I love to find products developed by someone who had a need. With a design refined over the past eight years, the Four Roles Over Garment (FROG) is the brainchild of Dan Sparks, an Army and FBI veteran who was looking for a multi-purpose garment.
The name FROG came about because it can be used for these four purposes:
Jacket
Shelter
Blanket
Sleeping bag
In the right environmental conditions, It can be worn all of the time, even while driving, which can be very handy for those who are exposed to the elements while in transit. This is possible thanks to the large #10 side zips which give lots of mobility for your arms including operating machinery and using weapons.
The full front zips make for easy donning and doffing as well as ventilation. You can also open it to access any gear that you wear under FROG. There is also an integrated, oversized hood as well as internal hand warmer pocket.
Shown below is the jacket component by itself. As you can see, it’s sized quite generously and can fit over your kit. For additional camouflage, you can drape a Ghillie over it.
There is a waist cinch so that you can tighten the FROG or hike it up a bit. While it looks long with the incorporated extension panel, it is built with enough room that you can take full strides and maneuver over rocks and logs.
The modular design is really cool. The extension panel can be removed based on weather and features grommets for use as a sleeping pad or shelter.
The extension panel can be zipped open to form a shelter or remain closed and crawled into sleeping bag style.
There have been instances where one FROG has been shared between two users with one wrapping up in the jacket portion and the other using the extension panel to keep warm.
The FROG is manufactured by Wiggy’s and insulated with Lamilite. This is a silicone treated continuous filament insulation that can be washed at home in your machine. Lamilite does a great job of regaining its loft even when vacuum packed. While Dan didn’t give me a specific temperature rating for the FROG, another user released that he had used his in wet conditions below 40 Deg F and remained comfortable.
The FROG comes standard in MultiCam but can also be had in a variety of other colors and patterns including OD Green, Black, Coyote, Royal Blue, Purple, MARPAT and even UCP.
Bungees and 550 cord not supplied but it does come with a stuff sack.
Tags: FROG, r3adventures, Wiggy's
Wiggy’s = good stuff.
I like the concept and the idea of it fulfilling multiple roles but it looks huge stored. At least the pic looks that way without something there to scale it. In a perfect world (I know, I know) it would store smaller. Anything more efficient than a stuff sack? I have always wanted an airtight storage bag with a one way valve that you could seal and then squash down to make a field vacuum storage bag. That would be perfect for this.
Why not buy some space bags and paint them? x3
Think you need a vacuum cleaner to make those work. At least the ones “as seen on TV”. Haha.
You can still use them without a vacuum cleaner, they just don’t get as flat as they would if you were actually able to suck all the air out of them is all but still fairly flat. The trick is to just stuff it in nice and neat and then push all the air out manually with your hands and knees and then seal it up quickly, no different than sealing something inside a zip-loc bag that you don’t want all puffed up with air inside.
ITW used to make large zip-lock-like bags with air valve for compressed packing but they were discontinued. Eagle creek picked up the idea though and I’ve used these for a while. They are decent but not the zipper lock isn’t super durable (plan on replacing every half a dozen trips or so).
I fold clothes, then sit on them on a chair, gets em pretty flat.
http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packit-compression-sac-set-sml/d/1065
Wiggy’s stuff isn’t known for packing down small, the price to pay for durable insulation.
Interesting design. Similar to the Mountain Serape or Jerven Bag
Even more similar to the Kifaru MOB.
Looks like most mobility bags on the market, but with the ability to detach the bottom. the burden of proof here is to show that it has more to offer then a serape style garment (HPG, woobie express) or a level 7 style parka with an elephant foot. With big armholes to let in the cold (and no baffles behind them) and a pretty hefty weight penalty, I’d take some convincing.
They should add the oz of fill to the website (says L6, does that mean 6 oz?) if it’s got a ton of insulation it could justify the weight.
Luke,
The L6 does stand for 6 ounces per linear yard. Thanks for the observation. No baffles because the jacket portion is oversized to allow for layering and mobility. Its also oversized so that when static, you can bring your arms close to your chest and lock the armholes down for maximum protection and warmth. The total weight is 4.4 lbs, but depending on the situation you can deploy with just the jacket. I’m going to the Grand Canyon next weekend to hike the rim to rim to rim and will only take the jacket. It will be great at 0200 to don it and enjoy some momentary rest/warmth quickly and then move out still wearing the jacket and vent as necessary until I have to take it completely off. Dan
Dan,
Have fun, and be safe, Brother!
We have one of these on display in the GSS Pro Shop if anyone happens to be in/near Virginia Beach and wants to check it out…