best brands for kids coats this year?

[disney_5]

My son needs a new wintr coat. I would love to buy a lands end one but I am having trouble spending $60 to $100 on a coat he will wear for one or two years. Any other ideas on how to get a warm kids coat cheaper? Any brands you would recomend? We had a coat from Walmart last year and the zipper brooke so we want better quality than that but I am not looking for anything fancy just warm.

thanks, Jen.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We buy Columbia, Spyder and Burton. A dry child in winter is a warm child. Hence a happy child. We don't skimp on winter clothing and buy Gortex, water proof clothing for our DS. I found a great Columbia bib and jacket at the Desert industries and it has last two years.

Most companies now have growth adjustments in the coats.

Good luck.

 

[bear_mom]

I agree with the pp, we don't skimp on winter coats. Our kids spend a significant amount of time outside in the winter and our lives are much more enjoyable when they are warm and dry.

Brands we have bought in the past: Columbia, North Face, REI and Obermeyer.

I am really happy with the Obermeyer coat we bought younger dd last year. You can lengthen the sleeves on it so it will last at least 2 years plus it is really well made and keeps dd happy. Older dd ended up with an REI coat last year and she will wear it again this year.

Lands End makes the best snow pants also. They last through more than one winter of playing, sledding and skiing (which is hard on snow pants).

Emily

 

[westonkamom]

I also buy Columbia, Spyder, or Obermeyer but....I never buy it at the retail store!! Do you have a Once Upon A Child or something similar near you? We have a really nice one and I have bought my kid's winter coats there practically every year....I've never spent over $35 for those brands and they usually look nearly new. Good luck!!

 

[puffkin]

I believe Lands End had outwear onsale today 25%.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

For years, I was a die hard LL Bean winterwear purchaser. We don't ski or snow shoe ... but we live in a snowy place and my kids love to play outside.

Two years ago, all of my color choices were on back order at LL Bean, so I purchased an Athletec brand coat and snowpants for my DD at K-Mart. I paid around $40 for the set on Thanksgiving day (it was 1/2 price) and full anticipated upgrading to a "quality" set. I never did - DD wore it for 2 full years ... it was very warm and water resistant. I've washed it numerous times (I hate a dirty coat on a kid!) and it has held up through the washings. It seems to be a different and better quality than sets I've found at Kohl's, Wal-Mart, etc. and other brands I've seen at K-mart.

I was just there the other day and they have Athletec again this year (I only looked at the girls section ...) and they are currently marked at 40% off ... the coats retail for $59.99 and the pants are $24.99. They also have nice thinsolate gloves at K-Mart right now.

 

[horseshowmom]

My son needs a new wintr coat. I would love to buy a lands end one but I am having trouble spending $60 to $100 on a coat he will wear for one or two years. Any other ideas on how to get a warm kids coat cheaper? Any brands you would recomend? We had a coat from Walmart last year and the zipper brooke so we want better quality than that but I am not looking for anything fancy just warm.

thanks, Jen.

Go to Sierra Trading Post and sign up for their emails. They send out coupons that make for some excellent deals. I recently bought my huband a Columbia Ballistic jacket (think North Face Denali for style) that cost me $42 shipped. Here's the same jacket on Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Ballistic-Fleece-Jacket-Mens/dp/B003VY7OLU

ETA: They have lots of the top brands. With their coupons, the prices can get very good.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Just a tip for next year (sorry I am of no help to you now...)
I bought DD's coat, snow pants and boots on clearance over the summer from Lands End. With the unlimited return policy I knew I could return it if it didn't fit or we found something else. I am kicking myself I didn't get a 2nd pair of boots to leave at school... Target has them on sale this week and they are more than the ones I got on clearance from LE.

 

[cari12]

I bought my DD8 and DS 6 Lands End coats this year. I had a 30% off code so they were about $50 each. Love them. They are warm but without all the bulk (my kids don't like puffy jackets).

 

[StephMK]

I just got DS a 4 in 1 coat at JC Penney's. It was 99. but I got it for $30 w/sales & discount coupon. Of course, he already lost the fleece at school today but hopefully it should turn up tomorrow. The hood zips on and the coat seems nice enough. Other than recess, he does not do a ton outdoors, other than sled, so hopefully it should hold up ok.

Sometimes craigslist will have good deals on gently used coats and I second the consignment shops for great deals too.

 

[elainesj]

For years, I was a die hard LL Bean winterwear purchaser. We don't ski or snow shoe ... but we live in a snowy place and my kids love to play outside.

Two years ago, all of my color choices were on back order at LL Bean, so I purchased an Athletec brand coat and snowpants for my DD at K-Mart. I paid around $40 for the set on Thanksgiving day (it was 1/2 price) and full anticipated upgrading to a "quality" set. I never did - DD wore it for 2 full years ... it was very warm and water resistant. I've washed it numerous times (I hate a dirty coat on a kid!) and it has held up through the washings. It seems to be a different and better quality than sets I've found at Kohl's, Wal-Mart, etc. and other brands I've seen at K-mart.

I was just there the other day and they have Athletec again this year (I only looked at the girls section ...) and they are currently marked at 40% off ... the coats retail for $59.99 and the pants are $24.99. They also have nice thinsolate gloves at K-Mart right now.

Tell me more! I am a big Lands End fan for winter coats but not a fan of their styles this year - wish they had some kind of dressy coat style for boys other then the more expensive down jackets. I loved their Weatherly line but it's too sporty this year.

If the Athletec line is warm and durable, that would be perfect! How puffy is it? My son wants to run and play so it's really important to me to buy a lightweight, low bulk coat that allows a lot of movement. He also loves very stylish, trendy prints but i'm just about to give up on that this year as Spyder and the like is out of my price range.

To be honest, I didn't care much for the Columbia coat we bought for my DD a couple of years back. it was OK - but at the end of the day, not my favorite.
My DD has a joe Boxer, but it's very bulky and this is a regret now.

 

[daniele_ut]

I generally always buy winter jackets ahead at the end of season sales. My kids have had jackets from Lands End for the last 3 years, and I didn't pay more than $35 for any of them. All of them have been in good condition to be handed down at the end of the season.

We do ski and snowboard a lot in the winter, so we try to find good quality that will last.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Just a tip for next year (sorry I am of no help to you now...)

Ok, I am able help now (lol)... If you can wait a few weeks, Slickdeals posted the JCPenney black Friday ad. There are a whole bunch of kids winter coats for $15.99.

 

[friend2Figment]

We get ours at Sears. If you are a member of kidvantage if anything happens to it you can bring it back and get a new one and their sale prices are in line with Walmart.
We did had to take one back as my daughters zipper broke at the end of the season so they had none she liked. We washed it up put it away and brought it back the next season and all I had to give them was my name and then they told us to pick out any jacket as they did not have the exact one.

I would not get one at JC Penney as I got my oldest dd one from there and it did not last a week.

I would second the Columbia, my younger dd has had one for 4 years now (normally get it a size big) and it is finally getting small but is still in good condition

 

[aggiejamie]

I need a coat for my daughter also. I see a couple of cute styles on Land's End. I've never actually ordered from them before, but I do see that they have 25% off all outerwear until tomorrow. I don't know if they typically offer more of a discount, or if this is as good as it gets. Is this a good time to order, or should I wait for Black Friday deals? I don't mind paying the price because they do seem to be good quality. I'd just hate to see the same jacket on sale waaay cheaper in a couple of weeks. Also, do they run good sales at the end of winter (if I want to order another one for next year)?