Testing Everything Takes time
While we test gear in the field for these categories, check out some of our favorite guides below!
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Cat & Jack Kids’ Solid Rain Coat Review
The Cat & Jack is our budget pick for kids’ rain jackets at $30 — water-resistant, not waterproof, but genuinely good for light rain and cold drizzle.
Columbia Glennaker Rain Jacket — Boys’ Review
The Columbia Glennaker is waterproof fabric without a membrane or seam sealing — honest about what it is and perfect for what it’s for.
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket — Kids’ Review
We tested the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L in actual Colorado graupel and it held up completely.
The North Face Antora Rain Jacket — Kids’ Review
The North Face Antora is the jacket Cypress, 4, keeps asking for by name — tested on a .8-mile loop in the rain in Cincinnati and completely dry for two hours.
Columbia Watertight II Jacket — Boys’ Review
The Columbia Watertight II is the jacket we reach for on rainy school days and park runs — tested on a 4-year-old at a farm school where outside time is mandatory.
REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket — Kids’ Review
The REI Rainier is our top pick for kids’ rain jackets, and it earned that spot in real conditions — a rainy February music festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where Cypress, 4, wore it for full days in wind and sustained rain and stayed completely dry.
Best Rain Jackets for Kids 2026
We tested nine kids’ rain jackets across real conditions — a music festival in a rainstorm, nature walks in Colorado graupel, rainy park days in Cincinnati, and a road trip through five states.
Sunday Afternoons Kids’ Play Hat Review
A four-year-old chose this hat voluntarily from a lineup of seven. That’s the review. The only catch: it’s a lot of hat for a kid who’s already resistant to wearing one.
The 5 Best Hikes for Kids in Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park can feel intimidating for families. Many of the best-known trails involve serious elevation or long approaches. We spent a month finding the hikes where the scenery-to-effort ratio actually works with kids — two waterfalls, a boat ride, and one lake loop worth every step.
