The Best Kids Gear Of 2023

We've sold 40 pints of items for kids this summer, from streetwear to outdoor essentials. Together, these five items make the perfect kit for your little Reaper adventure.

Winners at a glance

Lowen Tech LS Top by Haley Hansen Kids

Boggs Kicker II Children's Extended Slide

Siesta Surf Sea Ripple Tie-Dye Board Shorts

Redesigned snapper rock waterproof raincoat

Children's trifleece sports pants

As we tried

Number of subjects: Nine children with five parents.

Number of products tested : 38

More than 1500 hours of outdoor play

The most durable product. The four-year-old tester loved the Boggs so much that he wore them every day for 21 days, during which his parents managed to hide them in the sink twice.

Ages, sizes and activities range from the West Coast, Southern California to Portland, Oregon. Testers put it to the test in a variety of situations, from a sunny camping trip in Crescent City, California to preparing for the upcoming hunting season in eastern Oregon. Both parents watched and listened to their child's test takers throughout to get the most correct answers. This year, the two-month heat doubled the inspection time in the summer.

Meet our top testers

Joe Jackson has been testing outdoor gear since 2012. Her five-year-old daughter, Jojo, reviewed her first Patagonia oatmeal 48 hours after leaving the hospital. At least 75 percent of her wardrobe is branded by her father.

Opinion: The best baby clothes for spring/summer 2023

Haley Hansen Lone Tech LS Kids Shirt ($45)

Sizes 1-7 (also available in petite sizes 8-16)
Advantages: Acts as both a sun top and a warm base layer.
Against No SPF protection, takes longer to dry than full synthetics.

Of the dozen or so models we tested, the Kids Lone Tech LS proved to be the most versatile. One tester slept in this shirt when temperatures dropped to 43 degrees Fahrenheit while hiking in Northern California, then immediately wore it as a sun shirt the next day in 72 degree weather at the beach. "Always comfortable," said the four-year-old, warm, content and sandy at the end of the trip. The upper's versatility comes from 15% merino wool, 70% polyester and 15% polypropylene, which adds enough thermal shock absorption while still being suitable for wearing under a subwoofer. 85 degree summer day. The design was so subtle that a five-year-old competitor could go to kindergarten without looking like a mountain athlete while playing.

Bottom line: A shirt does double duty to protect your little one from the cold and the sun.

Why now?

Boggs Kids Kicker II Rubber Skates ($60)

Size: 10-13 year olds; Young people 17-18 years old
Side: Easy to wear, very comfortable
Disadvantage: repeated washing can cause an unpleasant smell.

Testers and parents raved about how easy this shoe was to wear and how well it handled a variety of activities. We've tested everything from kids' mountain bike shoes to athletic water shoes to fashion sneakers, and these slides were the absolute favorites of many of our testers. Kid's Kickers will do anything a toddler wants to do in the summer - wade through the creek, run around the park, slide down the beach - no problem. The long intermediate stretch makes these slippers suitable for children with less developed fine motor skills. Super flexible and grippy EVA soles resist slippery rocks. The slide combined with the smooth interior ensures no blistering after hundreds of hours of continuous use. The tester's father says his four-year-old daughter has never fallen while climbing the surf rocks at Enderts Beach in Northern California, but is fine after getting out of the tide pool. an hour

The result: a durable adventure shoe your child won't want to part with.

Why now?

Siesta Surf Ripple Board Beach Shorts ($47)

Size: child 1 to 6 years old; Youth 7-9 years old; Also sizes 22, 24, 26, 28
Pros: Quick drying, great fit.
Against. Not very flexible

Our kids testers love the Sea Ripple Surf Shorts for their slim design and snug fit. The shorts' lightweight cotton/poly blend dried out after a 15-minute test in the backyard hot tub, but Matt wore regular shorts for the final. While they weren't the sportiest shorts we tested (four-way stretch shorts), they were short enough to not get in the way on the Southern California coast or Oregon waterways. . They also have elasticated edges that provide enough movement for a five-year-old to work on the details. The unbreakable drawstring waist allows parents to easily adjust the fit, is easy to put on and take off, and is flexible enough for kids to grow with over the years. Most often, it was the radical design of the tie that attracted attention in preschools and dance camps. A five-year-old tester received four compliments in one day about how cute they looked.

Bottom line: quick-drying board shorts are stylish enough for everyday wear.

Why now?

Snapper Rock Recycled Waterproof Raincoat ($85)

Size: 2-10
Pros: Great fit, durable waterproof, fleece lining.
Against. Good protection in hot weather.

The cute Snapper Rock prints and recycled fabrics are definite bonuses, but we chose this jacket based on how comfortable and dry it was for our testers. It's an old-school raincoat that you can throw on your kid and not worry about it getting wet or leaking in the rain. While this waterproof recycled polyester bomber isn't as breathable as a Gore-Tex jacket, none of our four testers noticed it getting wet. Plus, adult-inspired design details like the side-stretch hood and tapered hem keep testers incredibly dry even on the move. The seven-year-old competitor returned home with dry shirts after practicing archery in the rain for more than an hour. The recycled fleece interior is so flexible that our four-year-old tester (who hates the feel of plastic on her skin) enjoyed wearing this jacket for over an hour and a half in rain and mud. , Oregon This coating made this jacket very warm during the summer storms of the mid-seventies, but on the rainy fifties on the Oregon coast, it worked great as a top. As a bonus, this coat has a fleece lining and can be used as a nice winter jacket.

The result: a bulletproof rain jacket that's stylish on the outside and comfortable on the inside.

Why now?

Kids' Tri-Fleece Tent Sweatpants ($35)

Size: 1T - 5T
Side: We tried the most comfortable pants.
Against. takes a long time to dry

Triflis sweatpants are some of the most comfortable kids' pants we've tested this year. "I'm so jealous of those pants," said a coordinating mom on a hike in Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains as she watched her five-year-old son curl up in a hammock. He had good reason to be jealous. The Tencel/recycled polyester/organic cotton blend that Tantri uses for these pants makes them extra soft. The high-stretch waist and ankles stay in place and won't slide around the playground for hours, and the medium weight makes them the perfect pajama pants for strolling forties or quiet, sleepy kids.

The result: very comfortable protective pants for moderate temperatures.

Why now?

How to buy?

Buy used

While we love new, comfy baby products, this is a great category to shop . While your kids may outgrow their clothes within a month of buying them, you can find used gear online through Facebook Marketplace or GearTrade, or even see how fast the last kid grew. For him.

Save the dough

Well-made baby gear can definitely be worth the money if it can withstand a few cycles of manual labor. But if you want to spend less money and avoid high-tech fabrics and designs, spring and summer are the perfect time to do it. A moderate amount of heat will reduce the build-up. moisture dries easily, cold hands warm up quickly, and you can always go Commando. In other words, you can ditch high-quality synthetics for cheaper alternatives like cotton without worrying about your baby wearing them.

Look for deodorizers

In the summer, too much heat means too much sweat, too much swimming means too much rash, and long day hikes can damage your favorite shirt. Clothing with anti-odor properties, such as Polygene, will greatly reduce this odor.

Add the number

While oversized pants and shorts fall to the ankles, oversized t-shirts and hoodies may look cute this spring, they'll be good for next year, too.

When it's time to update your outfit, don't let your old stuff go to waste. donate them to a good cause and keep them out of the trash. Our partner Gear Fix repairs and sells your gear. Just pack your used items, print the free shipping label and ship. We donate 100 percent of the proceeds to Outward Oath .

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