Kozi Kidz Alaska Parka Jacket Review

When the days are short and the weather is less than inviting outside, it takes the right kit to keep the youngest members of the family active outdoors. Something I know only too well as mother to two little adventurers of my own.

The Kozi Kidz Alaska Parka Jacket is designed with outdoor country kids firmly in mind, with uses including outdoor play, school runs and weekend walks.

With thick padding and a tough waterproof outer it is intended to keep children snug and dry in 'any rain or snow' and to provide maximum warmth - precisely what I need in a winter coat for my out-in-all-weather 3 year old daughter.

Kozi Kidz are a UK based company whose products are designed in Sweden. Set up in 2009 they can now be found across Europe, with an aim to provide quality clothes for children playing outdoors.

This was my first encounter with Kozi Kidz products although I had admired other childrens' outdoor-wear in recent months which turned out to be designed by them.

The Scandanavian influence appealed to me for two reasons. Firstly, with experience of a nordic outdoor environment to kit kids out for, I was hopeful that their designs would be able to keep children toasty and dry in pretty much any weather. And secondly, I love Swedish childrens' clothing in general because they produce some fantastic colours and designs that are not always the standard pink and blue offerings for boys and girls that seem to be so hard to escape from in the UK.

First impressions

Roo's coat arrived promptly from Kozi Kidz and as soon as I removed it from the packet it was clear it was of a very good quality. The outer shell is thick and durable, made from 100% nylon which is well-known for resisting water, being light-weight and drying quickly.

The inner lining and padding are both made from 100% polyester, helping keep the jacket light weight but still warm. The hood also comes with a lovely detachable soft furry hood edging which made Roo look like a mini arctic adventurer!

Immediately obvious were the little extra details that make this jacket stand out from other standard winter coats for kids such as the reflective spots on the back and the concealed adjustable waist and cuffs. Roo couldn't wait to try it on!

Out in the field

Eager to take her new coat for an outing, Roo insisted on wearing it out on a local walk the very next day which also took in a stop-off at the park. The weather was cool, around 4° C. It was also one of those damp days when the cold, wet air seems to chill you right down to the bones - a perfect day to test out the Alaska Parka Jacket's warmth credentials.

With the right layers, I'm confident the Alaska's insulation would withstand temperatures down to just below zero.

Roo found the coat fairly easy to put on by herself - a useful feature given she will be taking it to nursery too. She did need help zipping it up, but the flaps that cover the zip are velcro rather than poppers making it easy work for little fingers.

The coat is quite long and I had been a little concerned before it arrived as to whether it would restrict her walking or movement but my fears were unfounded. The extra length did not stop Roo from moving normally and she managed to climb up all the normal kit in the park and dangle off the tallest climbing frame without any problems. The extra length just provided extra warmth and made it handy for perching on a damp see-saw!

Fortunately for our walking, we have not had a big downpour to test the coat out in but it has been out on a few drizzly wanders and light rain. It has managed both admirably and kept Roo completely dry.

The coat comes with a waterproofing rating of 5,000mm (see my review of the Kozi Kidz Forest All-in-One for a more detailed explanation of these ratings) which is enough to withstand most snow and rain showers, although it is recommended you go closer to 10,000mm if you are planning regular outings in heavy rain, or rolling about in snow all day!

The Parka has fully-taped seams to keep it completely watertight. The coat is still breathable with a reasonable level of 5,000g - crucial for children who spend so much time on the go and working up a sweat. When it got wet, I found it dried out quickly with handy hooks for hanging it up on both the outside and inside of the jacket.

Breathability ratings are complex science, measuring the number of grams of water vapour which pass through a fabric over a 24 hour period. In general, 5,000-8,000g is good for everyday activity, whereas 10,000-15,000g would be better for high-energy effort.

Importantly, the wind-proofing was particularly good. Roo has never liked being out on very windy days, but has enjoyed several cycles on her balance bike on blustery days recently without being at all bothered. I am sure this has been due to the well fitting, adjustable hood which has been thoughtfully shaped to protect the its wearer's face from the elements whilst not restricting their sight.

I also particularly liked the large reflective disks on the back of the coat which came into their own when heading out in the country lanes during the dusky winter afternoons. Anything which helps to make a little person more visible to cars is a good thing.

