Published October 25, 2021 12:00PM
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The Best Winter Kids’ Gear of 2022
Let the rippers’ rumpus start
(Photo: Inga Hendrickson and Kevin Zansler)
Terramar 2.0 Kids Ride Free Base Layers Set ($40)
Getting kids into base layers they love is the foundation of a good ski day. These synthetic ones from Terramar were so silky next to the skin that one tester found himself jealous when dressing his kid in the morning. This midweight set is just right for cold to moderate days and dries in under 30 minutes, which salvaged a 34-degree two-yard-sale day. All these features come in at a price that’s extremely friendly to growing bodies.
Hydro Flask Kids Insulated Food Jar ($35)
This 12-ounce jar delivered après-ski chicken soup still piping hot five hours after being warmed up at home. Thanks to an extra-wide lid, our toddler tester could easily spoon noodles into her mouth. But the MVP move is that it never leaked.
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REI Timber Mountain Bibs ($100)
REI’s bibs are priced for kiddos but plenty featured. We love the fleecy interior, articulated knees, and two-inch grow cuff that grants several seasons of use.
Ledlenser KidLed 2 Headlamp ($20)
Two simple buttons mean a three-year-old can toggle through the KidLed’s seven white, red, and blue modes on their own within hours of first using it. The grape-size unit attaches to a dinosaur or rainbow strap, and it maxes out at an intentionally modest 40 lumens: helpful when users inevitably shone it into parents’ eyes.
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Flylow Mighty Unicorn Mittens ($50)
These waterproof leather mitts make toddlers look like patrollers. They’re more than just cute, though. They’re completely waterproof and have 220-gram insulation on the back. We tested them on one little moppet who was significantly more interested in eating snow than skiing. Even after three hours with her paws in the banks, she returned to the car with dry, toasty hands.
Lil’ Ripper Gripper Harness ($89)
This ski and snowboard harness has two retractable leashes that loosen or tighten with the click of a glove-friendly button, letting us rein in fired-up toddlers or help kids initiate turns. The full-body climbing-style webbing harness has a handle at the shoulder blades that is solid enough to easily hoist a child weighing up to 55 pounds like a suitcase, adding safety on the lift and making transport from the bunny hill to the car much easier.
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Giro Crue MIPS Helmet ($90)
The Crue’s dial-based cinch system is easy for toddler hands to use, and produces the best fit of any kids’ helmet we tested this season. That security gets a boost from MIPS technology, which we’re used to seeing on adult helmets with price tags north of $200.
Helly Hansen Kids Vertical Insulated Jacket ($150)
Full waterproofing, ten baffles stuffed with 170-gram synthetic fill on the front, and a high-vis detachable hood brim made this jacket an all-star on cold and stormy bunny-hill sessions.
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Giro Buster Goggles ($40)
Goggles slipping down little foreheads can obscure vision, which is one of the quickest paths to meltdown town on the mountain. Paired with the Crue helmet, the Buster stays put for hours of pizza-ing and falling.
Bogs B-Moc Boots ($70)
The B-Moc topped our list because of a 6.5-inch insulated cuff that prevents snow from getting to tiny ankles. A cinchable top boosts snowproofing, yet also makes the boots a breeze to get on. (Pull handles help.) Bonus, if a bit overkill: the negative-22-degree rating.
