Outdoor Clothing Guide - Wild Child Forest School

Outdoor Clothing Guide
Tips for finding affordable, durable outdoor
clothes
Quality outdoor clothing can be expensive, especially when kids are growing
and wearing things hard. Generally, there are two approaches to this dilemma:
Buying New
Buying Used
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Get exactly what
you want, when you
want it
Expensive!
Inexpensive!
Need to be less
picky
Less time spent
looking for things
Creates more
environmental waste
Reduces
environmental waste
Need to spend more
time looking
Finding high quality
things for cheap is
really exciting!
Need to plan ahead
and look often
Good quality is easy
to find
Guys Frenchy’s Shopping Tips
Here it Nova Scotia, we’re lucky to have Guys Frenchy’s used clothing stores! They are great
resources for finding affordable kids outdoor clothing, if you know what to look for. This guide
contains some visual images of appropriate clothing items for various seasons, and points out
the key features that will keep your child warm, dry and happy in all seasons. These features
are things to look for when you go to Frenchy’s.
Mountain Equipment Co-op also has some excellent advice on what to look for at this website:
http://www.mec.ca/AST/contentprimary/learn/kids/clothingandgear/dressingyourkids.jsp
Quality brands that you may find at Frenchy’s include: Columbia, REI, LLBean, MEC, Outdoor
Research, EMS, Kamik, SmartWool, Patagonia, ExOffico, Helly Hansen, North Face, and
others.
Key Frenchy’s locations are in Coldbrook (6931 Highway 1, Coldbrook, Nova Scotia), Berwick
(104 Front St Berwick) Bridgewater (61 North St Bridgewater) and Sackville (12 Murdoch
Mackay Court).
With Frenchy’s you must be willing to be flexible, look early and look often to find the things you
need. But when most things cost about $3, it can be worth it!
Winter- Base Layers
Long underwear or other
layers touching the skin
should be made of
synthetic or wool, NOT
cotton. Cotton gets wet
and stays wet, and could
lead to hypothermia no
matter what other layers
your child has on.
Wool socks, such as
those made by
Wigwam or
SmartWool, are warm
even when wet, and
need to be washed
less often than cotton
or synthetic socks.
Vests are great layers
because they add
warmth to the core
part of the body.
Vests are just as
important as good
socks, boots and
mittens for keeping
hands and feet warm.
If the core is warm,
then the brain allows
warm blood to flow
into the hands and
feet.
Winter- Outer Layers
Boots that are waterproof around the foot
and which tighten at the top to keep snow
out are essential for keeping kids happy in
hours of outdoor play. Neoprene boots like
those made by Kamik or Bogs are great for
both winter and as rain boots, making them
a great investment.
A great winter jacket has
a waterproof, windproof
outer layer and synthetic
or down insulation.
Bibbed waterproof
snow pants are
important for hours of
rolling around in the
snow.
Winter- Accessories
Toques with ear flaps are great for cold
or windy days, and they stay on better.
Balaclavas are good for covering necks
and chins on very cold days.
Mittens tend to be warmer
than gloves. A durable,
waterproof outer layer is
very important. Kids
playing the snow
appreciate having the
long wrist gaiters to
overlap with their jacket
sleeves.
Neck warmers are easy
for kids to put on, stay
in place and don’t get
caught on things like
scarves can.
Spring/Fall Rain Gear
Wool socks with
rubber rain boots
are important for
rainy days and
wet puddles in
the forest.
A hooded, waterproof rain jacket and waterproof
rain pants are important for being out in the rain for
any length of time. Also, rain pants are great to
wear even when it’s not raining. Kids often sit or
play on the damp ground, so rain pants keeps their
other layers dry and clean, which means less
laundry! MEC makes rain bibs for little kids.
Spring/Fall Rain Gear
For real laundry saving, consider getting a rain cover-all suit. $45 http://www.
cedartreekids.ca/kidss-outdoor-store.html
Summer
Sturdy hiking
shoes/boots are good
for summer
adventures, and old
canvas or mesh
sneakers are make
great water shoes.
Nylon pants that zip off into shorts
are quick drying and good in all
summer weather types.
Summer is a great time for
cotton t-shirts! Keep in
mind that anything
sleeveless means more
sunscreen is needed.
A broad brimmed hat
with a tie means less
sunscreen and it won’t
blow away in the wind.