Jan and Jul Rain Gear Review

It’s mud season. We aren’t quite ready to bring out the snow gear yet here in the Pacific Northwest, but it can be quite a challenge to dress kids to stay warm AND dry for our outdoor adventures.

This fall we have been testing out some of the Canada-based Jan & Jul’s gear (you can find them on Amazon here) for kids and are happy to report it is perfect for wet, shoulder-season days. In fact, for the most part, we have put away our heavy winter gear (ahhh!) and kept out a few pieces that work well in this off-season. See our full round-up here of rain gear for kids here!

photo of two children in rain gear standing in the mud — Mud stomping is one of our favorite fall activities, Jan and Jul gear keeps us dry and washes off easily!

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What we love about Jan and Jul Gear:

It’s very waterproof and durable
The waterproofing utilizes safe Bionic Finish ECO material that is BPA, PVC, and Flourine free!
They have multiple fleece-lined options for added warmth
The hoods have great brims for keeping out rain and snow and slush
The designs and colors are bright and fun
Lots of pockets in the jackets

The waterproofing on Jan and Jul gear is super impressive (and eco-friendly!)

Jan and Jul Waterproof Gear Review: Cozy-Dry Waterproof Play Suit

These suits are perfect for wet weather shoulder season adventures! We’ve been wearing them to the beach just about every day this fall, and they’ve kept our kids cozy and dry for hours out in nasty, rainy, muddy conditions.

The Jan and Jul Cozy-Dry Waterproof Play Suits (sizes 1T – 6T) have quickly become our go-to outerwear! From beach play to puddle stomping to rainy walks, they help our kids stay outside longer in less-than-ideal conditions which always feels like a win.

The Cozy-Dry play suit is 100% wave-proof

There are no hand or feet covers, so we pair them with Jan and Jul’s Waterproof Mittens and Toasty-Dry Lite Winter Boots.

The trickiest part about these suits is getting them to dry out after a good soaking. Even though our kids’ feet stay dry, the fleece lining around the ankle cuffs is often saturated and does not dry out quickly.

To be fair, when our kids play in wet conditions, they don’t hold back! They are often wading and stomping in puddles deeper than their ankles, which is a tough situation for any rain gear other than true waders.

If the fleece lining does get wet, Jan and Jul recommends turning the suit inside out and hanging it up to dry. If you need to expedite the process, you can put them in the dryer with no heat or on your dryer’s most delicate/lowest temp setting in order to avoid damaging the waterproof membrane.

The only other challenge of a fleece-lined suit is that it can be tricky to pull on over clothes. We’ve had good success “pre-loading” boots into the pant cuffs as seen below and then pulling the suit up over the torso. But if pants aren’t tucked securely into the boots, they can catch on the fleece and ride up.

These suits also work really well for sledding and active snow play – the one piece design is fantastic for keeping warmth in and snow out. For super cold conditions kids would still need to wear the suit over a nice, thick mid-layer or puffy.

photo of a child kneeling in the snow and smiling at the camera — The Cozy-Dry play suit also makes an excellent snow suit if you don’t need tons of insulation

In milder climates (or for kids who run warm!), we find that our kids often end up sweaty when they are sledding or running around in the snow which makes this a fantastic, breathable alternative to a full snowsuit.

Jan and Jul Waterproof Gear Review: Cozy-Dry Waterproof Rain Jackets and Pants

For older kids (the sizes go up to 10!), Jan and Jul also offers jackets and pants with the same “Cozy-Dry” design. Obviously this makes it a bit more tricky to sit in puddles, but the waterproofing is just as solid and does really well for colder, wet conditions.

Cozy-Dry pants and jackets are perfect for kids who don’t do well with one-piece suits

The jacket and pants are also great for XC skiing because they are not bulky, and the breathable fabric allows kids to keep warm while working hard.

Like the suit, the jacket and pants have elastic cuffs that keep the water and mud out. They do (barely) fit over bulky snow and ski boots.

Jan and Jul Waterproof Gear Review: Puddle-Dry Waterproof Play Suit

For those in more moderate climates or who prefer to layer rather than have an integrated fleece lining, the Puddle-Dry waterproof play suits are another excellent option from Jan and Jul. The Puddle-Dry is burly without being bulky, withstanding hard play and keeping kids from getting too sweaty in milder winter and shoulder season weather.

photo of a child stomping in the mud while wearing a one-piece rain suit — Our kids adore the fun patterns that Jan and Jul offers, and they clean up incredibly easily after muddy outdoor adventures

We really appreciate the versatility of the Puddle-Dry suits. They work really well for wet shoulder season play (carrying piles of damp leaves to make a fort), and just as easily fit over insulating layers for sledding and rolling around in the snow. The only thing we wish that had was a strap at the bottom of the leg to keep cuffs in place over boots.

