Showing posts with label Coat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coat. Show all posts

Sunday 12 February 2017

Muddy Puddles Clothing - A Review

My family recently had the opportunity to travel to Switzerland to enjoy a short skiing holiday and experience the snow, slopes and atmosphere of St Moritz. Of course in minus temperatures, suitable clothing is vital, and I was therefore delighted when we were given the chance to try out some of the Muddy Puddles clothing range to review it and put it to the test.

As I have mentioned previously in other posts, I strongly believe that children (and parents) can enjoy the outdoors whatever the weather as long as they have suitable clothing, and Muddy Puddles seem to share the same opinion. The company has created a fantastic range of waterproofs, wellies and ski-wear that are not only affordable and great quality, but also stylish.

We were provided with a Snowstorm Ski Jacket, a Drift Base Layer Top & Bottoms, and Arctic Ski Gloves to review. My kids were immediately impressed when they arrived, and my son couldn't wait to try on his new jacket on (much to the envy of his sister).


Snowstorm Ski Jacket

This jacket is just fabulous, with a striking star print design which looks great, and certainly stands out from the crowd. I am a huge fan of bold prints and bright colours, especially with my little explorers as it makes them easy to spot from afar whilst having fun on the slopes and when playing with their friends.

The Snowstorm Ski Jacket is insulated and warm, with a bright yellow micro fleece lining, which has a lovely soft comfortable feel to it. This not only makes it lovely and warm for out on the snow, but also great when bracing the UK's wind and rain weather systems too!


The coat has been tested to a 5000mm hydrostatic head.which is a measurement of how water resistant the fabric is. The higher the value is, then the more capable it is of withstanding more water pressure before leaking. As this measurement is over 1000mm then the garment is classed as being fully waterproof, so you can be sure of keeping dry when out in the snow or rain. Not only is the item waterproof but is also fully breathable.



The added benefits of taped seams and a storm flap, help to make it windproof and protect from blustery winds and cold breezes which makes it an excellent all round winter jacket.

One thing my son particularly liked about the jacket, was the hidden pull out ski pass pocket, which meant he didn't have to go routing through his pockets when searching for his pass or tickets. He simply pulled on the little yellow tab at the bottom of the jacket and he could stretch it out. Since returning from skiing, he has since made this is library card pocket when going to school, which is equally as useful and could be used for a variety of other passes.




The zips are of good quality and were capable of withstanding my sons constant tugging on them when trying to get his money out of his pockets, or to put his gloves in when going indoors for a rest. Another element that I liked was the adjustable cuffs on the arm which meant that these could be adjusted to size to accommodate fitting over gloves comfortably and without being too tight.

Inside the jacket is a removable snow gaitor for added protection whilst on the mountains. This can be removed by simply zipping  it out when need be, and can be just as easily re-added when required again. The hood is also removable, which is ideal for those sunnier days on the slopes, and the reflective logos help to assist with visibility.



On arrival in St Moritz, my son felt warm and comfortable, and immediately received several compliments on his jacket. There was no concern of the biting cold winds affecting him in anyway, as when asked if he was warm enough, he said that he was really warm and cosy and couldn't feel the cold at all. He enjoyed sitting out on the balcony and watching the snow fall, and looked forward to wearing his jacket out on the slopes the following day.



One thing that I had been concerned about was the flexibility of movement and whether he would be able to move freely and easily without any stretch in the usual areas such as the shoulders or waist. However, I needn't have worried as my son had no issue carrying his skis, or moving around whilst wearing the jacket and remained comfortable at all times. It even passed the snow angel test for movement!



Whilst out on the slopes, my son really looked the part, and even when the wind picked up and the snow began to fall, he didn't once feel the chill, which left me satisfied that the jacket was exactly as described and definitely fit for purpose.


As with any holiday, the return home often means a huge pile of washing, and much to my relief I found that the jacket is machine washable on a 30 degree wash, making it much easier to be rid of any dirt or marks. After its first wash the jacket came out good as new, and once dry the fleece inner was just as soft and comfy, which definitely gets a big thumbs up from me.

