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Goby
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quote Jackfish: "Cabelas and Gander Mountain used to have a set of rain gear called Packable Nylon Rain Gear. The jacket (lined) was about $40 and the pants (unlined) were about $20. They were quite serviceable and my son and I wore them for several years before finally investing in Marmot PreCip. We wore them while backpacking and on canoe trips and they kept us dry without material failure.
Neither company offers that exact product any longer, but they have others in a similar price range. Before looking into Frogg Toggs, I would encourage you to at least take a look at some of the coated nylon rain gear options. They're surprisingly good (and durable) for the money."
My dad and I used that same rain gear until got older and bought myself goretex packable rain gear. They worked well enough and were tough enough for multiple seasons. We would spray Camp Dry on them at the beginning of each year and that kept us dry.
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brotherbob1958
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Right about this time of year Scheels usually runs a sale on Frogg Toggs, usually $30, on sale for $20. They are a good cheap rain gear for the bwca, especially if your still growing.
Just remember to stay away from an open flame, I have had a couple pair that haven't made a whole trip thanks to be to close to the fire.
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gkimball
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On my fifth year with my first pair if Frogg Toggs. I have had no problems with loss of water proof function at wear points. That said, I am careful with them, but have had issues with other rain gear too. I have been very pleased with them, especially considering the price and weight.
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DrBobDerrig
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My wife got me set of the generic frog togs... Green rather than blue color. I use the bibs and regular jacket. I confess that I don't take these out in cold serious weather but for summer time I like them a lot. The bibs are getting fuzzy in the seat area and I will replace this spring. I am sure I could tear them up if I was rough on them. I will keep going with them.... I don't use them enough to really spend the big bucks like someone who spends a lot of time in the would and wants something 100% dependable.
dr bob
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KevinL
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I guess that I have been lucky with the Frogg Toggs that I have bought. I have found them to breath well and keep me dry when I have used them. My son is a big boy and has used them more than me for over five years. While Ethan has torn them, a quick piece of duct tape and back at it. The tears have come from snagging, not blowing out. He uses both a coat and the bibs and is not easy on clothing at all. As a matter of fact he made the comment that wishes blue jeans would hold up as well as those bibs. We had to start buying him athletic relaxed fit jeans as he blows them out because his legs are getting so big from weightlifting.
Maybe we just got lucky?
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ECpizza
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Opposite advice...
Dri-ducks are awesome and cheap. Backpacking I leave my Goretex at home and take the Driducks.
Had an entire group of scouts with them. They were used often during the trip, including two downpours that forced us ashore. Admittedly, gorilla (or duct) tape was used, none of them will see a second trip, and there were (despite instructions to check before leaving) a couple broken seams and bad zippers...
I had entire growth spurts with my son where he never even used the rain gear on multiple trips and campouts. And while I think merino wool is the best hiking/canoeing clothing, I would not spring $100 on a shirt for a growing kid.
Like I said though, they are good enough I use them myself. They are beathable, and I looked at some rating chart that says they are comparable waterproog to Goretex, and my has been comfy and dry.
Just check the gear multiple times and before every trip.
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pastorjsackett
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I bought Dri Ducks and they ripped out on the first day. The seams are merely glued. Very cheap. If you were very careful you would be ok I guess but mine ripped out in the crotch on the first long stretch into the canoe. Now I have some Eddie Bauer packables and they are very nice.
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Cedarboy
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Thanks for the info people. Be safe on the water.
CB
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gsfisher13
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great at waterproof, good for breathability, lousy zippers. the ones on the pockets will rip off the top eventually, the 3 threads to stop them will eventually wear out. 2nd set I bought I reinforced that spot myself and it worked, unfortunately the metal of the zipper itself broke.
they will warranty replace them if you pay to ship them back, did that once.
if you go in expecting to get 1 to 2 years from a $25-$40 rain jacket it will meet those expectations but not exceed them.
for comparison I've also spent $100 on a Columbia rain jacket that lasted a year before the waterproofing failed.
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Cedarboy
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My boys are growing WAY too fast. Going for opener and they need some raingear. Any thoughts on FroggToggs? I know they have a few models and am trying to decide.
CB
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kanoes
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as far as breathability they are probably the best. durability, probably the worst. those opinions are based on the originals.
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Cedarboy
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quote marsonite: "What do you mean by Frog Toggs? If you mean the cheap Frog Toggs Driducks, I wouldn't. They will definitely not keep you dry in any real rain. BTDT.
They make some more expensive jackets which might be OK. Hopefully someone will post on here who has one.
Have you thought about ponchos? "
Thanks, looking for current reviews of the newer mid range styles of FroggToggs.
CB
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jhb8426
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The cheap Dri-ducks are not worth the effort. I bought a set and the zipper went out that season. Maybe their higher priced stuff is ok. I went back to my trusted poncho.
