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Best Winter Jackets For Kids
Instead of spending time in the stores, trying to keep your kid interested in trying on jackets, a little research will save you from all of that. Whether for casual wear or serious outdoor use, we looked into the best winter jackets for kids that hit out criteria points, then put together a list of our own. Take a look at our favorites and see if any might work for you.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
High-quality outer shells on best winter jackets for kids can bring excellent weather protection to your child, keeping them warm and dry even when there is rain, snow, or sleet outside. Effective winter shells are usually made with some type of weatherproof material on them, like eVent, H2NO, or Gore-Tex, all of which do a great job of repelling wind and water on cold days.
The winter shell on the jacket, while designed to protect your child from the weather outside, doesn’t typically work to provide a lot of insulation or warmth on the inside. So, if your child’s jacket comes with a removable winter shell, remember you’ll want that shell on them with the insulation if the weather is very cold. Some jackets have removable shells options with the interior area of the jacket providing insulation, while other jackets function as one-piece models.
If you want a winter jacket for kids that features a removable outer shell, you’ll get a lot more versatility and use out of the jacket. For instance, your child could wear just the shell on warmer, rainy days, getting the protection from the water he or she needs without burning up if the weather is warmer. While these types of jackets typically cost more, they offer a lot more versatility and can be used throughout the year.
You do want to make sure, regardless of what type of winter jacket you purchase for the child, that the winter jacket for kids you select has water and weather repelling features on the shell. Some manufacturers coat their shells with two or three layers or use DWR, a durable water-repellant, on the outer shell. DWR coatings work well when it’s snowing outside, but can wear off, and can make the outer shell-less breathable. Gore-Tex jackets is another jacket with the gore-tex fabric used to help make outer shells water-repellant and it is usually more breathable than some other fabrics used to keep water off your child’s jacket.
Deciding what types of water and weather protection you need on your child’s outer shell really depend on what you’ll be doing while your outside and the weather you will encounter. If you know it will be very cold, you might not want to purchase a jacket that’s extremely breathable. However, outer shells made with Gore-Tex tend to work better for year-round activities, although they also tend to be pricier. So, you need to weigh out your options, figure out exactly what you will be doing, and then you can make your decision about what might be best for your child’s outer shell.
Insulation
When purchasing a winter jacket for your child, you’ll also want to take a look at the different types of insulation offered on the jacket. There are typically three types of insulation that manufacturers use in kids winter jackets: down feathers, synthetic fibers, pile fabric, and hybrid insulation.
Insulation, no matter what type you find on the jacket you buy, is designed to trap in your body heat and keep you warm during the cold, outdoor weather. Usually, the thicker the insulation is in the jacket, the warmer you’ll stay.
Down Insulation
Down, historically, is the first insulator we ever used to keep us warm, and it’s still a very effective insulator. It compresses down so that the jacket is easy to pack and carry, and it can last a long time as well as long as you take care of the jacket.
Down does present a problem, however, for some kids winter jackets because it’s known to perform badly when the weather gets wet. When down gets wet, it’ll start balling up and clumping, and it also loses its ability to insulate when wet.
Some manufacturers still use down in their kids winter jackets and utilize creative ways to solve this problem with down. Since it is well-known that people buying winter jackets are probably going to get their jackets wet while outside, many manufacturers add an extra layer of weatherproofing in the foam area of the jacket, and also usually have some kind of waterproof coating on the outside of the jacket. Some even put a chemical treatment right into the down to make the down waterproof, which is known as hydrophobic down.
If you do decide to purchase a winter jacket for kids that uses down as the insulator, then you’ll want to get acquainted with what “fill power” means with down. “Fill power” measures how good the quality of the down is when it’s filled in the jacket, and is used to measure the volume of down in the jacket. When a jacket has a higher fill-power, that means the down is better and warmer overall compared to a jacket with a lower fill-power down. Also, hither-fill-power down tends to compress better, making it easier to pack down and bring along with you when the jacket isn’t in use.
Synthetic Insulation
A jacket that uses synthetic insulation has plasticized fibers spun into the garment that works similar to the way down insulates, helping to keep your body warm. Many manufacturers that make these jackets using synthetic insulation use excellent technology and high-quality materials that often make this type of filler more attractive than down for warmth and weather protection.
