HH "rainwear" a good bet
This is an older thread, but readers may be trolling for insights, so let me add my 2 cents. My 4-year-old is in his second Helly Hansen K Shelter jacket, and skiied through this winter in it.
The pants of the same line (K shelter) are terrific. Reinforced knees that went the distance all winter long -- and he plays outside pretty much every day, and skiied 15-20 times. In the month or so since he ceased wearing the HH pants for 'recess' at his daycare, he's gone through the knees of three pairs of jeans. Being lightweight and noninsulated, the pants are easy enough for him to pull on himself.
Crucially, if worn with layers, this jacket can go all 4-seasons -- will handle showers, gusty winds, and our famous chinooks (a warm wind that brings temperatures well above freezing for a few days at a time during winter).
On colder ski days, he wore this jacket and pants with long underwear, a short-sleeved synthetic turtleneck, fleece pants and hoodie, plus a hollofill vest, topped by a fleece neckwarmer. On warmer days or afternoons, off came the vest and turtleneck.
The velcro tabs on the sleeves helped keep snow out and help in adjusting the sleeve length while they were still a little on the long side near the beginning of ski season.
You might not think of this particular jacket or pants when shopping with skiing in mind because it is marketed as rainwear / sailing gear. But as a lightweight breathable shell, it's a good bet.
So while on the price-y side, anything that can be worn continuallly by a kid for months at a time is rare. So if you are thinking about rainwear or come across a good deal, this jacket and pants set might do the trick.
I am sufficiently impressed to have just purchased a bigger size for when he grows out of his current jacket and pants. I also bought a set for my niece and plan to buy another set for a nephew.
Now might be a good time to buy, especially if you need rainwear anyhow, because this line is not marketed as winterwear and so isn't usually available in stores by fall.
This is an older thread, but readers may be trolling for insights, so let me add my 2 cents. My 4-year-old is in his second Helly Hansen K Shelter jacket, and skiied through this winter in it.
The pants of the same line (K shelter) are terrific. Reinforced knees that went the distance all winter long -- and he plays outside pretty much every day, and skiied 15-20 times. In the month or so since he ceased wearing the HH pants for 'recess' at his daycare, he's gone through the knees of three pairs of jeans. Being lightweight and noninsulated, the pants are easy enough for him to pull on himself.
Crucially, if worn with layers, this jacket can go all 4-seasons -- will handle showers, gusty winds, and our famous chinooks (a warm wind that brings temperatures well above freezing for a few days at a time during winter).
On colder ski days, he wore this jacket and pants with long underwear, a short-sleeved synthetic turtleneck, fleece pants and hoodie, plus a hollofill vest, topped by a fleece neckwarmer. On warmer days or afternoons, off came the vest and turtleneck.
The velcro tabs on the sleeves helped keep snow out and help in adjusting the sleeve length while they were still a little on the long side near the beginning of ski season.
You might not think of this particular jacket or pants when shopping with skiing in mind because it is marketed as rainwear / sailing gear. But as a lightweight breathable shell, it's a good bet.
So while on the price-y side, anything that can be worn continuallly by a kid for months at a time is rare. So if you are thinking about rainwear or come across a good deal, this jacket and pants set might do the trick.
I am sufficiently impressed to have just purchased a bigger size for when he grows out of his current jacket and pants. I also bought a set for my niece and plan to buy another set for a nephew.
Now might be a good time to buy, especially if you need rainwear anyhow, because this line is not marketed as winterwear and so isn't usually available in stores by fall.
