[Philmont]: To rain suit, poncho or Frogg Togg it

Ahhhhhhhhhh! What a better place to be controversial than the rain wear issue!!!!!
 
First let me state that I love rain. I love walking in the rain, working in the rain and on and on and on.
 
In 1959, I used my official BSA rain poncho. It was a durable piece of equipment made similar to the U S Army poncho, only on a smaller size. It worked well and during the protocal in those days of cookign over open fires, was even more useful than rain pants and jackets. I would hot have wanted differently then.
 
However times have changed and it's been a long time since meals were cooked over an open fire at Philmont. Fact is there are no Rangers working there that have taught crews how to cook cobbler in dutch ovens dure to fire bans the last several years. Times do change.
 
I have and still use on occasion my Army poncho issued to me in 1967 courtesy of Uncle Sam. It still has it's place. Remember that ponchos are good for hundreds of uses, none of which is to keep you completely dry in the rain. Still, under the right conditions it is my raingear of choice.
 
But not at Philmont.
 
Frogg Toggs. To cut this short, for the price paid, I don't think you get your money's worth with them. Yes, they are light, yes they are sort of breathable and yes they tear quite easily. And yes they are repairable with duct tape. So is rotten pajamas that need throwing away.
 
I feel that if the features you like in rain gear point to Frogg Toggs, then for about half the price you can get twice the quality in an economical coated nylon rain suit.
 
Look in the Campmor catalog.
 
In 2002 I took a Gore Tex rain suit and I'm not sorry I did. Wore the top every morning and evening for warmth. Wore the pants anytime long pants were needed. They did all I asked of them and more. By the way, I don't do spar poles. Gave that up for lent many moons ago. The crew member that swore by their Frogg Toggs is on his third set.
 
That means that as of now he's shelled out a lot more bucks on Frogg Toggs and replacements than I have on my Browning Gore Tex and it's still "taking a licking and keeps on ticking".
 
I work outdoors for a company that furnishes our rain gear. Most workers there think I'm stupid for buying my own rain gear when the company furnishes those yellow slicker suits. Then there are the two other guys who wear Gore Tex like me. We just smile when we hear the others rhetoric as we "walk on by" warm and dry hour after hour after hour.
 
At Philmont, specifically at Apache Springs during the cold rain, sleet, hail that lasted over three hours, I would not have wanted anything else other than what I was wearing (Gore Tex) while I spent every minute of the storm walking around in it while the Frogg Toggers tried to dry and tape their ripped Toggs in their tent. They missed a lot of enjoyment in my opinion, but I'm sure they too think I'm nuts to be out walking in the rain.
 
To each their own.
 
But why go to Philmont if you are going to sit indoors (inside tents is indoors) during a rainstorm?
 
I rest my case.
 
John LeBlanc
Philmont 1959 & 2002

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Received on Wed Dec 10 14:57:11 2003