Synthetic insulation has one attractive quality about it that makes it perform better than down on certain occasions, and that’s the fact that synthetic insulation won’t clump when it gets wet, although the insulation the jacket provides when the synthetic insulation gets wet can still falter.
However, the insulative properties used with synthetic materials are typically not as affected by water as down well, and still, work to insulate. Also, synthetic materials used for insulation will dry out more quickly than down.
Synthetic insulation still has a downside to it. The more you compress and expand a winter jackets for kids with synthetic insulation in it, the more the jacket will start to lose some of its insulative properties. Also, synthetic insulation tends not to provide as much warmth as down insulation.
Pile Fabric
Made to resemble the hide and wool of sheep, pile fabric comes as a woven fabric attached to one side of the jacket. The pile fabric on the jacket will look like a thick layer of fuzzy fibers, like a sheep’s wool looks, found on the inside of the jacket.
Pile is an affordable material that is both water-repellents like synthetic insulation, and durable like down. However, pile insulation only offers a certain amount of thickness, so it can’t insulate jackets as well as down or synthetic fibers can.
Hybrid Insulation
Jackets with hybrid insulation features tend to combine various materials used for insulation to focus on insulation on your child’s torso. These kids' winter jackets are usually made for better performance and include an effective combination of insulative materials that help balance out all the positives with the negatives.
Features
The specific features of a kid's winter jacket can help to provide more warmth and comfort. For example, a hood will help to keep your child significantly warmer. If there isn’t a hood, you may want to make sure that the collar of the jacket comes up high enough to keep your child’s neck warm. Other features that a jacket may possess to boost warmth are elasticized wrist cuffs, drawcord hems, or removable layers.
There are many kids jackets on the market now that feature grow-fit sleeves. These jackets can be quite an investment, especially considering the rate at which kids grow. These grow-fit sleeves include a small seam inside that holds up (approximately) two extra inches of the sleeve!
Zippers and storage are other important features of a jacket, no matter how old you are. Zippered pockets are great for storing items, such as chapstick, a lift pass, or maybe even a couple of dollars for a hot chocolate. Whether the pockets are meant for storage or not, some feature fleece lining to help keep little hands warm! It’s always good to research as well if the zippers are smooth or not.
Some jackets even feature reflective zipper overlays to help you keep a better eye on your child while they are playing in the snow. While some features can drive up the price of a jacket, they are well worth it.
Style
The style of a kid's jacket is also something that shouldn't be overlooked. You know how your child likes to wear the same shirt or shoes or even ski pants all of the time because they like the color? It's the same with a jacket. If your child feels comfortable and confident in the jacket, they will be more inclined to wear it and be happy about it. For the style of the jacket, we focused on the colors, sizes, and prints that the jacket is offered in.
Weather Resistance
10 Best Winter Jackets For Kids
1. The North Face ThermoBall
Safety and protection from the elements are two major features of the North Face ThrmoBall Full-Zip Jacket, which offers enough insulation to keep your child warm through the cold winter months. Made from 100% nylon, these kids winter jackets have synthetic insulation go boost warmth no matter how cold it gets while you play outside.
Read moreMaterials
Made with PrimaLoft insulation, The North Face ThermoBall Full-Zip is lightweight and compressible, meaning it’s easy to carry and won’t weigh your child down when he or she wears it, and it provides adequate warmth each time your child puts it on. Plus, these best winter jackets for kids comes with its own hand pocket you can store it in, so it’s easy to break down and pack with you when it isn’t needed.
Insulation
The zipper closure on this coat helps to keep the warmth in, and the warm, quick-drying ThermoBall protection designed into these warmest winter coats for kids also helps to repel water and keep the weather elements out. Plus, each cuff on it has an elastic binding to help trap more warmth in around the arms.
Features
The North Face ThermoBall Full-Zip is also made with a reflective zip polyurethane pull, so it’s easier for your child to be seen even when the light is low outside. With its weather-resistant features and thermal insulation, this jacket will keep your child comfy and cozy during your winter adventures. You could also check our guide about the best ski jackets for kids.
Style
This kids winter jacket has visible tiny insulation squares all over it. It is available in TNF Black, Turkish Sea (blue), TNF Red, Graphite Gray, and Graphite Gray 2.
