatile piece of gear not only for backpacking but for everyday use.

Good Things:

> Lightweight and easily packable

> Breathes well

> Provides a good bug barrier

> Adds extra warmth

> Dries quickly

Bad Things:

> Hood and wrist cuffs leak

> Hood doesn't stay on very well

> Velcro is hard to use and sticks to fabric

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