11 best kids’ raincoats that keep them dry during showers and downpours

As soon as this coat was unboxed, my eight-year-old tester claimed it as their own. It comes in three gender-neutral colours, making it great for handing down to other children. It’s well made, and up to the task of withstanding forest schools and windswept playgrounds. The fabrics, which are all recycled, feel durable and not too plasticky, the zip is chunky, and the poppers on the storm flap are sturdy.

It has a certain fisherman’s raincoat vibe, especially in the sunshine yellow version (so much happier than the Next and M&S coats in this review, which I recommended for teens).

Inside, there’s fleece on the torso for warmth and comfort. My tester didn’t show any signs of overheating during the breathability tests. However, it might be too full-on for those warmer seasonal-weather days when you don’t know if it’s going to be sunny or rainy. Fleece-lined pockets are a nice touch, as is the reflective tab on the zipper that makes for easier independent dressing.

This lightweight coat is a great “just in case” coat, and it doesn’t have much bulk so could survive being scrunched up into a school bag. It’s showerproof, so it’s only going to be good for light downpours, though. If your child has far to walk to school, or will be waiting around at the bus stop for any period of time, they might become soggy underneath. During testing I was impressed with the beading on the outer fabric of this coat, which repelled water well. However, after a proper dosing, the T-shirt underneath was soggy. This was particularly evident down the centre, where there’s no storm flap on the zip.

The interiors are lined with fleece on the torso, which will offer a bit of warmth. My tester didn’t find it sweaty at all, even when doing star jumps. The zip is relatively durable, and it feels well made, so it will probably last being worn and passed down by through two children or teens – impressive, considering the price. The colourways are fairly neutral, and perhaps a bit dull, which might appeal to teenage boys. Parents will appreciate the reflective zips on the chest.

For kids who go on hikes or extended dog walks in all weathers, this is the raincoat I’d recommend. It comprises a lightweight zip-out inner puffer-style coat, which can be worn on its own. This has stretch panels at the sides in a contrasting shade, which I liked as it offered flexibility for hopping over ditches and running around – not many coats I tested had this comfort added in. It also means the sizing is a bit flexible too. The outer shell is mesh lined and my tester said it was one of the most breathable they tried.

It passed the waterproof test easily, coping well with a hose down. I would’ve liked to have seen a storm flap on the outside of the zip though, for total peace of mind. My tester loved the integrated torch in the sleeve; blinding me several times while using it was a real perk for them. They also liked the zipped chest pocket. However, younger kids will find independent dressing a little tricky as the zip is fairly delicate and the pull tab is quite small.

In terms of value for money, I was really impressed with this coat. It’s super warm, giving great coverage down to the knees, and it’s both wind and waterproof. At a push, I’d say the fabric feels slightly on the cheaper side compared to other coats I tried (such as Muddy Puddles’ puddleflex). It performed well in the hose-dousing experiment, with the testing T-shirt staying dry underneath. The padded storm zip helped with this.

This coat is for the colder months, as the padded style and fleece lining combined are going to be too full-on for the warmer months. The elasticated cuffs and fleece-lined pockets are going to be very much appreciated on cold days, though. The coat is also bulky, so kids won’t be wanting to cart it around in a school bag or over their arm.

If you’re baulking at spending almost £80 on a kids’ coat, I completely understand – it’s pricey. But having tested this coat thoroughly, I am totally convinced it’s worth it. First up, it’s smart and stylish in its timeless and genderless design, which will also appeal to kids and pre-teens, making it great hand-me-down.

It’s incredibly durable. As the coat of choice for my fussy eight-year-old tester, it’s been put through the wringer – I’m talking chucked on sports pitches and school-cloakroom floors, worn while tearing around the playground – and it still looks pristine.

On the more technical side, it’s fully waterproof, and has a lightweight brushed-jersey lining made from 95 per cent cotton. Despite the coat’s outer being made from recycled PET bottles, my tester didn’t get hot during the breathability test. And it shrugged off my hose test no problem. A peaked, snug hood will keep rain out of their eyes – a detail many other coats lacked.

It’s easy for even young kids to put this coat on themselves, as it’s lightweight and there’s a fabric toggle on the chunky zip. The reflective detailing on the pockets and back are a nice practical touch too.