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mastertangler
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I have several friends who are Bass fishing guides with 2 of them being on the pro tour. To a man they despise ForggToggs. Of course running down a lake in pouring rain in a 70MPH bass boat will truly test raingear. But thats their opinion FWIW.
If it were me I would opt for some sort of non-breathable material. Inexpensive and they will absolutely stay dry which is priority #1.
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marsonite
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What do you mean by Frog Toggs? If you mean the cheap Frog Toggs Driducks, I wouldn't. They will definitely not keep you dry in any real rain. BTDT.
They make some more expensive jackets which might be OK. Hopefully someone will post on here who has one.
Have you thought about ponchos?
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marsonite
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quote ECpizza: "Opposite advice...
Dri-ducks are awesome and cheap. Backpacking I leave my Goretex at home and take the Driducks.
Had an entire group of scouts with them. They were used often during the trip, including 2 downpours that forced us ashore. Admittedly, gorilla (or duct) tape was used, none of them will see a second trip, and there were (despite instructions to check before leaving) a couple broken seams and bad zippers...
I had entire growth spurts with my son where he never even used the rain gear on multiple trips and campouts. And while I think merino wool is the best hiking/canoeing clothing, I would not spring $100 on a shirt for a growing kid.
Like I said though, they are good enough I use them myself. They are beathable, and I looked at some rating chart that says they are comparable waterproog to Goretex, and my has been comfy and dry.
Just check the gear multiple times and before every trip."
EC, I would have agreed with you a few years ago, in fact I used Driducks for years, but then I canoed in an all day rain a few years ago; had to go through a number of lakes without campsites in the Q, and wound up nearly hypothermic by the end of the day. The fabric shed water pretty well, but you take in water in various seams, zippers, tears, etc. AFter that trip we invested in better raingear. It can be ugly on the opener.
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toddhunter
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I wore the first generation pants, which were fine, except for too much fuzziness, which doesn't stop me from wearing them. I have the latest generation of bibs, and like them very much. I don't know that I've given them an all day heavy rain test, but I'm happy with them. I wouldn't hesitate to outfit kids in either the first or second gen for a trip. Lightwt, breathable and priced reasonably.
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newguy
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It works great in theory, poorly in reality. The material is not durable enough. I used it and just by sitting on marine carpet, the material lost its waterproofing in less than a day. As mentioned, it also leaks at the zipper, and possibly also at seams.
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schweady
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I have a better set which is used when weight is not an issue, but FroggToggs were easily one of the best moves I made as I was attempting to cut pack weight. Half price Cabela's sale $25 for the set. Good rain performance for me for 10+ years. One small rip on a pant cuff that got duct taped. Might replace with identical set one day since the jacket zipper tab is wearing a bit.
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Dammfast
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I have used the frog toggs many times they will work just fine as long as you are very careful about using them. They can be fragile in the crotch and along the zippers. Bring a big roll of duct tape.
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Savage Voyageur
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Do them a favor and get your boys good rain gear. I got a pair of the cheap rain gear you asked about and they tore a huge hole in them day one. Stay away from any sticks or rocks because they jump out and tear your rain gear.
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Jackfish
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Cabelas and Gander Mountain used to have a set of rain gear called Packable Nylon Rain Gear. The jacket (lined) was about $40 and the pants (unlined) were about $20. They were quite serviceable and my son and I wore them for several years before finally investing in Marmot PreCip. We wore them while backpacking and on canoe trips and they kept us dry without material failure.
Neither company offers that exact product any longer, but they have others in a similar price range. Before looking into Frogg Toggs, I would encourage you to at least take a look at some of the coated nylon rain gear options. They're surprisingly good (and durable) for the money.
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Old Hoosier
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Would have to agree with the marginal value and performance of Frogg Toggs.
I have used them probably 4-5 years in the past. I was reasonably satisfied with them as long as weather was warm and rain was not steady or cold. That's when I changed my mind.
One trip we had a 4 day rain and 20-30 MPH wind at 40-50F. We base camp and fish non-stop, so we wanted to fish every day. The Frogg Toggs did fine day 1 and were marginal day 2. By day 3 it was over. No warmth, leaks everywhere and we were forced to stay in camp until it stopped raining and warmed up.
My epiphany moment was when I had all my dry clothes on (plus Toggs) and was only warm when by the fire under a tarp. This is NOT what I want in the wilderness. I came to fish -not sit by a fire all day.
I went home and spent $150 on good rain gear for the next trip.
Old Hoosier
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drnatus
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Have dealt with the same problem I bought my sons a coated nylon product from Columbia, for $60-$80+ a suit (that is one) on sale. Worked for a couple months then failed miserably, recoated and still did not work.
Just recently (last week) bought my younger son two (that is 2) full suits for $36 shipped to my house of the Frogg Togg driducks.
I have personally used frogg toggs driducks and found that they kept me dry and breathed great. They were nice for warmth as well. As everyone has said, they tear. But if the boys can get a use or three out of them I will be way ahead.
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