Re: [Philmont]:  rain suits

My 2 Canadian Cents worth.

I owned a very early version of the FrogTogs and the pants ripped out on
brush the first time I wore them and the rain jacket accumulated many tears and
the zipper ripped after about a year. I felt they were OK since I bought them
on a closeout rack at Target for about $8 each.
I own a Marmot Precip suit and my son has a RedLedge thunderlight suit. My
Marmot is 3 years old and still ging strong. I also have a heavier goretex
suit (Jacket from Mntn Hrdwre $180 on sale, and pants from North Face $3 at
Goodwill!) which would cost about $350 if I had paid full price. I use the
heavier suit for winter camping in NC and points north. I would take that out
west if I got the chance to go during the edge of winter. My wife and older
son each have a Huntstein (Omnitech) by Columbia, which they really like, and
have used them for about five years with one small tear from a broken canoe
seat which would have ripped just about anything.
Last summer I went with groups to NT (Bissett) and Philmont. Most of the
Scouts/Scouters had Precips or thunderlights. they worked very well and both
serve nicely as wind breakers as well as good durable rain gear.
The new Frogs look a little more substantial than the old pair I had but
still WAY short of the Marmot and RdeLedge products. I don't have the exact
weights at hand but the precip and thunderlight are neither very heavy and they
are not very expenxive. I would suggest you shop both of these before buying
a suit and if you still want the Frogs - great!
Remember - feather weight igear s usually designed for someone who really
knows how to take care of their gear. The Frogs strike me (at least the old set
I had) as almost being "disposable" and I don't think that is a good way to
teach boys to take care of their gear. they are more substantial now and also
more expensive so that is not the attraction it was.
This spring/summer I am taking high adventure groups going to bakcpack the
Grand Canyon in March, to Puerto Rico to backpack in the rain forest in June and
we have a July troop slot at Philmont. I am recommending Thunderlights and
Precips for all the Trekers who ask my advice.

Having said all that - if I find a set of Frogs CHEAP then I migh pick them
up to use with my ultralight summer kit (<10 lbs for all but food/water) I am
assembling to try out next year.

So much gear - so little time!!!!
Don Hall
Scoutmaster, Troop 8
Southwest FL Council
Bradenton, FL
941-758-1583

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Received on Thu Dec 11 07:38:34 2003