The wonderful thing about rain slickers is that kids seem to love them. Maybe they just like an excuse to splash in puddles. Maybe it's because they know they look so cute in slickers. What's more, parents are grateful because this necessary piece of gear enables everyone to get out of the house on a rainy day.

Remember those raincoats most of us wore as kids? The kind made of thick, rubbery material that weighed a ton and left you sweaty all over?

The great news is that kids today can stay dry without having to suffer like we did, thanks to advances in materials. For adults, there's waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex, which is fine for kids, too, but pricey when you consider that a child's jacket may last only one season. Luckily, many less-expensive materials, such as supple PVC, will also keep your kids dry.

Narrowing the Field

Last summer, when my twin girls were barely a year old, I knew we wouldn't be taking extended hikes in the rain, so we simply got water-repellent, hooded jackets (on sale at the Gap, in fact), which could be easily tucked inside our backpacks. This year, however, we plan to be a bit more adventuresome, so I bought each a supple PVC hooded slicker.

Perhaps your closets, like ours, are jammed with too many coats. I have a light windbreaker for beach walking, a heavy windbreaker for cooler weather, and two polar fleece jackets, just to name a few pieces of outerwear. Such an assortment can be useful for an adult, but few parents want to buy lots of different jackets for a child who is likely to quickly outgrow them.

Here are a few questions to help you determine your child's exact rain gear needs:

	For how long and where might we be caught in the rain? Do you hike no matter what the weather is, or do you cancel a hike if the weather looks bad? Are you a city family likely to be walking the streets in rainstorms, as opposed to a suburban family traveling from place to place in a car or van?
	What are the temperatures likely to be during your outings? Raincoats come in many weights, some lined, some ultra lightweight, so determine whether you want summertime outerwear or something more appropriate for cooler temperatures.
	What will be the main use of this jacket? Is it going to be all-purpose rain gear? Will it be used for day-to-day activities and school, or will it mainly be a jacket used for hiking? Keep in mind that the best gear for hiking is lightweight and easily tucked away in a backpack without weighing too much or taking up too much space.

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