Frabill S1 Series Storm Suit Rain Suit Product Review

Apparel Review

No Flash, No Frills, Just Protection : S1 Series Stormsuit by Frabill (continued)

Features: The Frabill F1 Bib's shoulder straps are removable thanks to a surprisingly secure Velcro connection to the bottoms so you can wear them like pants. The hood on the jacket is not detachable. As mentioned earlier all the pockets feature a zipper closure and a snap for added security.

The suspenders are very flexible and actually, they're removable too.

When the outer shell does get wet and the beading wears off, it's just as quick to dry once the rain subsides. Cuffs on both the bib and jacket have the usual Velcro closure and the bibs also have a zipper at the cuffs to make it easier to pull them off and on while still having your shoes on - although I can never get my shoes through these garments anyway. Neither garment has any insulation but it's not something I'd expect in a garment of this type anyway.

Each pocket features a zipper and snap for added security.

Features Ratings for Frabill F1 Series Stormsuit
Convertible (1-5)	Fastened Pockets (1-5)	Water Proof or Fast Drying Fabric (1-3)	Adjustable Cuffs (1-3)	Insulation or UPF Rating (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3	4	4	3	3	17	21	8.09

Design & Ergonomics: Thanks to a younger, hipper generation breaking into the bass fishing world, style has become more important than ever. If you're fishing from a boat, you're going to be standing all day, so might as well look good while you're at it, right? Well, that's an area where the Frabill F1 Series garment has taken the more conservative approach. The jacket, primarily has a very conservative cut and is solid in color. There's one reflective strip along the back of the suit but otherwise there's nothing flashy or attention grabbing about it. It is available in four different colors, all of which have their appeal, and the Frabill logos are relatively discreet.

These side pockets on the bibs come in handy for cell phones, pliers, braid cutters, etc..

The bib pants are actually slightly more stylish than the jacket mostly because of the pocket placements along the pant leg, the articulated knee, and the zippers at the bottom of the pant leg. These all serve to help and break up the mass of the bibs and they're executed in a very tasteful manner.

Keiko shows off the elastic suspenders and just under her left hand, the Velcro adjustable waist on the bibs.

Design & Ergonomics Ratings for Frabill F1 Series Stormsuit
Aesthetic (1-5)	Oversized Sizing (1-3)	Available Colors (1-3)	All Day Garment (1-3)	Packable (1-3)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
3.5	3	3	2	2	13.5	17	7.94

The jacket isn't very stylish but it gets the job done when the wind blows or when it's raining.

Application: The Frabill F1 Series Stormsuit is definitely an top layer garment though if pressed into duty in some really nasty weather, the bibs are comfortable enough to wear as a midlayer. The jacket is not quite stylish enough to be worn alone as casual wear and while both can hold up to a good rain storm, neither are really rugged enough to use in other outdoor pursuits like skiing or snowboarding.

Application Ratings for Frabill F1 Series Stormsuit
Top Layer (1-5)	Mid Layer (1-5)	Bottom Layer (1-5)	Casual Wear (1-5)	Other Outdoor Pursuits (1-5)	Total	Possible	Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)
5	3	3	3	3	17	25	6.8

Ratings:

Frabill F1 Series Stormsuit Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Solid build	8.0
Performance	Performed really well out on the water	8.8
Price	Very attractive price point!	8.5
Features	Enough features to warrant a look	8.09
Design (Ergonomics)	Very comfortable suit to wear thanks to the full mesh lining	7.94
Application	Built to protect you from the rain and that's pretty much it	6.8
Total Score		8.02
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ A very reasonably priced rain suit	- Jacket isn't very stylish
+ Surprising water resistance for the compliancy of the fabric	- Front zipper on the bib is still gusseted for water protection but the bib itself is easier to remove than normal when using the facilities
+ Super comfortable bibs

My favorite are the bibs though. All day comfort in a waterproof fishing bib.

Conclusion: Frabill's S1 Storm Suit is not going to win any style points and might not be featured by your favorite Elite Series Pro, but neither does it cost half a grand or more to outfit yourself in this suit. The bibs especially are super comfortable to wear all day even when it's warm out and you get the added protection of them being waterproof unlike a pair of jeans. Wear a pair of shorts underneath and if it gets really warm, just slip the bibs off and enjoy the nicer weather. Looking for an affordable rain suit that gets the job done? You owe it to yourself to check out the no frills S1 Series Storm Suit from Frabill.