Narrowing the Field

Kyoto: Hiking from Kibune to Kurama

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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.

What Exactly Does Your Child Need?
The big question to ask is whether your child needs a waterproof or water-repellent raincoat. The answer depends on what your activities are going to be. If you know your child is likely to be outdoors in heavy rain for extended periods of time, he or she obviously needs a waterproof jacket. However, if you just want something to tuck in a backpack for those unexpected summer showers, a water-repellent nylon jacket or something similar may suffice.

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.