The Best Kids’ Gear of 2024

Published October 11, 2023 11:50AM

High-quality kids’ gear equals a higher likelihood that kids will have good times in the snow. Parents can get away with poorly made products in the summertime when the stakes aren’t as high, but they just can’t pull off a full day of playing in freezing temps if their kiddo doesn’t have gear that stands up to the elements. Below are six pieces that have been heavily vetted to avoid those miserable core winter memories.

Winners at a Glance

The Reviews: The Best Kids’ Gear of 2024

Obermeyer Quinn One-Piece ($180)

This one-piece saw over 100 days of serious use from our wee testers and is still in fabulous shape to be handed down next season—thanks to Obermeyer’s burly high denier polyester outer and the reinforced knees and shoulders. “My son destroys stuff. If it is a lesser-made piece of gear, it doesn’t last more than a few weeks. This still looks great at the end of the season,” Kwak-Hefferan said. On top of giving it heavy use through an entire winter at an outdoor school, the young Kwak-Hefferan put it through the ultimate test, sliding on his belly down a rough snow bank during a cabin trip with his folks. The Quinn was also Jojo’s ski apparel of choice thanks to its remarkable proprietary waterproofing material and fleece ear warmers inside the built in hood. It kept her smiling and high-fiving while lapping the bunny hill at Mt. Ashland on a day with 25 mph winds and temps dipping below 10 degrees.

Sizing: 1-8
Bottom Line: The most protective one-piece for the hardest charging wee-ins.

Iksplor Kids Merino Base Layer Set ($109)

The longer a kid is willing to keep on their baselayers, the better quality the product likely is. These supple 18.9-micron merino wool layers were comfortable enough that Kwak-Hefferen’s daughter wore them as both outdoor playtime gear and as camping pajamas. “We would hear about it if they were uncomfortable or itchy, and we did not hear about it,” Kwak-Hefferan said. “My daughter wore them at night and then into the morning, all through the winter. They do what merino is supposed to do.” Namely to add nice few-degree thermal bump and to significantly mitigate odor while worn continuously over the course of multiple days. The medium-weight base layer kit served testers well in temps ranging from zero degrees to 40 degrees and the purple colorway made them a favorite for fashion-focused toddlers.

Sizing: 2T-5T, 6-12 YR
Bottom Line: A single next-to-skin layer for all of your kid’s winter needs.

Town Hall About Town Anorak ($100)

A solid anorak with a kangaroo pocket is supremely useful in anyone’s outdoor winter kit—whether the adventurer be small or large. This highly packable shell from Steamboat-based Town Hall proved a winner all winter long in the unpredictable and rainy testing grounds of the Pacific Northwest. Its recycled polyester material shed water in torrential downpours with aplomb and being able to stuff the shell down to the size of a tangerine made it easy to fit into a standard hip pack (even with snacks, a wallet, and a phone). It quickly became a must-bring piece to hedge bets against a soggy afternoon when spending full days outdoors.

Sizing: XS-L, (Ages 5-14)
Bottom Line: An ideal take-anywhere safety net for unexpected storms.

Cotopaxi Kids Fuego Down Hooded Jacket ($150)

We love it when a company makes a children’s version of our favorite adult gear. The Kids Fuego Down Hooded jacket matches the iconic multi-colored panels of the adult version from Cotopaxi, and proved just as adaptable as it was aesthetic. A seven year-old tester wore one under a shell while skiing in temps around 12 degrees Fahrenheit and also wore it on its own to school when the thermometer rose to the low 40s. The zippered hand pockets proved invaluable for holding on to important finds on hikes, like pinecones and early-season wildflowers, and the elastic cuffs kept snow from sneaking into sleeves while making snow-people during a December storm.

Sizing: XS-XL
Bottom Line: Matches your favorite adult puffy in both style and performance.

Ridge Merino Kids Hyde Pullover Merino Hoodie ($80)

This pullover hoodie from Ridge Merino, based in Mammoth Lakes CA, proved remarkably versatile. It’s woven from super soft 18.5 micron 100 percent merino wool and proved supple enough to be worn as pajamas during a week-long camping trip. The terry-knit survived a full winter of abuse as Jojo’s go-to hoodie. The large kangaroo pouch in front was a welcome shelter to cold hands on chilly hikes in the 40s. And the hood sat organically under a helmet, offering much appreciated ear warmth on a ski day with temps hitting below 10 degrees with wind chill.

Sizing: XS-XL
Bottom Line: A hearty best friend that’ll compliment any winter kit.

Elan Starr Jrs Skis ($240)

Elan claims that their proprietary U-flex technology adds 25 percent more flex to certain pairs of their skis, including the Starr Jrs. We had no real way of substantiating that in our low tech but high stoke testing group (stay tuned for Outside’s Gear Lab, coming this fall), but we can confirm that five-year old Jojo had major breakthroughs in her pressure control on these skis. More importantly, when asked her opinion on her new sticks after ten runs on the magic carpet at Mt. Ashland, she yelled: “I love them!” On top of offering a playful and light platform on which to build young skiers’ skills, the Star Jrs’ early rise rocker make initiating turns just the slightest bit less onerous—another factor that likely added to Jojo’s lightning fast progression this year. Parents appreciated the included adjustable bindings which not only cut down on overall cost, but will make them a viable ski for at least two seasons without needing to remount.

Bottom Line: These skis are so playful to ski on that your kiddo won’t be able to help but progress on them.

How to Buy Kids Gear

Invest In Quality Gear

Quality kids’ winter gear is a worthwhile investment. It is tough to invest a lot of money in layers and jackets that kids grow out of in a season, we know. It is even worse, though, to have to pack up and head home after driving to the resort, buying expensive lift tickets, and only skiing for an hour.

Buy Used

If you’re worried about the cost (not to mention your carbon footprint from buying new clothes every season), consider buying used. Kid’s apparel is arguably the best category of outdoor gear to go bargain hunting for. Most children’s soft goods that you’ll find at a consignment shop are only lightly used, because kids, especially younger ones, outgrow their clothing in a single season. As an added bonus, when your own wee ones outgrow the gear, you can deliver them right back to the same consignment store and potentially recoup part of your small investment.

Build a Kit from the Inside Out

Start with high quality base layers. They are the crux of a comfortable kit since they sit next to a kiddo’s skin, and they also can be worn around town or as pajamas. When it comes to anything that will touch the skin, buy based on feel: touch baselayers before buying them to double-check that they are comfortable next-to-skin (itchy, chafed, kids are unhappy campers no matter how well the layer warms or wicks). A solid waterproof layer should be purchased next, followed by an insulating layer like a down jacket. When it comes to outer layers, go burly. Heavy-duty waterproofing is considerably more important than breathability for small children.

How We Tested

We depended on parents to coordinate the testing, but listened closely to the kiddos themselves when they had something to say about the gear we put them in. We have found that paying close attention to the children’s opinions about their gearwhile adventuring in the elements yields some of the best testers’ notes ever. Unlike most of us adults, they are readily willing to display their displeasure and do not have any bias through prices or brand loyalty. We tested in Montana, Oregon, and California—from Glacier National Park to Mt. Bachelor.

Meet the Lead Testers

Joe Jackson

Category lead Joe Jackson has been testing gear professionally for Outside for over a decade. His nearly six year old daughter, Jojo, has been testing gear for this publication since the day she left the hospital she was born in.

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan

Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan has been testing and writing about gear for Backpacker for a decade, so her two children were also born into this world of gear. Her eldest, a five year-old boy, attended an outdoor-focused school during a Montana winter, making him both an exceptionally tough young individual and all-time tester for the category.