Gear Review: Marmot Storm Shield Kids Rain Jacket

Marmot Storm Shield Kids Rain Jacket

Kids Rain Jacket
Marmot Storm Shield
$65, 14 oz. (L/10-12)
Sizes: boys and girls XS-XL
marmot.com

It can be challenging to find kids outdoor apparel that delivers the quality and performance for adult-size backcountry adventures. So I was delighted to come across the Storm Shield. My 12-year-old son got a lot of use out of this jacket all summer. In Idaho’s City of Rocks, he wore the jacket through hard rain and gusts over 40 mph. On a two-pitch rock climb there, he stayed dry and warm while we rappelled off when a snow squall rolled in suddenly, hammering us with graupel, snow, and high winds. And on a weeklong, hut-to-hut trek in Norway’s Jotunheimen National Park, he practically lived in this jacket: we hiked several days through cold rain and wind with temperatures in the 30s and 40s, and cool winds even when the sun came out and the temp rose above 50° F.

The PreCip waterproof-breathable membrane and taped seams repelled all precipitation and cut the wind very well. The hood isn’t adjustable, only elasticized, but has a brim that protects the face well, and my son never had a problem with wind blowing the hood off his head. There’s room for layering a fleece underneath the jacket, which also has two hand-warmer pockets. While breathability was good in cooler temps, I think the jacket would get a little steamy if he were exerting hard—like hiking uphill with a backpack—in a warm rain. The Storm Shield is a well-priced kids rain jacket that performs like a mid-priced adult shell.

Looking for a kids’ shell jacket for winter? See my review of the REI Salix Insulated Jacket.

NOTE: I’ve been testing gear for Backpacker Magazine for 20 years. At The Big Outside, I review only what I consider the best outdoor gear and apparel. See all of my reviews by clicking on the Gear Reviews category at left or in the main menu. See more reviews of backpacking gear I like by clicking on the “backpacking gear reviews” tag in the tag cloud in the left sidebar.

—Michael Lanza

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