Recommendations for warm kids coats

[krisim]

I'm looking for new winter coats for my girls for next winter (they'll be 2 and 4 next year).  I like to buy ahead to get them on clearance, of course.  I've ordered a couple of coats but haven't been very satisfied with the quality (I normally love Gap coats, but the adorable one that I bought has an awful zipper that gets stuck and my dh says that the JcPenney coat that I ordered doesn't seem very warm, so they'll be going back).

Where do you buy warm coats for you kids?   We've had a few really cold days lately and my oldest DD has said that she's been cold at preschool on the playground. 

[dragonfly08]

I've had luck with coats from Target, Old Navy, Land's End, and Pumpkin Patch in the last two years.

But 1) my kids are almost always warm so they don't want/need a really heavy coat, and 2) on the coldest days I layer them anyway...a winter coat alone is never enough on the playground, IMO.

[Deleted]

DD's coat this year is London Fog, got at Costco.

I've heard good things about Lands End but since DD is still young, we'll wait until she can reuse a coat more than a year for the pricier ones.

ETA-- I live in NJ, where winter cold temp is usually around the low 30s. But we've had a cold snap recently, in the teens. This is rare for us. Last year DD had a coat from the GAP and it was fine since it was a very mild winter.  

If I lived in MN or SD, I'm sure I'd be getting different coats for all of us.  Most people here in the winter wear pea coats.

[princessx]

I live in a cold winter climate (Canadian - today's temp with windchill is -23C) and would never recommend any winter wear from Gap or Old Navy, they just don't understand cold!

Columbia Sportswear or North Face are worth the price.

Px

[lys]

Ditto princessx - Target, Gap ,Old Navy are for cold days in Florida, not real cold.

[krisim]

Jan 24, 2013 9:47:22 GMT -5 dragonfly08 said:

I've had luck with coats from Target, Old Navy, Land's End, and Pumpkin Patch in the last two years.

But 1) my kids are almost always warm so they don't want/need a really heavy coat, and 2) on the coldest days I layer them anyway...a winter coat alone is never enough on the playground, IMO.

I think this is the frustrating thing!  At home I'd layer their clothes to go outside, but they don't do that at daycare.  (they definitely wear hats and gloves, but they don't change clothes or put on snowpants unless there is snow on the ground.) 
Oldest DD usually wears 2 shirts to school but refuses to wear sweaters or fleeces to school (I think she gets too warm inside). 

I like down coats because I think they're less bulky and easier to play in.  I've been eyeing one from Land End this year that's on clearance but it doesn't have any neck coverage (and my girls refuse to wear scarves), so I'm looking for other options.

[Deleted]

Canadian here --Costco snow suits are awesome and inexpensive. They come out here in July or August. 

The Gap warmest coats used to be my go-to but the quality kept falling so I quit buying them. 

Lands End is also good, my DD will get 3 years our of her snowsuit which is awesome due to the 'grow a long'  (grades1,2,3). However, the zipper is sticky for her to do up on her own. It's easy for me to do up though. 

[Deleted]

Lands End adult coats are very good--I haven't checked kids.

What about getting them a hoodie or something that they always wear with their coat on cold days and take off with their coat? That's actually what DH does.

[Deleted]

We've had good luck with Columbia and North Face. We live in a cold, snowy area

[Marmee]

I always buyColumbia coats for the kids. Usually at REI or some other sports or specialty type store. They are warm, hold up great so they can be passed down.

[Deleted]

DS has a Spyder coat I got on clearance. It also has a feature to extend the arms so hopefully he'll be able to get 2 winters out of it.
Its nice and warm. But I agree with the other posters--if you are looking for warmth, you need to buy a north face, columbia or something similar. Target and Old Navy are probably not going to be cute vs warm.

[hocus]

I get coats from gap or old navy. I've hard lands end or LL Bean (not sure which) coats at the best and can sometimes we used for two seasons because the sleeves can lengthen.

[satama]

I like the 3 in 1 coats from target (with the zip out fleece) and this year I got a jacket and snow pants set from Costco (less than $40 for the set at full price).

Usually DS just wears a fleece or furry inside type hoodie with a hat. We only use heavy coats for playing in the snow.

[IrishBelle]

I'm in Canada as well and my DD wore the same Lands End coat for the last 2 years. It held up really well and I got it on clearance for around $17. Not bad for two seasons!

[mmmomof2]

We don't get super cold weather, but I've been happy with the Boden coat I got DD1 last year. It should last her at least another year (I got it a size up) and then will be passed on to DD2.

The Hanna Andersson ones are nice too and again should last multiple seasons.

[imojoebunny]

I get mine from Land's end usually. I also got one from Children's place this year that was the 3 in one Jacket. Lands end 3 in one is very warm, but the kids prefer the Squall Parka. They often have coupons for additional amounts off and free shipping.