How to Size For Kid's Winter Apparel
Posted
by
WinterKids
on Tuesday, September 20, 2016
The summer is winding down which means it’s time to start unearthing the winter gear from below all the swimsuits, hiking shoes and rain jackets. It’s best to take inventory now and prepare for what you and the family may need to stay warm and active this winter season.
While you go through your gear, examine each article and make sure there is no damage such as holes or broken zippers. It’s the worst when you get all the way to the mountain, and realize at the base area that the zipper on your little one’s jacket is broken. Talk about a buzz kill.
The next step is to see what still fits or what can be passed down to smaller family members. This is where it can get tricky if you don’t know how to properly fit for winter apparel. Hand-me-downs aren’t always the best option due to fit issues.
Jackets
Often time’s, parents get their kids a jacket that is a size or two bigger than what is needed with the thought that it will last longer because the child can grow into it. While we commend the thriftiness of this method, it can lead to a cold and miserable tike who learns to hate the snow. And that’s not what we want, do we? If a jacket or pant is too big, it can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose. It creates too much dead space allowing warm air to escape and cold air to be trapped. It also allows  snow easier access to creep and post up against the body. Frequently, a child’s growth is in the arms and limbs. When you get a jacket that is a size too big, you may be getting more length but you’re also getting more girth to the body of the item. This will create that unwanted dead space. To help remedy this, look for brands that have extending features. The I Grow™ system from Obermeyer does just that. When the hem is safely cut, it can extend the sleeves of a jacket up to 1.5 inches! Other brands have similar traits for kid's ski jackets. While a ski jacket shouldn’t be too loose, you also want to avoid it being too tight. They need to have comfortable mobility so they can easily stack that snowman or cruise down the slopes. When trying on jackets, it’s best to bring the layer your child normally wears under their jacket, or something similar. This way, they can get an accurate feel for the fit. The sleeves should be slightly longer than the actual arm to help keep cold air and snow out and give you the option of putting the jacket under or over the glove for added protection. The waist should also fall slightly lower than a normal shirt or jacket to help retain heat and divert snow.
Snowpants
Snow pants should follow the same Goldilocks sizing recommendation, not too big or too small. Luckily, the same extend features are found in kids snow pants as well! There are various options that work the same as the jacket such as the Room-To-Grow™ from Burton. Again, not too tight where they can’t jump up those snow hills comfortably. Bring their normal baselayer to try on under the snow pants. Most pants will also have a feature along the waist to loosen or tighten for a more custom fit. The pant leg should land lower than a normal pant to compensate for ski or snow boots. Between the ankle bone and  ground is an average fit. And, if you’re worried about your pre-teen getting yet another brand new item dirty by trudging through mud, don’t. Many girls and boys ski pants have an element that can raise the cuff of the pant avoiding contact with the ground.
Now that you know what to look for, get the family excited for the snow to start falling by evaluating your gear together! Remember, the process of getting the right winter apparel is an investment towards mountains of fun and loads of good memories. For further sizing information check out our brand-specific sizing charts.
Still have sizing questions? Leave them in the comments below for help!
Categories:
Skiing & Snowboarding
Tagged: Boys Jackets, Girls Jackets, boys snowpants, girls snowpants, shoppers guide, winter clothing
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