If you're taking kids outdoors in any meaningful sense then they'll need at least a few key items of proper outdoor clothing. Something warm and something waterproof come high on the list. Many families kit themselves out at a well-known sports superstore or the high street equivalents; decent alternatives are not exactly thick on the ground. Sprayway are one of the few 'proper' UK outdoor brands I know that offer a kid's range.

We reviewed a couple of Sprayway kid's jackets in spring 2021, but given children's awkward tendency to grow out of clothing - to say nothing of their ability to destroy things - it seemed a good time to look at some more recent additions to the brand's lineup for younger adventurers.

Here we're reviewing two products, which each stand alone, but which can also be zipped together to create a warm-and-waterproof single layer:

• Eldon IA waterproof jacket
• Kip IA full-zip fleece

Buying them both together for the all-in-one option seems a good idea in the colder months, and perhaps it's also a bit harder to lose one thing than two separate jackets (well, it's a theory).

Eldon IA Jacket - £50

A breathable waterproof jacket in a range of sizes covering small children up to teens, the Eldon is a nice simple shell that works well on the hill without being overkill for the school run, zipping together with the Kip IA fleece to give you a warm all-in-one coat (IA = interactive). This coat has proved popular with the junior review team thanks to its understated design and nice soft fabrics. Its durable well-made feel should also make it a hit with adults, and given its hand-me-down potential the price could end up being good value versus cheaper but possibly flimsier coats.

Weight

At 423g in size 12-13, this is quite a substantial jacket - possibly a bit much in the warmest weather, but arguably spot-on for most UK hillwalking. It feels sturdy and well-made, which it needs to be to survive long enough to hand on once the original wearer grows too big.

Fit

Coming in six sizes, starting at 4-5yrs and topping out at 14-15yrs, this neutral-looking shell is effectively a unisex model that even the most gender-conventional children are going to struggle to reject. Given the pervasive societal pressure that kids are already subject to,  its nice to see outdoor clothing not being obviously gendered.

Neither of our girls are big for their age but even with this in mind I'd say the fit seems pretty roomy for the stated size. There ought to be plenty of space in a shell to wear it over several other layers, besides which having some growing room is no bad thing. Long in the body, the hem sits well below waist level, which is good for keeping rain off the upper legs. But with no drawcord to bring the fit in, it can get a bit flappy in a high wind.

There's plenty of length in the sleeves, and while there's no cuff adjustment, I'm not sure that matters. The elasticated cuffs so seem to fit fine over winter gloves.

Fabric

As with their adult jackets towards the lower end of the price scale, Sprayway have used HydroDRY fabric here. Tough enough to withstand kids (a stern test of any jacket), this 75D fabric is also soft and quiet - none of that crisp packet crinkle you get on some shells. And doubly good news from an environmental point of view is that the outer is 100% recycled, and features a PFC-free DWR.

Waterproofness and breathability stats for this fabric are not clearly displayed on the Sprayway website, so I asked. In terms of waterproofness, after after five washes the fabric achieves >10,190mm (JIS 109). In breathability tests (JIS L1099-2012) it achieves 11,756 g/m2/ 24hr. The JIS in these figures relates to Japanese Industrial Standard, a new one on me.

While it's not an 'active' piece for high output activity, user satisfaction suggests its breathability is very much up to the challenge of family walking and all-round outdoor use. Our girls have been out in all weathers over autumn, winter and spring, haven't once got wet, and are yet to complain of being sweaty on the move. Inside is a taffeta lining, which is soft and un-clammy next to the skin, and I think this probably boosts the jacket's warmth a little by adding an extra layer.

Features

The two zipped hand pockets are big enough for gloves, or a generous handful of shells or Skittles. Though it's not water-resistant, the main zip has a little internal storm flap to channel away the rain, and a brushed chin guard.

There's no adjustment on the part-elasticated hood, but it does include a little soft peak to help hold some shape in the wind, plus plenty of room to fit over a wooly hat. We wouldn't intentionally subject our girls to wilder Scottish mountain weather anyway, so the hood seems more than adequate for family-walk-friendly conditions.

Connecting the Kip fleece to the Eldon is child's play. With a double layer of zips in the shell, you use the inner layer to attach the fleece, then anchor at the cuffs via a simple loop and tab. There's no attachment at the hem or collar, but this doesn't seem to be an issue. The unintended consequence of having two zips on the jacket is that you can double-zip a child into their waterproof. Get out of that one, squirt.

It's worth mentioning that the jacket comes in a number of colours, all of them quite smart and not too babyish for older kids.

For more info see sprayway.com

Kip IA fleece jacket - £30

A chunky fleece jacket at the mid-to-heavyweight end of the scale, the Kip works well with the Eldon but stands very much on its own merits too.

Weight

We make this 329g in size 12-13. It's not ultralight by any means, but reports suggest it's warm for its weight. This deep pile jacket has a good year-round thickness for UK hills, which - let's face it - can be pretty chilly even in summer.

Fit

The Kip is available across a big age range, from 4-5yrs to 14-15yrs, and again in our experience it's quite a loose fit for the stated size. It's fair to say that both our girls have a bit of growing room here, though that's welcome in winter weather when they'll want to add a few layers underneath.

There's no hem adjustment, and yes that does look a bit draughty on windy days. Similarly the mid-height stretch-bound collar will need to be backed up with a Buff when it's cold.

Fabric

The CoreC 250 recycled polyester fleece is an old-school brushed pile on the outside, with a smooth face inside that slides easily over a baselayer. Of course that deep pile is only going to offer maximum insulation when it's worn under an air-trapping layer such as the Eldon. While the fabric isn't remotely windproof, this does suggest it ought to be breathable and un-sweaty. Thick, stretchy, and suitably snuggly, this fleece seems a bit of a hit all round.

Features

Maximum simplicity here: you get a chunky zip (that marries with the Eldon), two roomy zip-less hand pockets, and that's your lot. We're not quite such a fan of the colours on offer with the Kip, which only comes in dark green or dark blue, neither of which seem to be choices many children would naturally opt for.

For more info see sprayway.com

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Ethics and environment

Sprayway has been awarded 'Leader Status' by Fair Wear Foundation since 2016. Fair Wear Foundation is an independent, non-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation that works with brands and producers to improve labour conditions in the garment industry worldwide.

It's worth re-iterating here that the HydroDRY fabric is 100% recycled, and features a PFC-free DWR, while the fleece fabric is recycled too.

Conclusion?

You might get something slightly cheaper at a certain sports warehouse, but not by much. Comfy, functional, and tough enough to have solid hand-me-down potential, the Eldon and Kip seem excellent value at these prices. I'm not sure many adults would get much benefit from being able to zip a fleece and a waterproof together, but the faff-reduction does work for kids, especially on school days when they just want to grab one jacket and go.