Practicalities

The coat has lots of other practical features which had little people clearly firmly in mind during their design. There are plenty of fleece lined pockets which Roo used for storing her outdoor treasure finds of interesting stones and feathers, or for tucking away a hat or pair of gloves. There is also a small pocket on one of the sleeves - handy for tissues!

The waist and bottom of the coat are adjustable with concealed elastic for a snug, tailored fit. This is handy for growing children and also to suit different weather conditions as you can change it to accommodate different amounts of layering underneath.

The sleeves have velcro adjustable cuffs to keep rain out (and also handy for keeping gloves on) and there is an extra internal soft fabric elasticated cuff to keep wrists snuggly and stop cold drafts. The quilted internal padding provided plenty of warmth, without being so thick and bulky that you can't use it with more general layering, making the Alaska Parka practical for taking into cool spring weather too.

At first Roo absolutely loved her big furry hood and insisted on wearing it up during most of our walk. After a week or two though the novelty of the hood for everyday use wore off and Roo started sayings she didn't want it on. Fortunately the fur edging could be removed easily from its poppers, leaving the jacket with a simple practical hood.

This hood in turn can also be removed the rest of the jacket via more poppers, making it a very versatile coat for lots of different occasions. No doubt we will be popping the fur back on when we head out for some snow time in Switzerland soon. I can imagine the fur framing round her face would be good at keeping falling snowflakes away from Roo's skin.

Roo's jacket has taken its fair share of mud spattering over the last few wintery weeks and it has proved easy to wipe down with a wet cloth to smarten it up again. For more serious freshen ups, the Alaska Parka can be popped in the washing machine on a normal 40°C wash although this should be without fabric conditioner to protect the waterproofing.

Over time waterproofing is expected to reduce as with any waterproof jacket, but it can easily be restored with the use of a technical water repellent coating product.

Style, sizing and colours

The Kozi Kidz Alaska Parka comes in four colours - bright red, smart black, a good blue that would work well for both girls and boys, and a vibrant berry pink. It would be nice to see the coat in some more unisex shades such as a turquoise or green but we were very happy with our pillar box red choice and it's certainly easy to spot Roo in it!

The style of the jacket is great. Despite its padding it does not look bulky and the elasticated waist detail means it can be made to look a really good, streamline fit to your child's specific body shape.

The furry hood is a lovely detail. Roo looked gorgeous in it and definitely the part for our winter outdoor outings! The Kozi Kidz logo is an unobtrusive white motif and the whole jacket looks modern and stylish, while remaining classic enough in its looks to be a good hand-me-down staple for younger siblings.

Sizing is by height of the child which requires a tape measure but does make for a more accurate fit than by age. Roo was in between sizes so we followed the advice on the Kozi Kidz website and opted for the bigger size. Despite being quite generously sized, it was still adjustable enough to fit Roo well and will give her a lot of wear out it.

Overall thoughts and pricing

The Kozi Kidz Alaska Parka is a great all-rounder winter jacket. With enough waterproofing and insulation to tackle most winter weather a young child would comfortably want to be out in, it has become our regular companion on all our outdoor adventures, whether walking, cycling, visiting the park or days out.

It would withstand snowy walks and the odd snowball fight well too, but it doesn't have a snow-skirt so would probably not be so great at extended snow-play when a specialist ski jacket or all-in-one might be more appropriate.

As a well-insulated waterproof jacket it is definitely a winter item and would be too warm to bridge over those mild spring days that still require an outer layer. It is also a little bit bulky to pack or carry compared to other jackets if space is at a premium, although it can roll fairly small.

At £89 the Alaska Parka is not cheap, but it is in line with other quality outdoor clothing brands for children though that offer similar levels of waterproofing and breathable fabrics. The Spotty Otter Explorer Parka (£149) offers greater water resistance and a down lining for its additional £50. Jack Wolfskin's Calgary Parka (£99) offers very similar features albeit for marginally more extreme weather, but lacks the extra kid-friendly details and easy-access velcro on the storm flap.

The price of the Alaska Parka reflects the quality of the coat and I can see it standing the test of time well and being a worthwhile investment, particularly where there are younger siblings in the family.

When compared to other similar brands I would say it has more additional details than most, such as the extensive adjustable elements for a close fit and the unobstrusive reflective elements to keep kids visible to cars on dark afternoons.

The overall style of the coat makes it both high performance yet streamline and easy to wear.