Staying warm and dry is key to making winter fun for kids if you live in a cold climate (like most years here in Minnesota). High quality snow gear can transform a dark, cold and snowy winter of everyone going stir crazy inside, into one full of fresh air, fun and worn out kids. Jan and Jul snow gear is good quality gear that can help your family transform winter. And… they have a more accessible price than many companies.
Jan & Jul is a Canada based company making kids clothing and outerwear for all seasons (January & July, hence the name). They have everything from sun hats and swimwear to base layers, rain gear and snow gear for babies through size 5T. We are testing the snow gear this year.
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Jan & Jul’s Story
The founder, Florence Lou, has an interesting story. She grew up in a cotton producing part of China and learned to sew at a young age. After studying engineering in Minnesota, she settled in Vancouver and originally developed a rain hat for kids that people loved. Her company grew into Jan & Jul, a company focused on kids gear for all weather.
Jan & Jul also has an unusually strong connection to their production facility in China; it is managed by the founder, Florence Lou’s sister. I appreciate being able to learn about their commitment to helping the women in rural China where Lou grew up by paying fair wages and providing a good work environment.
Jan & Jul has an easy to use website with great sizing charts to help you get the right snow gear. It is clear they approach the design of kids snow gear with thought and care.
What We Love About Jan & Jul Snow Gear
- They use kid friendly Bluesign and Oeko-Tex certified fabrics
- Everything is machine washable
- They make fun patterns especially in the mittens and gloves
- A soft lining is used through many of the products
- Everything is a reasonable price for quality snow gear
Kids Waterproof Winter Coat
Jan & Jul’s Waterproof Winter Coat is the puffiest coat in our house. It is great for the coldest days. It goes past the knees the for one child and to just above the knees from my older child. This is our go-to coats on the coldest days especially when the temperatures are near or below 0 degrees F.
It is also the coat we choose when we are going to outdoor events where there is time just standing around. In moderate temps (20’s-30’s F), we found layering up under it was not necessary!
The long length and thick insulation combine well with the 3 layer waterproofing system to keep my children dry even in wetter snow. This coat includes some nice features like a well insulted hood and stretchy cuffs that fit well inside mittens. The fun patterns will keep many younger kids happy. The prairie flowers pattern was a hit with my daughter.
This waterproof coat is the coat we pull out on the coldest days of winter and any time kids will be less active. The long length has come in handy when going outside briefly without snow pants. With boots on and this coat, only a little of the leg isn’t well covered. My 6 year old still needs help zipping it up though, the long length just makes the bottom of the zipper hard to reach and start.
Overall, the Jan & Jul Waterproof Winter Coat is a great coat when warmth at a reasonable price is the priority. The puffy insulation combined with the longer length makes moving around a bit more effort than in many coats with less dense insulation. To get a perfect length, one child wore a smaller than normal size but that resulted in slightly short sleeves.
Specs and Features
- 100% Waterproof: Waterproof rating of 10,000mm,
- 3 Layers to create the waterproofing – Bionic-Finish® Eco DWR coating, a waterproof membrane, and critical taped seams.
- Insulated: Rated -25°C / -13°F with synthetic (vegan) insulation and sherpa fleece lining
- Breathable: Active fabric breathability rating of 5000g/m2/24h
- Kid-Safe Fabric: BPA, PVC, and PFAS free; bluesign®and Oeko-Tex® certified
- Easy Care: Machine washable, tumble dry low
- Comes in sizes 1T – 5T
Best For
- Really cold days (my kids stayed warm in -10F windchills)
- Any colder day when a child will be less active (watching an event, ice fishing, sitting outside)
- Days when the snow is wet since it is waterproof
What We Love
- The warmth
- Great price for a warm, waterproof coat
- Easy to pull on thanks to a smooth inner lining in the sleeves
- Great feeling fabric: the inner sleeve fabric is smooth, the Sherpa fleece lining is super soft, and stretchy wrist cuffs with a thumb hole feel nice
- Fun patterns for toddlers and and preschoolers
- Details like reflective pipping, a snap storm flap, deep pockets, no hook and loop closures to snag other things
What We Aren’t So Crazy About
- The pockets have no closure (snap or zipper), though that is better than hook and loop which snags
- The long length makes this jacket best for times when less active
- This is definitely a coat that we don’t use with a car seat
Notes on the Fit
The Jan & Jul Winter Coat in both the waterproof and regular versions are very long coats. That makes both very warm but it can make the fit more challenging. The overall length of the coat and the sleeve length may not work for some children. For both of my kids (who are small for their age), the jacket that was the best length (to the mid-thigh) was too short in the sleeves. For a friend’s child who is tall for their age, it was a great fit.
Jan & Jul’s fit chart can help you figure out how the coats will fit your children. We would still choose this coat for really cold conditions even though the length isn’t perfect, it is just so warm!
Jan & Jul Kids Winter Coat
Much like the waterproof winter coat, this is a very warm coat especially for the price. It has a different outer fabric and is not waterproof though it still has kept my kids dry during short bits of snow play. It didn’t get wet even when they rolled in the snow.
This coat is only slightly less expensive than the waterproof version (though that isn’t available in the fun gold bear pattern). I would most likely just spend the extra and get the waterproof version to be sure my kids stay dry in all conditions.
