Even in the summer, it doesn’t go amiss to be prepared for rain in the UK. Investing in a decent waterproof coat is essential if you want to encourage the kids to get outside. However, not all children’s raincoats are made equal.
How well a waterproof jacket will hold up depends on its waterproof rating. Waterproof up to 2,000mm means the coat is suitable for light rain (so you should be fine in short showers), up to 5,000mm is ideal for moderate rain, while up to 10,000mm offers protection against heavy rain.
If your little one will be wearing the coat often, you want it to be durable and super-easy to clean, and you’ll also want to consider what kind of temperatures or time of year they’ll get used the most (some are lightweight, others have fleece lining or padding) and what they are going to be used for – whether that’s school, day to day, or walking holidays.
Children don’t tend to stay still for long, so you want to look for raincoats that offer a good level of breathability to stop them getting hot and bothered. Look out for clever fit details such as adjustable cuffs, longer lengths and peaked hoods, along with reflective panels on it to increase visibility on winter mornings.
Practicalities aside, we are talking about kids’ raincoats after all, so of course bright colours and cute patterns will always be appreciated. We’ve included a mix of school-appropriate colour ways and some fun designs which score high on kid-appeal.
How we tested
We rounded up a team of child testers ranging from 18 months to 12 years, to put a range of waterproof coats and jackets to the test. These were put through their paces for over a month on rainy walks and bike rides, soggy trips to the park and even on an eventful camping trip to the Peak District during Storm Lilian.
We assessed everything from comfort, how freely they were able to move in their coats, the breathability, fit details and levels of waterproof protection offered to durability, style, and of course whether they offered value for money. Here are the ones that made the cut.
The best kids’ raincoats are:
- Best overall – PO.P waterproof kids school coat: £80, Polarnopyret.co.uk
- Best fleece-lined raincoat – Muddy Puddles ecosplash fleece lined jacket: £27.50, Muddypuddles.com
- Best raincoat for toddlers – JoJo Maman Bébé waterproof fisherman’s jacket: £39, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk
