When we lived overseas, we didn’t have much need for raincoats. The weather for most of the year in India and Mexico was dry and warm (and scorching hot in the summer months in Delhi). Yes, we had the monsoon rains during the summer months in India and the rainy season in Mexico City but it was never cold, so for the most part we just used umbrellas. Coming back to London was a whole other story, however, and we quickly realised that the kids needed some proper rain coats, and fast. I was thrilled, therefore, when DryKids contacted me and asked if I would like to try out some of their products. The UK based company is all about providing fun, functional and comfortable waterproof outwear for kids ranging from 2 to 12 years old. They offer everything from rain jackets and over trousers to all-in-one suits, high-vis vests, hats and more. Their aim is to provide quality products at sensible prices. With that in mind, we put DryKids to the test!
Raincoats for kids
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Despite a long, hot summer, September brought with it some rain…and our new raincoats! With the kids we choose a DryKids PU jacket for each of them and a matching pair of PU Dungarees for Sam, which I thought would be useful given that his nursery takes them for Forest School once a week. The three raincoats arrived quickly and the first thing I noticed were the colours. Obviously we had chosen the jackets online but sometimes colours in pictures don’t translate well to colours in real life. However, these PU jackets are so brilliantly bright and colourful, in particular Tess’ yellow jacket and Sam’s turquoise one, they’re guaranteed to cheer up even the greyest of winter days. Alfie’s, by contrast, is a rather sombre navy blue but given is tween status, it suits him perfectly.
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Once I could see past the rainbow of colours, the second thing I noticed was the quality. These jackets are really well made with reliable waterproofing, heat-sealed seams to ensure no leakage, a sturdy main zip that’s hidden under an outer storm flap which is fastened with poppers, elastic cuffs and a removable hood. The hood, by the way, has a peak to keep rain drops out of eyes, a design feature I really like. The other thing, or rather things, that I think make these jackets stand out are the reflective strips on the cuffs and on the back, which are necessary now the afternoons are getting dark so early, and the fact that they’re roomy enough to wear a thick fleece underneath, making them ideal for when it gets colder, too.
Although Sam hasn’t used his PU dungarees yet, he’ll be taking them on their first outing this Friday for Forest School. Like the PU jackets, the trousers are unlined allowing for layering underneath. If you’re worried about your child getting cold, however, DryKids also sell fleece-lined over trousers. The trousers, like the jackets, are very waterproof and have reflective stripes for increased visibility at night. The shoulder straps are adjustable and there are poppers that allow you to cinch in the waist if needed. There are also elastic ankle straps that can be worn either inside or over wellies to prevent the legs from riding up.
DryKids Prices
There’s no doubt that DryKids offer a very good product but what about the price? Well, this is where I was really impressed. Anyone with kids will know that you can spend a small fortune kitting them out in wet weather and winter gear. What’s great about DryKids, however, is that their prices are very affordable. The company’s main requirement when starting out was value for money and they’ve stayed true to this way of thinking. The PU Jackets that the kids tried out cost £18.95 and Sam’s trousers cost £16.95; fleece-lined over trousers cost £19.95. For me, this represents really good value, not least because I can see these coats lasting for years, which means Sam will get to wear every single colour!
Social Responsibility
As well as quality products and affordable prices, DryKids take their social responsibility very seriously. The company takes care to ensure that the factories they use around the world adhere to strict ethical standards and that their external suppliers follow the same standards. This means that there’s no forced or child labour, that the hours of work are regulated and that health and safety practices are followed.
Where to buy DryKids kit
Drykids is available to buy on their website, and you’ll be pleased to hear that they make some jackets for grown-ups, too!
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Disclosure: We were gifted the coats and over trousers by DryKids for the purpose of this review. All opinions are, as always, entirely my own.
