If you’ll indulge me, I’d like to take you through a week on a typical online backpacking forum like Reddit, Backpacking Light, Facebook groups, etc.:
Monday: A post bemoaning the expense of raingear that "wets out."
Tuesday: A post touting the merits of non-breathable rain gear, including that it might just cure cancer.
Wednesday: A post arguing that you may as well use a trash bag or $2 poncho when it rains.
Thursday: A post proudly displaying all the duct tape that was used to limp a set of traditional Frogg Toggs through a Continental Divide Trail (CDT) thru-hike.
Friday: Since nobody is out hiking, and there is a glitch in the matrix, the discussions repeat.
But what if I told you that there was an economical way to join the non-breathable rain jacket crowd, with a high level of durability, and gave examples of some use cases where it might be your best choice? It would give you a cheap, reliable standby, thereby freeing up funds to occasionally chase the newest "waterproof breathable futurelight / outdry / shakedry / gore / paclite nano something" on the market — but also something that 's waterproof without a DWR (durable water-repellant) finish that degrades over time or gets overwhelmed in heavy downpours. You might just stop endlessly chasing the "waterproof / breathable" dream!...
I present you with the Frogg Toggs Xtreme Lite Jacket.
Features and Build
The Xtreme Lite Jacket is a 2 ply polyester rain jacket with taped seams and a flap over the zipper instead of a waterproof zipper. It has a fully adjustable hood with stiffened brim and drawstring cinch, and velcro cinching wrist cuffs. It is oversized (I mean, would they be Toggs if they weren’t oversized?) for layering. There are waist pockets, and a chest pocket on the inside. It seems in practice to not breathe at all, though I believe the fabric technically has some air permeability. It certainly does not let any water in, and the face of the fabric does not hold any water at all — it rolls right off.
What it Does Not Have
Pit zips are the main sin of omission on the Xtreme Lite Jacket: they would take this jacket from being a great quiver option to the go-to of choice for many hikers. There are two tiny venting grommets in the armpits, and they are not up to the task of mechanical venting. Still, considering the feature set at the price point, the Xtreme Lite Jacket is a great value.
USE CASE: Shoulder Season
When I spent a couple weeks in late September and early October bopping around the Sierra Mountains piecing together bits of Yosemite High Route and Sierra High Route, I knew that getting chased out of the alpine with the first snowstorm of the season was a strong possibility. I wanted a jacket that would take freeze/thaw mixed precipitation conditions and not hold water on its face fabric. Trust me, getting into camp with a jacket that is wet at night and trying to stuff it under your pad or have it turn into a crusty piece of ice jacket is miserable. With a jacket like the Xtreme Lite, a good shake has the face fabric almost entirely dry.
After days of mixed precipitation, water still rolls right off the Xtreme Lite.
USE CASE: Winter High Desert and the Southwest
Showing off my "cloud camo" in the Oregon high desert.
From October to April, I primarily do my backpacking in the Oregon High Desert and Arizona. You could extend the advantages of the Xtreme Lite Jacket to this climate as well, where daytime temps make precipitation stay liquid, until it turns to ice on frigid nights.
USE CASE: The Thrifty Crafty Thru-Hiker
Post storm Toulumne Yard Sale.
I’d make the argument that the durability of the Xtreme Lite jacket coupled with its competitive weight make it a compelling combo for a thru-hiker coupled with a wind shirt, particularly for the CDT and Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) where you’re unlikely to be walking in all day rain. Climbs and a little warmth and wind break could be accomplished with the wind shirt, but maximum rain protection will be provided by the Xtreme Lite Jackat. Together, the sub 10oz combo has more versatility and performance than many $300 "breathable" rain jackets. I have used my Xtreme Lite for about 4 years before retiring it to a dog kennel Pacific Northwest rainy season jacket. It hadn’t failed yet in what probably amounts to around 200 days of use. As a proposition for surviving a thru-hike or two, that is an incredible value.
In Conclusion:
There is a lot to like about the Frogg Toggs Xtreme Lite Jacket as a $60 proposition. It is more durable than regular Toggs and most rain jackets, it's affordable, it is truly waterproof, shakes dry, and has a competitive weight. This makes is a compelling choice for certain shoulder and winter backpacking situations, as well as an excellent choice for a thru-hiker willing to compliment it with a lightweight wind shirt.
Pros
Cons
Based in Portland, Oregon, Scott Nechemias has hiked over 10,000 miles in the backcountry, often accompanied by his wife Jordan and their fur monsters, Cheese and Utah. He has a particular affinity for off-trail travel, the high desert, and the places in the world less traveled by people. You can find more of his trips on Instagram.
1 comment
Linda
your last comment states: " an excellent choice for a thru-hiker willing to compliment it with a lightweight wind shirt."
please, can you give an example, or a link to follow, of what you mean for this type of shirt
…thank you