2. Marmot Ajax
Marmot has been around since the mid 1970s, and has consistently put out some great outerwear. We're talking about jackets and coats that are rugged enough for mountaineering, yet good looking enough to wear out around town. But, the brand can be overlooked when shopping for kid's outerwear. We can say that you might regret overlooking the Marmot Ajax.
Read moreThe Ajax will keep them warm. The 600 fill power down insulation is also resistant to moisture, with their Down Defender treatment. This treatment will also help keep the insulation fill from clumping together, leaving gaps for the cold to get through when the weather turns wet.
Your kid will also be able to have pretty free movement in their arms with what they call "angel wing movement". This jacket, like some others on our list, is not the cheapest one you could buy, but if you are looking for quality, durability, and ideal insulation for layering and extended outdoor use, this is one we would recommend.
3. Columbia Alpine Action
Columbia’s Alpine Action Jacket II offers your child several cutting-edge technology features that are built right into it to help you stay outside longer when the weather is cold. Made to be windproof, waterproof, and breathable, these kids winter jackets will keep your child going strong no matter how low the temperature drops.
Read moreMaterials
Columbia’s Alpine Action II is made with Columbia’s Omni-Heat Reflective fabric, which is a material designed to help with warmth and body temperature regulation. The small silver dots in the lining of these best jackets for boys also add an element of reflection in it so that your children's body heat is reflected into the coat, allowing better warmth to be created and then retained.
Insulation
While this kids coat helps to boost your warmth, it’s also quite breathable and made to wick away moisture as your child sweats, keeping moisture out and warmth in so that your child stays dry. Plus, the seams on it are sealed to help offer an extra element of protection, keeping warmth in and moisture out.
Features
With the best winter jackets for kids that come adjustable, snap back powder skirt, and silicone grippers are included in the powder skirt. This product also has great pocket features, including a ski pass pocket and zippered hand pockets, similar to ski jackets. With a pair of best kids gloves, your child will be protected when going on some winter adventure.
Style
This attractive jacket is available in multiple two-toned colors. The options are Black/Grill, Collegiate Navy/Super Blue, Dark Mountain/Red Spark, Forest/Cypress, and Grill/Python Green.
4. Columbia Whirlibird Interchange
Columbia’s Whirlibird Interchange Jacket is made to keep your child warm when the temperature gets chilly and features a performance fit design that’s made to move with your child as he or she moves. Plus, it is made to be waterproof, windproof, and still breathable, so your child will stay protected from the elements even if you are both outdoors for a long period of time.
Read moreMaterials
The body and insulation of these kids winter jackets are made from polyester, while the lining is comprised of nylon. The nylon works alongside a reflective lining to keep your child warm.
Insulation
Columbia’s Whirlibird Interchange Jacket also features Omni-Heat Reflective fabric technology to help regulate your child’s body temperature. Inside the interior lining, you’ll find reflective silver dots meant to use your child’s body heat to help retain warmth.
Features
The Columbia Whirlibird Interchange comes with an attached storm hood and a front zipper that includes an inner draft flap and outer storm flap for extra winter weather protection. Also, the jacket has zipped chest pockets and zipped hand pockets.
This jacket is also breathable, and wicks moisture and perspiration away, keeping water out and body temperature in. The Omni-Techy shell on it comes with a two-layer design that helps offers a fully waterproof membrane with seam-sealed technology to boost warmth and protection.
Style
This product offers your child a chance to express their personal style. For boys, the jacket is offered in Black Mountains Print, Dark MTN Mountains Print, Red Spark/Dark Mountain, and Super Blue/Collegiate Navy. For girls, the coat is offered in Black Floral Print, Nocturnal Floral Print, Pixie Floral Print, and Bright Plum/Nocturnal. Combining with some great snow boots for kids, your little one will be warm and cozy during those cold-weather adventures.
5. The North Face Apex Elevation
The North Face Apex Elevation is made to be a wind-resistant soft-shell jacket with insulation to help with cool, breezy conditions. Made from a nylon, polyester, taffeta, and tricot combination of materials, these kids winter jackets limit how much air can penetrate to help your child combat the wind chill factor when the weather drops.
