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When it comes to traversing the Alps, these coats will keep them warm and dry
Anyone who has ever skied or snowboarded with children will know how annoyingly fast they pick it up. But with some ski holiday companies offering lessons for children as young as 18 months old, the right gear is vital – which is why we went on the search for the best kids’ ski jackets.
Children’s ski school often takes part away from adults, so parents and carers might not be nearby to help with zips, poppers and pockets, so it’s important to make sure your kids can do these themselves. Not only that but if you’re skiing with children of any age, you want to be able to pick them out on the slopes as they whizz past you so an eye-catching design or bright colour can be helpful.
When it comes to fabrics, there’s the holy grail of needing warmth against bracing winds, snow and potential sub-zero temperatures of the pistes, but breathability is also vital. While waterproofing isn’t a must for everyone, it’s a great idea to put it on the list. When you’re paying four figures for a holiday, being sidelined because of a snowy downfall and having to spend the day indoors is a huge chunk of change for something that could be easily remedied with a different choice of jacket. With all this in mind, we tried and tested a range of different designs to find the best on test.
Each jacket was tested by children for four to six hours. They wore them while skiing on a dry slope – while the temperatures didn’t get as low as the single figures and below in the French Alps, they were all tested again in wind and rain on open moorland to see how they fared at keeping the weather out and the warmth in. Similarly, we assessed whether the coats stayed on when faced with headwinds. Only those that performed well are featured in this review.
The fully taped seams on this jacket contribute to the reinforced waterproofing. With five pockets, including one for a ski pass and an inside one for goggles, there’s no reason for your little one to lose anything on the slopes. This jacket also comes with an adjustable snow skirt to make sure snow doesn’t get into the jacket if a tumble happens and the adjustable Velcro cuffs mean arms stay dry even in falling snow. It’s a simple jacket that performs really well.
Fleece lining? Tick. Zipped pockets? Tick. Elasticated cuffs? Tick. With this holy trinity, your little ones will stay cosy, and won’t lose gloves or jelly babies thanks to the zip pockets. The elasticated cuffs mean snow won’t end up by their elbow should they take a tumble when they’re learning too. It’s snowproof, having been treated with a durable water repellent and an incredibly convenient sleeve pocket will house an electronic ski pass or mobile phone if they’re old enough. The pattern and bright colours mean it’s instantly recognisable in a crowd too, great if they insist on one more run while you wait at the bottom.
This is the perfect ski jacket if you’re looking for a design that can be worn off the slopes too. The insulating inner fleece liner is windproof so even mountaintop gusts don’t stand a chance. The peaked elastic secure fit hood stays put thanks to side panels and is detachable when the sun comes out too. The velcro cuffs are adjustable with draughtproof soft inner snow cuffs meaning snow won’t work its way inside the jacket, no matter how many tumbles happen. The jacket also dips lower at the back so bottoms will stay warm and dry even if they sit on a wet bench or the snow.
This is one of the most eye-catching and cool colour schemes on the list. It’s lightweight but offers brilliant protection against the elements. Made from recycled material, it’s one of the more eco conscious choices on the list too. The concealed front zip fastening flap not only gives it a neater finish but it’ll keep the snow out while they’re whizzing down the blue runs. The hood zips on and off easily with an internal elastic snow protector to keep you warm and dry.
With double front zippers, this jacket is perfect for the little ones when you need easy access or they want to take it off. It’s breathable yet wind and waterproof and if your little one is too small to ski, it’s perfect to sit them in the snow so they can enjoy the powder in their own way. The taped seams will keep them dry whatever the weather and it’s waterproof to 10,000mm. Even better, there’s also a dirt-repellent finish to the outer shell so when they’re in the park or woods at home it won’t get filthy as quickly.
Roxy has designed a jacket that every wannabe Chemmie Alcott will love. It’s not just about how it looks though, it’s waterproof to 10,000mm and features taped seams, so it won’t yield when the snow starts to fall. It also has a helmet-friendly hood for extra cosiness, as well as a chin guard, a removable faux fur hood, and separate pockets for a ski pass and goggles, so nothing gets lost during après time.
This is an understated but beautiful-fitting jacket. Windproof, waterproof and breathable it’s the longest jacket on the list and will keep your little one dry and warm all day on the slopes. The shell and lining are made from recycled polyester, while the padding is a down-feather blend, so our testers found that it traps warm air and keeps it there. It’s waterproof to 12,000mm and the two huge front pockets have flap velcro closures so you don’t have to remove gloves to access what’s inside.
For a ski jacket that can be passed down for generations to come, this is the one for you. It’s the most expensive within this review, but the level of Helly Hansen technology and engineering that’s gone into it is second to none.
It’s incredibly lightweight with no shoulder seams at all making it fully waterproof without the need for taped seams in that area. It’s got a specific ski pass pocket and an adjustable powder skirt to keep the snow out. As for the external design, the neon accent on the hood means you’ll be able to identify your progeny as they ski past you putting you to shame. The internal mesh pockets are easily accessible and the hood is one of the warmest we tested.
If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a ski jacket that’ll only fit for one season on the slopes, this is a great option. It’s part of a three-in-one coat system and while this is the outer layer, you can also buy the fleece jacket (£50, Polarnopyret.co.uk), so you can use both layers when you ski and switch to just the waterproof outer liner for school runs back home.
Alternatively, you can layer them up how you like underneath and the jacket’s taped seams and waterproof to 12,000mm means even in the heaviest snowstorm they’ll stay dry. The reflectors on the arms and body mean you’ll be able to spot them easily and the detachable hood makes them even more streamlined on the slopes when the weather is dry.
Finding the best ski jacket for your kids is no mean feat. But thankfully there are plenty of great options. Helly Hansen deserves a special mention owing to the technology they put into their jacket, it’s not cheap but this jacket could be worn by your children’s children if you keep it in good condition – it’s got longevity written all over it. For a long-line fit, opt for Liewood’s jacket – we only wish it came in an adult size.
But, when it comes to an all-rounder, the Wedze kids’ warm and waterproof ski jacket delivers a lot for a pretty small price tag. The second cheapest on the list, it’s a no-nonsense, great jacket. It’s bright, washes brilliantly and is the perfect unisex jacket to pass down to the younger children as they grow.
Headed for the slopes soon? Read our review of the best ski goggles for kids, women and men