Kiddo Rainsets – bibs aren’t just for babes

Hey NoBads Fam, let’s talk rainsets. First item from our NBWFam Rain Gear Guide – Kiddos edition.

No matter what your thoughts are on bibs, it’s by far our favorite way to keep dry (and therefore warm) in cold, wet conditions.

What do we look for in rainsets for our no bad weather kiddos?

Non-negotiable:
– waterproof rating

Negotiable:
– durable
– breathability vs. windproof

When our oldest was in preschool the pandemic hit and his amazing preschool teacher decided to, instead of cancel class, move it outdoors. It was amazing and is the reason why we put up with a slightly longer commute for this preschool that our youngest now attends. Rain or shine (or snow) the preschool is outdoors and our kids LOVE it. But, this meant we had to do some serious research into rain and winter gear.

And honestly, there are lots of amazing brands who have rain gear that fully equip children for the wet conditions and keep them dry.

The down low on the Helly Hansen Bergen suit

We ended up choosing Helly Hansen Bergen Rainset. Why?

The brand is well known for its sailing gear
Bibs
elastic cuffs
elastic boot band (the 2.0 set has a more durable band which we’re very jazzed about)
Waterproof rating (Helly Tech Professional range +20000 mmH2O)
Just the outer shell (meaning no lining like fleece)
Location of the reflectors
Durability rating
Aesthetics and color options
Price

Other notable brands:

Amazon Product Links:

Helly Hansen Bergen set, set with different prints
Helly Hansen Bergen set (a bunch of different prints)
Helly Hansen Bergen set (more options!)
Helly Hansen playsuit
Tuffo Coveralls
Frogg Togg Polly Woggs
Reima Lampi Rain Jacket
Reima Lammikko bibs
Stonz Rain Suit Muddy Buddy Waterproof Coverall

Finding the right waterproof gear

When researching what’s best for your family – look for product technical specs. DO NOT trust when it says “waterproof” in the product description or product name. Unfortunately it could be misleading and the reality is the item may be water resistant – and we don’t have time for that nonsense when we are searching for the real deal.

How do I really really know it’s waterproof? Look for terms like “water column” or “waterproof rating” – this is where the truth lies.

Also, if you read “100% waterproof polyurethane ” or “PU coating” – you’re probably in the right place.

You may also see info graphics like this. All brands do it slightly different and sometimes it’s more like a treasure map trying to track down the specifics.

We prefer a water column rating of minimum 10,000 mm – but that’s our preference. We think this is a durable rating for how much our kiddos are outside in a given season.

However, not to be confused with actual durability ratings of the products, which most typically have. We rank durability at a lower priority than waterproofness because there are ways to make the product more durable (reinforce) if necessary.
We also rank breathability lower priority for our rain gear – unlike our snow gear, breathability isn’t as necessary, in our humble opinion, for rain gear. And the price tag that follow super breathable rain products is not one we choose to swallow.

A lot of brands also have their own patented waterproof technology. For example:

Kids are already expensive – How do I afford more gear?

What about if I can’t afford it? This is a fair call out. The Frogg Toggs Polly Woggs suits are a more affordable option and can be found at your local Walmart (at least that’s where we’ve snagged them in addition to Amazon). You trade lower cost for less durability. In addition to the Bergen suits, all of our kiddos have their own Polly Woggs rain set as well. Why? These pack super nicely in an evelope and we just keep these stuffed in our car for unexpected rainy moments and pack these in bags for travel for unexpected weather as well. They’ve come in clutch for rainy soccer games and weekend trips to grandma and grandpas’ houses.

I would also recommend, once you find the rainsuit you like, to subscribe to that brand’s emails. Then you can stay up to date on their sales/discounts they are running. And last season’s markdowns!

I’ll also throw in that Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon AND so it Black Friday. So potential for some decent savings.

Our kiddos can get two seasons out of a set and then we donate them. Check consignment shops and second hand stores like eBay, GearTrade, ThreadUP, local Facebook groups, etc.

I will also recommend subscribing to websites like Steep and Cheap, as they can have some rad offerings.

Something else we do, which may be an unpopular opinion, is leverage birthdays and Christmas presents to get more outdoor gear. Sure, the kids may be underwhelmed when they open the gift, but when reality sets in on what this gift is really allowing for them to do – it’s totally worth it. We do this all the time, and we can because we’re the parents.

There are lots of good options out there! We are Helly Hansen Bergen suit fans.

Just make sure it is for sure waterproof.
There are ways to get creative and afford whatever rain suit you desire. It will be worth it.

Check out our NBW Fam Gear Lab video here!

Have fun this fall in the rain and colorful leaves!

See out outside,

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