I pulled my first pair of DriDucks rain gear from the trash bin.
A guest had decided to “decommission” his rain suit after several Boundary Waters canoe trips, but it looked to have a lot of life left, so I fished it out.
That “recycled” rain suit got a lot of use and a lot of love around the shop for a long time. And it’s what sold me on the line of rain gear sold by FroggToggs.
You can spend $300 on rain gear tops and bottoms, but they may not work as well as the DriDucks Dura-lite3 model by the FroggToggs company – and for a bargain price of $40. That’s the model in this photo, and here’s a link to the company website.
Here’s what’s to like:
- Reliably waterpoof.
- Lightweight and compact storage in your canoe pack.
- Full cut to allow air circulation, reduce moisture vapor buildup, and allow a comfortable seated position in a canoe. The free range of movement is excellent for portaging canoes and packs.
- Durable. They don’t snag and shred on an overgrown portage or bushwhack to gather firewood. They are not prone to splitting out in the crotch.
- They don’t seem to get soaked through and soggy like some more expensive rain gear.
- They zip all the way up to your chin, shielding rain and wind from your neck.
- The bottom of the jacket is cut full and does not have an elastic bottom, so water flows away better when seated in a canoe.
- Elastic wrist cuffs to keep water from running down your arm while paddling.
- A draw chord waist you can synch tight so the pants don’t sag.
- A full cut and effective hood that doesn’t sag over your eyes, moves nicely as you turn your head, and allows decent peripheral vision.
- The legs fit over knee-high rubber boots and are generous in length.
- They double as a basic wind layer or mosquito layer.
- An unbeatable price point. These are an awesome inexpensive investment in safety and comfort.
For the price, they are definitely the best rain gear we’ve found for an adventure paddling the Boundary Waters. They are far better than the vinyl “plastic bag” type of rain suits.
It may be down-pouring, but if you stay dry, then you’ll stay warm and comfortable, and you’ll keep the fun meter pointed in the right direction.
This is cool!