Establishing a market base who believed a fabric as thin as a paper towel could be water-repellant and durable took many years of marketing ingenuity. The team believed so strongly that the product would one day be considered indispensable by its fans that it was willing to take a major financial hit, even if it meant keeping the staff small and committing to some pretty lean years until the product gained acceptance.
It took until for word-of-mouth among outdoor professionals and hobbyists to reach a point at which the intended audience was experimenting with Frogg Toggs gear during its outdoor pursuits.
It took nearly three years for word-of-mouth to reach a point at which the intended audience was experimenting with Frogg Toggs gear. As more customers bought in, releases from the product development team came to include Chilly Pads , a line of cooling towels launched in , and fly fishing Waders , which launched in The original Frogg Toggs products were aimed at fishermen and hunting enthusiasts. Handley joined the company straight out of college as an inventory analyst.
He said that at the time, the team was brimming with ideas and passion for serving the needs of the Frogg Toggs consumer. This expansion included motorcycle riders and recreational sports teams. Learn how another retailer , Corkcicle, expanded beyond its original customer base after its first string of successes.
Soon after, Frogg Toggs brought to market its Java fabric, a woven material that provides water hold-out, breathability and durability while remaining portable and lightweight.
That release was followed by the Toadz fabric, a hybrid material combining a rip-stop shell with a windproof liner composed of non-woven fabric. The team won best lifestyle apparel and best technical apparel in and best footwear in Beyond hardcore fishers and hunters, Frogg Toggs now targets everyday adventurers.
As a result, the company was a little late to the direct-to-consumer D2C fulfillment and marketing game. Non-adjustable hoods might be sufficient for dry or hot climates, but not in places where it gets cold, windy, and wet.
The interior of the pockets is made of mesh, so you get a modest venting effect if you leave the zippers open. More importantly, the mesh liners act as interior pockets that can be used for storing gloves, hats, and food close to your core, where they can be kept warm with body heat. As a backpacker, I view pockets as an extension of my packing system because they let me carry food, gloves, hats, etc.
This helps eliminate many stops and keeps me moving and generating body heat to stay warm in challenging conditions. A cord-lock adjustable hem completes the feature set and is another useful temperature regulation feature for sealing in torso heat, particularly in windy weather.
How durable is the Xtreme Lite Jacket? The Xtreme Lite is 4. I personally care more about the fit and durability than the added weight, but your mileage may vary. But the Xtreme Lite does have a hood volume adjuster, velcro wrist cuffs, and adjustable hem, external pocket zippers, and is seam taped, which are all missing features on the Lightheart Gear Rain Jacket. Those pit zips are pretty damn important in my opinion which is why I still prefer the Lightheart Gear Rain Jacket, but the Xtreme Lite is still a pretty good value in a side-by-side comparison.
Thank you for the great review. I am buying one now. My Lightheart Gear leaked from Day 1 even though I tried to seal the seams before my first use. I am hugely disappointed, since I had such high hopes for it. Later that night, reflecting upon my day, I realized that this ridiculously inexpensive jacket performed just as well as the more expensive rain gear I had left at home.
I can tell you about the ultralight bi-laminate polypropylene fabric that is welded at the seams to prevent leaks and tears. The material is enjoyable to touch and fun to roll and squish down as small as you can pack it. The Ultra-Lite2 Jacket in all its crinkly glory. The full-length zipper is surprisingly hearty and loosely covered by a thin storm flap for added protection.
The drawcords in the hood worked well to lock out the wet weather, as did the elastic-embedded wrist cuffs. I have yet to encounter a situation where the rain penetrated these defenses, but they are basic. Whipping winds with sideways rain may give you some trouble. The elastic wrists are snug but not too tight, and the hood clamps down only as much as you desire.
Elastic wrists keep water from rolling down your sleeves. Just nope. As in, absolutely no durability. Remember when I said it was super cheap? Avoid twigs and trim your fingernails. The fabric will shred as soon as it comes into contact with anything that can poke or snag.
You will be protected from the weather and nothing else, but this jacket is so inexpensive that you can purchase a handful of them for the same price as a more durable rain jacket. You can really see how thin the material is here.
If I could choose one superpower it would be to turn my sweat glands off and on at my will. Think of the possibilities! Your only ventilation option is the main zipper. This plastic shell keeps the water out. The Ultra-Lite Rain Jacket is notorious for being way oversized. Make sure to purchase accordingly by dropping a size or two. You can get a good sense of the fit in the arm here.
As previously stated, pit-zips would help a lot. Hiking uphill in bad weather requires constant checks and balances in dealing with exterior moisture and interior ventilation. I had no issues with the Frogg Toggs while taking a break or hanging around at camp, only when I was in motion.
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