I love the build-up to the summer holidays. It’s like that feeling you get before the peak of a rollercoaster. As soon as you’re home from that final school pick up it’s like a weight has been lifted. You’re FREE to have as much fun as you like. No alarms, lunch time can be at 11:00am, and the coffee table is lost under LEGO, empty cups and biscuit wrappers.
That being said, I don’t know about you, but as soon as those first two weeks pass time seems to slip by in an instant. As I’m writing this I’m very aware that we’re suddenly coming up to the halfway mark. I should really be thinking about whether T needs new uniform, shoes and a coat!
Thankfully, Tog24 has us covered this year!
Being an outdoorsy family, we have a fair few jackets and coats in our collection. I actually pride myself that we’re generally equipped for most conditions and that we can still go out, even in the rain or snow.
School, however, is a different kettle of fish. You can drop your kid off at school in beaming sunshine, but by 11:00am you can have torrential rain. So you want to provide them with the right layer. Likewise, you want something that is hard-wearing whilst versatile. You want to allow them movement in the playground, too. Not to mention school trips!
Medlock Waterproof Ski Jacket
This month, Tog24 sent us the Medlock Kids Waterproof Ski Jacket in preparation for the return to school. Beforehand I would never have thought about going to an outdoor brand for a school coat, however after taking it on holiday with us recently it makes perfect sense!
Before we get into the review, here are a few of the features as detailed on their website:
Features
- 5K waterproof, 5K breathable, and windproof
- Synthetic fill for warmth
- Taped seams to stop water getting in
- WR coating to outer fabric to repel water
- Reflective print to cuffs and back hem for added visibility
- Detachable hood with elastic to hood face and velcro adjuster to back of hood
- Velcro cuff adjusters
- Two lower zip pockets, one internal zip pocket
- Added pockets for ski essentials; internal mesh pocket for ski goggles, sleeve pocket for ski pass
- Additional ski features; stretch snow cuffs with thumb holes, ski goggle wipe attached to inside of chest pocket
- Rubber badge to sleeve and print logo to chest
- Internal snow skirt to stop snow getting inside
Living in the south of the UK, our weather in the colder months sits roughly in the middle. It’s only bitterly cold for a week or so in February. The rest of the time it goes between drizzly and just cold. T has a parka, but when he used it for school one week in January he very quickly complained of it being too ‘sweaty’ (not him, apparently, definitely the coat). So we had to find a decent alternative to offer warmth without making him hot.
His last raincoat gave him that extra layer, but only if he had a jumper on. Therefore not the greatest for a kid who just about tolerates jumpers. This is where the Medlock Ski Jacket has come in perfectly!
Being a ski jacket, it offers that warmth without it being stuffy, material that promotes movement, and lots of extra kid friendly features. From extra pockets and pouches, to thumb holes that I didn’t realise we needed! It’s also widely adjustable, from the cuffs to the hood, and I forgot how brilliant snow-skirts are for when you’re on a bike! No more mud up their back.
We took it away with us twice this summer – to Cornwall and to London – and on both occasions it met T’s needs. At Land’s End it kept him warm and dry, and in London it gave him that layer without making him too hot. He didn’t even need a jumper underneath! Hallelujah. Plus, the deep pockets meant he could stow away even more pebbles and shells. Lovely (!). The wipe clean fabric also meant spilt drinks and ice creams were no bother.
T loves his little thumb holes and shows them off wherever he goes, and we’re really happy with how warm it is without the weight. The jacket is soft but stretchy, and little details like its chunky zip means that he can do the jacket up easily.
Whilst it’s going to be a while before we get T on the slopes, I think this is an excellent coat for school and weekend wear. We’ve only had the Medlock Ski Jacket for a few weeks, but we’re already really impressed with it. I’m sort of annoyed I didn’t think about getting a jacket like this previously.
Disclosure: We were sent the Tog24 Medlock Kids Ski Jacket in exchange for an honest review and social media promotion, however all thoughts, opinions and imagery remain our own.