During the hose-down test, this raincoat fared very well indeed. In fact, water ran off it entirely. There’s a heavy-duty storm flap with poppers, and a waterproof zip underneath – that water was never getting anywhere near the T-shirt underneath. The colour-block design feels modern and stylish, and it comes in two gender-neutral colourways. The hood on this coat has poppers, but I’m not sure they’re necessary – if you’re wearing this coat, chances are it’s raining, and so you need the hood.

However, it performed less well in the breathability stakes – my tester said they got quite hot very quickly. The coat is made from “post-consumer” polyester and polyurethane, neither of which are famed for their breathability. It’s also not lined, so not going to be warm enough to wear on colder days unless you have plenty of layers underneath. Bear in mind that younger testers are potentially going to find independent dressing a bit tricky, as the zip is small.

My football-mad tester loved this fleece for training during autumn days. It’s comfortable and breathable – my tester even chose to wear it indoors over a regular sweater sometimes. And it provides pretty good protection from both the rain and wind on grey days out on the pitch or playground. It fared well on the water spritzing test, beading water on the surface. However, based on how the zip fared when I sprayed it with a hose, it won’t withstand proper downpours.

My tester loved the soft cuffs, which have thumb hooks. They said “I look soooo cool, man”. Whatever gets them to wear a coat, I’m all for. I also appreciated the high turned-up collar that kept the wind from whistling down their necks, and kept them focused on the drills rather than the chilly air. Pared with a shell-style jacket (like the Po.P one on this round up), it’d be a brilliant year-round combo for kids.

Looking for something for very cold days and snowsports holidays? My six-year-old tester who positively detests being cold was a huge fan of this coat. The double-cuff sleeves are elasticated and velcro, so you can lock warm air inside. And a fleece lining on the upper half is cosy, while the filling is going to keep kids nicely insulated.

One of the best in my hose down test, it’s fully waterproof. Water beaded on the coat and then slipped away, and it was fully dry within 30 minutes.

There is a snow guard at the waist inside – like a gator that poppers shut on the tummy to stop snow coming inside, so kids can make all the snow angels they want.

My tester loved the bright design, and as a parent, I was pleased that I could always spot them from across the playground.

Swedish brand Po.P consistently makes great quality, practical (but yes, expensive) outerwear. This jacket is brilliant for heavy downpours – it sailed through my test of drenching it with a hose. The large storm flap stops rain from coming in through the front, and the peaked hood with elasticated sides keeps rain out up top, too.

My tester found it breathable thanks to the mesh lining that helps air to circulate and prevents sweatiness. There are poppers on the inside that allow you to attach a Po.P compatible windproof fleece to it, so you can use this for all-seasons, though the fleece is sold separately (£50, Polarnopyret.com) and brings the price to a punchy £130. Of course, you can go without on mild, windy and rainy days.

“Ooooh,” my five-year-old tester said, as they slipped into this heavy-duty change robe. The soft brushed sherpa lining feels akin to a teddy bear – I was pretty jealous to not be able to fit inside myself. I’ve tested change robes for adults, and this was easily the most cosy lining I’ve ever felt.

More importantly, it’s impressively waterproof and will shield your child from the very worst weather at the beach, on the sports pitches and on long dog walks.

Despite it being tough and roomy (it comes past the knees on my tester), it’s still lightweight. Velcro cuffs and a fully lined, peaked and elasticated hood help to trap warm air inside, but is it breathable? Although I’m told it’s too hot to wear indoors (but in normal circumstances, you wouldn’t do this anyway), it’s roomy enough for air to flow around it and escape through holes under the arms. A fleecy chin guard and fleece-lined pockets are other nice touches.

There are also reflective details on the hood and pocket for safety. This coat isn’t ideal for charging around a playground, but it’s great for kids who are really outdoorsy and want to be out there in all weathers.

Getting younger kids (and some older kids) to wear a coat is a parenting challenge noone really warns you about. But this fun, colour-changing raincoat could help. When it comes into contact with rain, the eyes on the design change from white to a rainbow of different colours. My younger tester loved it, looking forward to rainy days when they could see the magic.

From a practical point of view, it’s fully waterproof, with elasticated cuffs. It’s also lightweight enough to stick in a nursery bag or under the pram for those iffy weather days. While it coped well with my hose-down test, I would’ve liked to have seen a storm flap on the zip. However, the chunky zip and little pull tab on the zipper made it easy for independent dressing. The soft, stretchy lining made it comfortable for my tester, and they didn’t complain about overheating while wearing it.