Children move a lot and play outside in almost any weather. That’s why it’s worth putting some thought into choosing mid-season clothing.
1. Are there enough layers?
It rains, it shines, it’s windy, it’s not, it gets colder, it gets warmer… In autumn and spring, the weather can be as indecisive as a bride. That’s why the key words for dressing during the mid-season are a shell that protects from wind and moisture, and warm mid-layers, the number of which can be adjusted according to the temperature.The basic idea of layering is to create layers of clothing with air in between, which acts as insulation against the cold.
The bottom layer wicks moisture away from the skin and keeps it dry and warm. Technical base layers do this job well.
For those who need extra warmth, a light and wonderfully thin merino wool+(tag:%22gender:Girls%22)+(-(tag:soldout))), which warms effectively, breathes well, and doesn’t itch even sensitive skin, is a good choice.
The middle layer provides warmth, and you can add several of these as the weather gets colder. Fleece+(tag:%22gender:Girls%22)+(-(tag:soldout))) and wool are great for mid-layer clothing, as they are soft and warm.
The outermost layer, the shell, is meant to keep out wind and moisture. Shell jackets and pants as well as mid-season overalls are good choices for active outdoor play.
Shell jackets suitable for autumn and winter have a two- or three-layer structure, with a technical membrane between the outer and lining fabrics. The surface of quality outdoor clothing is treated to be water- or moisture-resistant, so that the fabric still breathes.
2. Overall or jacket and pants?
An overall is easier and quicker to put on and protects the back from the cold effectively.A jacket and pants are a justified choice when you want to use the jacket separately, for example with other pants or when traveling by car.
3. The right size?
Outerwear should not be so big that it hinders the child’s movement, but it shouldn’t be too tight either.A good rule of thumb is to ask the child to squat down while wearing the overall or jacket and pants. For upper body mobility, ask the child to raise their arms to the side or all the way up. If the movements go smoothly and the clothes don’t feel tight anywhere, there’s enough room to move.
The jacket or overall’s waist drawstring and leg tightening cords help make the clothing fit better.
Also check the length of the sleeves and legs. The sleeves should be long enough to protect the wrists even when the arms are raised, and the legs should protect the ankles.
Also consider what kind of shoes the pants or overall will be worn with. With boots and thick-soled winter shoes, the legs can be a bit longer than with low-soled sneakers.
4. Sufficient waterproofing?
Most mid-season and shell clothes are at least somewhat waterproof.The waterproofness is indicated by the garment’s water column value, which is usually listed in the technical specifications. The water column value tells you how much water the fabric can withstand before it lets water through.
The water column value should be at least 10,000 mm if you want the garment to be completely waterproof. 5,000 mm protects against light rain, and 3,000 mm will withstand moisture and protect against light rain for at least a while.
With used clothes, remember that the water column value decreases slightly with use.
Similarly, treatments added to the surface fabrics of technical clothing, such as water- or dirt-repellency, wear off in the wash. That’s why you shouldn’t wash shell and rainwear with technical features in the machine too often, but rather wipe off mud and dirt.
Seam taping or welding also affects the garment’s waterproofness. The seams of rainwear are often welded together to ensure waterproofness. In shell and mid-season clothing, the seams are often taped on the inside. Usually, taping is used only on the most important seams, those most exposed to moisture, such as on the legs and sleeves.
5. Other technical features?
Children move and play outside a lot—often until they’re sweaty. That’s why it’s important to make sure that outerwear breathes well enough, meaning it lets body heat escape.The breathability value of a garment, g/m2/24h, tells you how many grams of body-produced heat per square meter of fabric passes through in 24 hours.
When looking for quality outerwear, also pay attention to the durability of the fabric, which is indicated by the number of abrasion cycles. The higher the number of cycles, the better the durability.
Information from children’s outdoor clothing manufacturers was used as sources, including Ticket to Heaven, Reima and Polarn O. Pyret
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This article was first published on 13.9.2017, updated on 10.3.2019.
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