Kids Ski Jackets

We offer a broad selection of kids ski jackets at competitive prices from trusted ski wear brands such as Dare 2B and Trespass. If your girl or boy needs to find a ski jacket to suit their experience and type of skiing we have something to fit the bill, from entry-level beginners’ jackets through to advance ski jackets featuring superior technologies and performance to keep your children warm and dry in all alpine conditions.

Buying Tips & Guide for Kids Ski Jackets

Performance & Price

Let us be honest, we know your children are growing and that the lifespan of any skiwear you buy for them might be short lived, so we try and provide genuine value for money, balancing price against performance. If you are working to a budget and need cheap ski jackets for your kids, we offer very reasonable pricing and we also offer products with great performance and technology - so they will stay warm and dry.

Likewise if you child is an advanced skier and skis off-piste or in more challenging conditions, then we also provide advance technology jackets that will ensure they can focus on their skiing, assured their skiwear will keep performing. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the consideration when buying a ski jacket for your child:-

Waterproofing performance

Waterproof as an industry term is somewhat Orwellian – some waterproofing is more waterproof than others. Think of the term waterproof as a fairly loose scale ranging from light shower-proof at one end up to impermeable / airtight at the other (which would be totally waterproof). The scale is measured using the static column water resistance test. This test measures the height in millimetres of a column of water that is 1-inch in diameter that can be poured onto the garment without water getting through. So, the higher this number, the more “waterproof” it can be considered. For skiing, we would recommend a minimum of 2000mm if your child is a beginner, learning on groomed pistes. If your child is an intermediate or advanced skier, likely to ski in powder found in backcountry/off-piste environments, then we would suggest 5000mm as a recommended minimum waterproofing level. Here is a synopsis of the levels of waterproofing and their suitability:-

• 0mm – no waterproofing at all – blotting paper/dish cloth/tea towels
• 0mm – 1500mm – resistant to light showers – think stretch softshells you would only consider if there was a limited chance of light rain
• 1500mm- 5000mm – rainproof, but not waterproof under pressure – so sitting on kneeling on snow for more than a short time will force melt water through and lead to dampness. Basic/entry level skiwear of this calibre would be suitable for groomed/maintain piste and decent conditions – good for beginners who may not be sure if skiing is a passion yet and need some low cost ski gear
• 5000mm – 15000mm – totally rainproof and good waterproof performance under pressure – your child will be able to sit on the snow for quite a while before there is any chance of getting wet. Perfect for intermediate skiers facing backcountry powder and deeper snow
• 15000mm – 30000mm – waterproof even under pressure – Gore-Tex and eVent and other PU laminates and PTFE membranes. This level will keep your child dry in the wettest conditions (heavy downpours/shallow submersion/ all day in deep or drifting snow). This level of waterproof performance is ideal for kids wanting to go off piste and ski the backcountry where deep powder is the norm
• 30000mm plus – totally waterproof – think lemonade bottle! There is zero chance of your child getting wet from the outside wearing anything rated this high. However, because this level of waterproofing by its nature will be nearer the more impermeable end of the spectrum, breathability is the other key consideration you need to gauge alongside this waterproofing. Can perspiration and water vapour generated on the inside escape? If so, then this is high-performance (bleeding-edge) technology – and if you buy this level for your child they are a very lucky person - and will certainly be dry!

Breathability

Skiing is an active sport, so clothing needs to be breathable to prevent condensation forming on the interior of the jacket from sweat/perspiration. Standardised testing of breathability does not exist. Even though most manufacturers will express their rating using the same formula (g/m2/24h) their laboratory conditions vary, so comparing brands is difficult. The best way to gauge levels of breathability is comparing products from the same manufacturer where you know the testing regime is the same.

The formula g/m2/24h (sometimes also expressed as MVP – moisture vapour perspiration) measures how many grams of water vapour pass through a square meter of fabric in 24 hours – so the higher the rating the more breathable it is. Here is a quick breakdown of the levels of performance you can generally expect:-

• 0 g/m²/24h not breathable at all – condensation will form very easily and base layers and mid layers would become saturate quickly when sweating occurs
• 0 g/m²/24h – 2000 g/m²/24h – moderate breathability, condensation will form if your child is sweating moderately - wicking base layers and mid layers may become saturated in these circumstances
• 2000 g/m²/24h – 5000 g/m²/24h – decent breathability, condensation will form, especially if your child is sweating heavily and wicking base layers and mid layers may become saturated at peaks when perspiration is heavy - suitable for less strenuous activities – think gentle carving on blue and green groomed pistes
• 5000 g/m²/24h – 15000 g/m²/24h – good breathability, condensation may occur during period of heavy sweating – base layers and mid layers are unlikely to become saturated as vapour is efficiently passed through the garment’s fabric - suitable for moderate activity – think fast on-piste skiing on reds and blacks
• 15000 g/m²/24h – 30000 g/m²/24h – excellent breathability, condensation may sometimes occur during very intense sweating, but should dissipate quickly as work rates slacken - suitable for very strenuous activities where heavy sweating is likely (off-piste, deep powder and mogul fields)
• 30000 g/m²/24h plus – this is top-end performance and is suitable for winter athletes and the serious skiers where work rates and sweating are extreme. Few children (who tend to perspire less anyway) will require anything this advanced or expensive - this is really premium ski gear.

Venting

Allowing airflow through vents is a quick and easy way to regulate heat and perspiration levels. So many children’s ski jackets will provide venting features to allow your kids to control their temperature and humidity. Common venting includes underarm zip-vents, waist and chest pocket venting, sleeve/forearm venting - so look for these features in the product specifications.

Ergonomics & Features

You may wish to consider stretch fabrics (2-way and 4-way) which provide greater freedom of movement and ergonomic comfort. Ski softshells can provide fleece like comfort and movement with windproof and waterproof protection too. So both stretch jackets and softshells should allow your child to adopt the right stance/body position when skiing – making it much more easy to do it well.

Other features worth looking for:-

• Hood design - will it accommodate a ski helmet, does it detach or pack away, and does it have a stiffened brim so it holds its shape at speed?
• Lining – mesh, brushed microfibre or fleece?
• Ski pass pockets – does the forearm have a pocket for your child’s lift pass?
• Glove hooks/karabiners – so they can attach their gloves when not wearing them
• Goggle pocket – a large accessible pocket for stowing goggles
• Snow skirts, waist and hem draw cords – prevent snow and powder getting up under your child’s jacket when skiing in powder of if they wipe out
• Storm flaps – prevent snow/wind going through zips
• MP3 player pockets/phone pockets – usually with a hole for the earphones to pass through easily
• Taped seams – should always be present in “waterproof” garments on stitched seams – ideally “fully sealed” meaning all seams are protected not just the major joins (shoulders, collar, arms etc).

Windproofing & Insulation

The more advanced your child is as a skier, the faster they are likely to be skiing, so wind chill is something they must be protected against. Ski jackets should have windproof protection as standard – however, some thicker traditional padded ski jackets will offer much more windproof protection than a shell jacket. So if your child is skiing using a thinner shell ski jacket, be aware that they may need additional base layers and/or mid layer fleeces/softshells to augment the windproof shielding on colder days. Also be aware that softshells are not always windproof, so check the specifications if contemplating a softshell as a ski jacket/mid layer flexible combination ski system.

The same logic applies to insulation when facing colder climes and times of year. If the region your kid will be skiing in is colder then think about either a traditional thicker padded style of ski jacket. If they are going to be using a lightweight outer ski shell then you will need to make sure they have more layers underneath - double-up on mid-layers, or use high pile fleeces or even use a softshell jacket as a mid-layer.