photo of a child seated on a round sled in the snow — Layer some insulation under a Puddle-Dry suit for endless hours of sledding fun

Jan and Jul Waterproof Gear Review: Puddle-Dry Waterproof Jackets and Pants

For older kids (up to size 10Y) or littles who don’t like one-piece suits, Jan and Jul also offers separate jackets and pants in their Puddle-Dry lineup. With fully taped seams and the same high-quality waterproofing that Jan and Jul is known for, the jacket and pants are an excellent choice for kids who play hard in wet weather.

photo of a child wearing rain gear and walking along a log that is submerged in water — Older, active kids love the breathability and versatility of the Puddle-Dry pants and jacket

We’ve had these out in significant wind and sideways rain, and had no complaints! We especially appreciate how durable the pants are, as our kids tend to get down on their knees and slide themselves along big logs during winter beach play.

photo of a child sitting on a log next to a lake — Rain pants that hold up to endless butt-sliding are worth their weight in gold

Jan and Jul Waterproof Gear Review: Toasty-Dry Waterproof Mittens and Waterproof Gloves

While these are also waterproof, we’ve found that it’s pretty tricky to keep the insides completely dry. At least for our kids, when they hear “waterproof” they assume that they can completely submerge their hands in the lake for an extended period of time! Not necessarily a reflection on the quality of the gear, but a reality nonetheless.

Not sure about you, but my kids love to truly test anything that I tell them is “waterproof”

Surviving complete submersion would be a tall order for any mitten, no matter how waterproof. Even with both the toggle and the wrist cinch tightened down, we find that in truly wet conditions the lining is pretty wet before too long with rougher play.

Waterproof mittens make colder weather beach play so much more fun

That said, they are warm and waterproof without being bulky, go on easily and have a nice, long cuff to keep that slush, rain and mud out for less extreme adventures. And the lining dries out really well if you place them on a boot dryer after you get home.

The gloves obviously provide some added dexterity, which can be a game-changer especially for older kids. We have several winter hand-wear options laying around our house, and the Jan and Jul gloves are always what my kids reach for first! They don’t have the same wrist cinch as the mittens, but they do have a nice, snug elastic cuff that keeps out snow.

close-up photo of a child's hand wearing a glove — The Jan and Jul waterproof Toasty-Dry gloves provide some extra dexterity for chilly weather fort building

Looking for more extra warmth? Try layering a Toasty-Dry Trapper Hat underneath the hood of the play suit or rain jacket!

photo of a child holding an icicle in front of his face while wearing gloves — The Toasty-Dry Trapper Hat from Jan and Jul is the definition of cozy!

Jan and Jul Waterproof Gear Review: Puddle-Dry and Toasty-Dry Lite Boots

The Puddle-Dry rain boots are an awesome classic rain boot with easy-on handles and enough height to handle puddle stomping. They also come with a bonus micro fleece insole for extra warmth in colder conditions. And as with all Jan and Jul products, they come in plenty of fun colors and pattern options!

close-up photo of a child's feet on wet concrete wearing rain boots and rain pants — The Jan and Jul Puddle-Dry boots are classic rubber boots that hold up to tough play

The Toasty-Dry Lite boots have a lower profile and side holes for easy pull-on, which makes them better for cooler conditions. It’s a bit easier for water to sneak in through the pull-on holes if you’re in a true slosh-fest, but these boots are waterproof, super lightweight, and flexible while still keeping feet nice and toasty.

close-up photo of a child's feet on wet rocks wearing rain boots and rain pants — Need more flexibility and warmth with less weight? Try the Toasty-Dry Lite boots from Jan and Jul

The neoprene on the Toasty-Dry Lite boots (which makes them so lightweight) is more delicate than traditional rubber, so just be aware that if your kids are super rough on shoes the waterproofing may get damaged with wear. For a more durable option, layer thick socks under the Puddle-Dry boots which are made with natural rubber.

If you want to keep toes warm in colder, drier conditions then the Toasty-Dry booties and Toasty Dry Puffy winter boots (available in both regular and tall) are water-resistant options from Jan and Jul that have thicker lining and solid traction.

photo of a child sitting on a sled wearing snow gear — While not truly waterproof, the Toasty-Dry booties are super cozy (and my daughter LOVES that they match her suit and hat!)

Jan and Jul Reviews: Bottom Line

We have been super impressed with Jan & Jul rain gear. It is perfect for climates that tend to be both cold and wet OR the shoulder seasons (fall and spring). More temperate climates like the Pacific Northwest could get away with using it all year long.

Jan & Jul is available on Amazon and for purchase on their site.