Kids Down Jacket
Patagonia Girls/Boys Down Sweater
$99, 10 oz. (girls medium)
Sizes: boys and girls XS (5-6) to XXL (16-18)
patagonia.com
The first indicator that this kids’ down jacket was a good pick: My 10-year-old daughter didn’t want to take it off, wearing it daily to school and even around the house. Your kid loves it—that’s a plus. I like it for the performance. She wore this puffy while car camping and backpacking in late March in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, when low temperatures ranged from the mid-teens to the 40s, as well as resort skiing (under a shell jacket) and to school on many winter and spring days. While camping, temps in the low 20s were at the jacket’s limit, although you could layer a light insulation piece under it.
There is much to recommend this puffy jacket beyond its fashion appeal—and being available in pink. The 600-fill-power goose down makes it fairly compressible and keeps it affordable. The ultralight, wind-resistant, 20-denier polyester mini ripstop shell fabric is reasonably tear resistant and has a durable water-repellent finish to repel light moisture (though not rain—it doesn’t have water-resistant down or a waterproof shell). The high collar covers the neck, and a flap behind the front zipper plus elasticized cuffs keep out wind. Zippered, warm hand pockets complete a high-value piece of children’s apparel.
See all of my reviews of kids’ outdoor gear.
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.
—Michael Lanza