Specs and Features
- Very warm: Temperature rated -25°C / -13°F
- Windproof & Water-Resistant: PVC and fluorine free Bionic-Finish® Eco DWR coating
- Cozy Lining: Lined with Sherpa fleece
- Thoughtful Design: Thigh-length coverage, insulated stay-on hood
- Wrist cuffs with a thumb loop are designed to go under mitten/glove cuffs
- Made in 5 sizes: 1T- 5T
What We Love
- Like the waterproof version, this coat is very warm
- Great price for a warm coat
- Roomy hood
- So soft inside, my kids love putting these coats on
- The width of this coat (and the waterproof version) is good, not too boxy with a good fit through the shoulders
- No hook and loop closures to snag other layers, mittens, or me
What We Aren’t So Crazy About
- This non-waterproof version is only a bit less expensive than the waterproof one, we would just choose the waterproof one
- The length of the coat makes starting the zipper challenging for younger kids
- There are a lot of snaps on the storm flap, plan to help kids with this and the zipper
Jan & Jul Kids Snow Overalls
This winter we have been testing the Jan & Jul Snow Overalls on the days it finally snows and every time the temps dip low (we had days in a row of wind chills below 0 F). The snow overalls are thick and warm, ideal for the really cold and windy days. The overalls are waterproof and have reinforced patches in the key areas – the knees, the bottom seam, the cuffs and bum!
The Jan & Jul snow bibs have been warm even on really cold days. The thick insulation has been good for playing in the yard. When my kids used them for cross-country skiing, they found them a little limiting. The cuffs are big enough to go over a nordic boot but not a downhill boot. It is hard to get the snow gaiter over a boot in general with these especially a big more insulted boot. My kids need help to pull the snow gaiter over their boots.
Specs and Features
- 100% Waterproof Claim: Waterproof rating of 10,000mm
- Recycled Fabric: Made with 100% recycled polyester, bluesign® and Oeko-Tex® certified
- Breathable: Active fabric breathability rating of 5000g/m2/24h
- Temperature Rating: -25°C / -13°F
- Easy Care: Machine washable, tumble dry low
- Elastic boot liner to keep snow from getting up the pants
- Available in 4 sizes: 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T
What We Love
- The length is generous, we will be able to lengthen the straps and get at least 2 years of wear in each size
- The width feels true to size, elastic at the waist helps customize the fit
- Great price for warm and waterproof snow overalls
- Easy to pull on and zip
- Reinforced areas are great – all of the quickest to wear out areas are reinforced with an more durable fabric
- The pocket on the side of the leg is a great place to stash a snack or treasure
- Reflective piping and patches help kids be seen on dark winter nights
What We Aren’t Crazy About
- The size of the ankle cuff could be wider
- These will fit over nordic boots but not downhill skiing boots
- These are too thick for my more petite child to move well in during some activities
Overall Thoughts on Jan and Jul Snow Overalls
- These are classic snow overalls, great for school and home
- These are priced well for waterproof and warm snow bibs
- The reinforcement in key areas should help these last well
Jan and Jul Waterproof Mittens
My kids have worn their Jan and Jul mittens each time it has snowed this winter and have stayed warm and dry. While these times in the snow have been more limited due to our very unusual winter, these mittens have not yet has the snow even start to soak through them.
The sizing of these Jan & Jul mittens is well done. The length and width seem true to size and proportionate. The thumb length is good too. My kids don’t like it when the thumbs are too short and limit their ability to grab on to things!
Specs and Features
- Waterproof: DWR coated water-resistant shell reinforced with inner waterproof layer
- Insulated: Filled with 3M Thinsulate™
- Warm: Fleece-lined and temperature rated down to -15℃
- Easy-on: Wide wrist cuffs open to fit over winter layers
- Wrist and Cuff Cinches: Cinches at wrist and forearm, tightens with one pull
- Comes in 4 sizes: XS, S, M, L (XS is thumbless for ages 0-2 yrs)
What We Love
- Easy for preschool aged kids to put on without help
- Cinchable cuff and wrist and the mittens clip together when not in use
- Good patterns and colors (currently 4 available) and will likely hide the dirt
- Great price, you feel like you can get an extra pair for school or backup
- The wrist cinch is a strap and not hook and loops so it lasts longer and doesn’t snag other items
- Finger and thumb lengths are well proportioned
- There are so many fun colors and patterns in these
What We Aren’t Crazy About
- These mittens come off more easily than others with a longer wrist gauntlet.
- No wrist cord for keeping these when these are taken off.
- Waiting to see just how well the DWR coating lasts. DWR finishes are good for a while in drier snow, then the quality of the membrane becomes important.
Jan and Jul Beanie Cap
This beanie is a new favorite of my kids. It is soft, warm for it’s thickness and feels so nice on. The cover covers the ears without being too big. It is just a little thick for a helmet liner for us but fits great under hoods when both layers are needed. A larger running helmet may be able to accommodate it.
Specs and Features
- Lightweight warmth: Insulates without bulk, fits comfortably under helmets and hoods
- Breathable: Sweat-absorbent and moisture-wicking, perfect for active kids
- Soft brushed fleece: Non-irritating, ultra-soft and stretchy fabric
What We Love
- This is so soft and comfortable
- Covers the ears well
- Thin enough to wear under some helmets
- 4 color choices will make many kids happy
What We Aren’t Crazy About
- Waiting to see how is wears over more time, so far so good
Jan & Jul Winter Gear – The Bottom Line
Jan & Jul is a great option for more affordable, warm snow gear. Finding a truly warm coat for snowy winters for under $100 can be hard and Jan & Jul has just that. The snow overalls are adjustable enough that many families will find they fit for more than one winter. The coats, snow pants and mittens are designed to be worn and washed. Also, this is a Canadian company so our neighbors to the north can easily purchase from Jan & Jul as well!
Related Articles:
- Jan & Jul Rain Gear
- Best Winter Gear For Kids
- Best Winter Boots For Kids
- Best Kids Gloves and Mittens 2024
Jan & Jul Winter Gear Review
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