L.L. Bean Kids’ Trail Model Rain Jacket Review

The L.L. Bean Trail Model is our runner-up for kids’ rain jackets, and it came close to taking the top spot. We tested it on a rainy Cincinnati park day with Cypress, 4, who located the chest pocket within ninety seconds of putting it on and spent the next hour filling it with pine cones. The 2.5-layer TEK shell with fully taped seams is extremely well sealed, the zipper pull is the longest and easiest for small hands we found in this entire category, and the jacket packs into its own chest pocket — a detail we confirmed on the product page and didn’t fully appreciate until we dug in. If you want one jacket that does nearly everything, and your kid has opinions about pockets, this might actually be the one.

4.5/5.0

Best kids' rain jacket for features and durability

L.L. Bean Kids’ Trail Model Rain Jacket

Longest zipper pull in the lineup, great for smaller hands, chest pocket your kid will immediately claim, and extremely well sealed for the price.

Shop at L.L. Bean$80

Sizes: 4–18 (fits approx. ages 4–16) | Waterproof: Yes — 2.5-layer TEK shell, fully taped seams | Windproof: Yes — wind resistant confirmed | Weight: Not listed for kids’ size | Fabric: 100% two-layer TEK2.0 ripstop nylon, polyester tricot chin guard

Is the L.L. Bean Trail Model waterproof?

Yes, and wind resistant. The 2.5-layer TEK shell with fully taped seams is extremely well sealed — more thoroughly than most kids’ waterproof jackets in this range. We tested it in Cincinnati in a light drizzle that had been going most of the weekend, and Cypress stayed dry for the full outing.

Where we tested the L.L. Bean Trail Model

We were at a Cincinnati park — light drizzle, wet pavement, bare trees, the kind of grey morning where you go outside more out of principle than enthusiasm and end up glad you did. We needed to get the kids out of the house. We did our puddle-jumping loop. Cypress wore the teal Trail Model.

He found the chest pocket within approximately ninety seconds of putting the jacket on. Spent the next hour filling it with pine cones. He had a system.

A note on L.L. Bean

L.L. Bean doesn’t have the cachet of Patagonia or the outdoor-specific credibility of REI, but most of us have a childhood memory that involves an L.L. Bean duffel bag — the canvas tote with the name in block letters that showed up at sleepovers and summer camps and has probably been in continuous use since the early 90s. That’s not an accident. L.L. Bean has been making reliable gear for a long time, and the Trail Model reflects that. OG outdoor brand that doesn’t need to announce itself. They also back everything they make.

L.L. Bean Trail Model features — what actually stood out

The zipper pull is the longest we tested in any kids’ rain jacket. Genuinely easy for small hands to grab and operate independently. Cypress could zip himself up without help, which sounds minor until you’ve stood in the rain doing it for a kid every single time. The storm flap has Velcro running up it, and soft fabric lines the top few inches of the zipper on the inside — partial chin protection even without a traditional chin guard.

The jacket looks really good. The two-tone colorblock design in teal is classic without trying too hard, and it looks like a jacket a kid actually wants to wear.

The seam sealing is excellent — thorough, visible, confidence-inspiring. Hood has elastic on the sides for a snug fit. Two large side pockets with a dense mesh interior — tight enough that pine cones stay put. And the chest pocket, which Cypress found in ninety seconds and never stopped using. Two interior pockets discovered mid-test — bonus dry storage. Our two-year-old already knows pockets are great and runs up saying “pocket pocket” — the Trail Model has enough to satisfy even the most serious pocket enthusiast.

Reflectors on the front shoulders, back of both sleeves, and along the top of the back — the most comprehensive reflective coverage we tested. Good for low-light school pick-ups and early morning hikes.

The jacket also carries a hand-me-down label inside to track each adventurer year after year. L.L. Bean built the expectation of passing it down right into the product.

We ordered size 4 and the sleeves ran long — room to grow, which is what you want.

What doesn’t work on the L.L. Bean Trail Model

There’s a reinforced interior flap that houses the inner pockets. It looks solid and well-constructed, but it’s an extra moving part in a kids’ jacket. Something to keep an eye on over years of hard use.

No hood visor and no Velcro adjustment at the back of the hood — the elastic on the sides does a good job but you can’t customize much beyond that.

How to care for the L.L. Bean Trail Model

Machine wash and dry — no special care required. The TEK shell is straightforward to maintain. L.L. Bean recommends machine washing and tumble drying, which makes this one of the lower-maintenance jackets in our lineup.

Does the L.L. Bean Trail Model pack down?

Yes — and this is a bigger deal than we initially captured. The Trail Model packs into its own chest pocket. Turn the chest pocket inside out, stuff the jacket inside, zip closed. For a planned rain jacket that you’re bringing to a music festival or camping trip, that packability changes the calculus. It’s not a car-stash jacket in the grab-it-crumpled sense, but it’s more packable than we gave it credit for.

L.L. Bean Trail Model sizing guide

We tested size 4 on Cypress at age 4 — sleeves ran long, good room to grow. Body proportions were right. If your 4-year-old is smaller, consider whether the next size down might work better; the jacket is cut generously. The long sleeves are a feature for sizing up, not a flaw.

Who is the L.L. Bean Trail Model best for?

The kid who is serious about their pocket situation (all kids). The family that wants a durable, wind-resistant, extremely well-sealed, feature-complete kids’ rain jacket that also packs into its own pocket and looks great. L.L. Bean backs everything they make.

Pro tip: The jacket packs into its own chest pocket. We didn’t know this until we dug into the product page. More packable than it looks.

How the L.L. Bean Trail Model compares to other kids’ rain jackets