Read moreMaterials
The North Face Apex Elevation is made with WindWall technology, which is a fleece fabric that helps with flexibility, breathability, and the comfort level of the jacket. At the same time, the WindWall technology in this jacket also helps to keep out the wind chill and boost warmth, helping to cut out 80-95% of the wind. If you also have a baby, you could consider investing in a high-quality baby snowsuit.
Insulation
Also designed for comfort, the North Face Apex Elevation is made with the qualities of down, but won’t respond to getting wet like down and still retains its shape and protection. Plus, the insulation built into this jacket helps to trap in the hot air and keep it in, so that your child won’t lose body heat while outside in the coal.
Features
The North Face Boys Apex Elevation Jacket comes with a lifetime warranty, is machine washable, and also has zip hand pockets, a fixed hood, adjustable cuffs, and an ID label. With this coat, your little one can stay warm and dry while playing outside for hours.
Style
This jacket looks like an adult's one that have been shrunk down in size. It is available in a few different two-toned styles. The options are Conquer Blue, Cosmic Blue/Bright Cobalt Blue, Cosmic Blue, and Graphite Gray/TNF Black.
6. The North Face TriClimate
The North Face TriClimate Jacket is designed to give you all the protection they need from the wet, cold weather, offering a 3-in-1 jacket that combines with a waterproof shell and a warm, soft, fleece liner. This kids winter jacket can be worn snapped together or separately depending on the weather, providing your child with some nice options for cold days.
Read moreMaterials
The North Face TriClimate is made with Dryvent fabric technology implemented into the materials of the jacket, making the product totally waterproof, windproof, and still breathable. Also, the outer area is also treated with a finish that helps repel water off the jacket’s surface.
Insulation
Inside of this kids winter jacket, the textile system is made to let water vapor escape from the inside to the outside, meaning your child won’t feel too warm even if he or she sweats, and the perspiration won’t be trapped in the jacket. This product is also very comfortable and cozy because of the fleece liner, and since you can remove parts of the jacket, it is versatile for a wide variety of weather conditions.
Features
This jacket comes with North Face’s lifetime warranty, is fully machine washable, and has zip hand pockets to keep your child’s hands warm. With its versatility and warmth, you’ll have the best winter jackets for kids that will keep your children warm for hours of winter fun.
Style
The tri-climate jacket is available in different colors, depending on where you shop. As an example, on Amazon, the boy's version is offered in Turkish Sea and TNF Black Heather/TNF Black. The girl's version is offered in TNF White, Atomic Pink, Kokomo Green, TNF White/TNF Black, TNF Black, Dahlia Purple, and TNF Black/Pink.
7. Columbia Bugaboo Interchange
Columbia’s Bugaboo Interchange brings comfort plus an adjustable “Outgrown” system that means the jacket can adjust as your child grows, so you’ll get a lot of use out of the jacket. Plus, this jacket is made to be both waterproof and windproof, featuring Omni-Tech technology and sealed seams for extra warmth and protection from the elements.
Read moreMaterials
Columbia’s Bugaboo Interchange Jacket provides full weather protection but is still very breathable with its three-layer, lightweight bonded design. This jacket is made to be easy-to-carry and pack down as well and doesn’t weigh much, so it’s easy to pack down when it’s not in use.
Insulation
Also, the Omni-Heat Reflective technology present on the interior of this jacket helps to regulate the temperature inside it via tiny silver reflective dots that reflect your child’s body heat back into the kids coat. This reflective heat technology feature helps to increase your child’s warmth oh the inside of the jacket so he or she can play outside in the snow for many hours.
Features
Columbia’s Bugaboo Interchange Jacket is also machine washable, has kangaroo hand pockets, and inner zip pockets to help keep your child’s important items safe. Also made with a drop tail hem and toggled drawcord, you can adjust this kids warm coat to fit just right and keep your child warm.
Style
Are you ready? This winter jacket for kids is available in many different colors and prints. There is bound to be a style in here that calls out to your child. For girls, it is offered in Black Triangles Print, Collegiate Navy Blocks Print, Cypress Triangles Print, Deep Blush Triangles Print, Faded Sky Floral Camo, Hot Coral Floral Camo, and Pacific Rim Floral Camo. For boys, the jacket is offered in Mountain Red Camo, Cyber Green Camo, Marine Blue Print, Super Blue Print, Black/Graphite, Mountain Red, Black Camo, Black/Gray Ash, Deep Wave Print, Super Blue, Black Print/Black, Green Mamba Camo, and Marine Blue Camo.
8. The North Face Mossbud Swirl
The Mossbud Swirl jackets are yet another great warmest winter coats for girls from The North Face. The versatility of a reversible jacket and Heatseeker technology make this jacket stand out. With the taffeta material on the outside, your child will be protected from wind and light rain. We also love that this jacket is available in twenty-four different colors and prints!
Read moreMaterials
Depending on how you wear it, the inside of the jacket can be the outside and the outside can be the inside. So, let’s break it down both ways. The Polyester Taffeta side has a DWR finish and horizontal quilting. The other side is made from a Polyester-textured high pile silken fleece. Both sides of the jacket are extremely comfortable on the skin.
Insulation
This jacket has synthetic 100g Heatseeker insulation. The Heatseeker technology helps to provide optimal warmth without adding extra weight to the jacket and still allowing it to be easily compressed. The 100g of insulation is great for spring autumn, but if you will be in harsher temperatures, it would be a good idea to add a few layers underneath this jacket.
Features
Besides the fact that this jacket is reversible, it also features welt-zippered pockets on both sides of the coat. This means that no matter which way you are wearing it, you will have flat-seamed zippered pockets. With the taffeta exterior on the outside, the jacket is wind and water-resistant.
To top it all off, this jacket is machine washable and comes with a lifetime warranty from The North Face!
Style
We love the style of these winter jackets for kids. It seems to be geared more towards little girls but with all of the great color choices, it could go either way. This jacket is offered in twenty-four different colors, combinations, and patterns!
9. The North Face Perrito
The North Face Perrito Jacket brings your child a versatile option with varied insulation, water-repellent nylon, and comfort. You’ll be able to keep your child warm with this cool jacket for kids, which also can be reversed from the water-repellent nylon side to a soft, quilted side, giving you versatility for a wide variety of weather conditions.
Read moreMaterials
This jacket is made from polyester taffeta and finished with a DWR treatment. The insulation is provided by Heat Seeker and this jacket features 200 G for the body, 150 G for the arms, and 100 G for the hood.
Insulation
The Perrito Jacket includes elastane binding on the cuffs and hood, making the jacket flexible and helping to trap the insulated warmth of the interior jacket into the inside of the jacket. Plus, the jacket includes an embroidered logo on the front and back, adapting to its reversible features.
Features
With effective water protection, warmth, and reversible versatility, your child will have what he or she needs to stay warm while playing outside for long periods of time. Plus, this jacket also comes with the North Face lifetime warranty and is fully machine washable.
Style
The Perrito Jacket also comes in a wide variety of styles and colors, so your child can pick his or her favorite and look good while staying warm. Plus, the jacket also has side welt hand pockets, which allows your child to bring important items along, or to keep his or her hands warm during colder weather. This winter jacket for kids can be a great addition if your little one decides to put on his favorite skis for kids and goes on an adventure.
10. The North Face Warm Storm
The North Face’s Warm Storm Jacket is made to keep your child warm through the rain and snow with its waterproof and fully sealed seams. You won’t have to worry about your child staying warm and dry when the weather gets cold and wet with this jacket since it has an interior lining made to boost warmth which can be sealed in with the full front zipper closure.
Read moreMaterials
Made with Dryvent fabric technology, The North Face Warm Storm Jacket’s design is made to be totally waterproof, windproof, and breathable. Plus, the outer part of this jacket is treated with an extra layer of water-repelling finish so that water drops will bead off the jacket.
Insulation
On The North Face Warm Storm Jacket, there is also a fixed hood feature that gives your child’s head more protection from the water as well as helping to provide heat. Plus, these best winter jackets for toddlers also features two zip-hand warming pockets to help keep your child’s digits warm even when playing in very cold, very wet weather.
Features
The Dryvent technology in the kids winter jacket also helps to keep water vapor pushed to the exterior of the jacket, meaning your child won’t feel wet or uncomfortable as he or she sweats. Plus, with front and back reflective logos, it will be easy for you to see your child even in low light conditions.
Style
This best toddler winter coat is available in many different two-toned color combinations for both boys and girls. There are over eight different combinations ranging from Black/White to Bermuda Green/Metallic Silver!