In terms of sizing, my son is aged 9 and 136cm tall and the size age 9 to 10 fitted him perfectly. However, if your child is taller or planning on wearing multiple layers underneath, then you may wish to consider the next size up.

This jacket is available to purchase here and has an RRP of £75, however until Monday 13th February this is actually on offer for an amazing price of only £37.50 which I can only describe as being an absolute bargain.

Drift Base Layer Top & Bottoms

Base layers are really important as these help to regulate the body temperature and make sure you stay well insulated. Muddy Puddles Drift Base Layer Top & Bottoms come in 3 different colours which are pink, midnight navy, and a lovely navy cloud print design. They ensure that your child stays warm and will keep any moisture out, which helps children to remain comfortable and cosy whilst out on the mountains.




I was really impressed with how soft the fabric was, which also had a really lovely feel to it. This combined with the ribbed hems and cuffs ensured that my daughter was really comfortable whilst wearing them. The great addition of thumb holes on the top, made sure that cuff remained pulled down, so that when wearing gloves no cold or moisture could get in, which is a fabulous idea.


The Drift Base Layer Bottoms were also extremely cosy and fully breathable. They had an elasticated waist as well as elasticated ankles to help keep the cold out, and were supported with flat stitching for added comfort.


Since returning from skiing, my daughter has also chosen to wear the bottoms under jeans whilst on a cold day out, which fitted fine. She has also worn them to keep warm under joggers whilst participating on a high ropes adventure course, and these base layers have kept her warm on all occasions. The fabric composition is made up from 65% polyester and 35% viscose on both the top and bottoms, and much to my delight, these are also machine washable at 30 degrees.

In relation to sizing, my daughter is 141cm in height and the size age 9 to 10 fitted her perfectly, and she was able to move freely and easily at all times whilst wearing them. I would recommend these not only for skiing, but for wearing during any cold weather for that added layer protection, to help keep your children warm.

My daughter has really enjoyed testing these base layers out and said that she would definitely recommend to others.

This Drift Base Layer Top is available to purchase here and has an RRP of £16, however until Monday 13th February this is actually on offer for an amazing price of only £8.

The Drift Base Layer Bottoms are available to purchase here and have an RRP of £16 but again are on offer until Monday 13th February for only £8.

Arctic Ski Gloves

In all honesty, I am actually quite jealous of the fact that my children have these gloves, and I am guilty of trying to fit them onto my own hands whilst doing the school run on Friday when it was absolutely freezing! They are so soft and warm inside and the adjustable strap helps to make them fit snugly over the wrist.


They are fully waterproof and feature an extra thick lining to help keep your fingers warm, as well as reflective logos which help to increase visibility. My daughter's fitted well so she was able to grip both large and small items well, however they were slightly too big on my 9 year old son, so he struggled a little to pick up smaller items such as coins etc, but for carrying his gear and keeping warm whilst skiing they were perfect.


The rubber palms make gripping securely really easy (and are also perfect for creating a good snowball!). Not only were they suitable for their intended purpose, but I am sure you will agree they also looked great on too, and complimented Ben's jacket well.


The gloves are made of 100% polyester and like the previous items, they are also machine washable. During the trip, both our children's hands remained warm and dry, despite many a snowball making exercise and numerous falls in the snow, so it was very reassuring to know that both Emma and Ben would not suffer from cold hands during any part of the ski holiday.


The gloves are available in three different sizes which are 2-5 years, 5-8 years and 9-12 years, and cost £18. These can be purchased here: Arctic Ski Gloves


Overall, we have been left extremely impressed with Muddy Puddles, and highly recommend all the products we have reviewed. The jacket is my ultimate favourite and I will definitely be purchasing one of these for my younger son too. Whilst this review focuses on some of their ski wear products, they also have a wide range of clothing including waterproofs, wellies, snow boots, socks and hats, so there is a good choice of great quality clothing for all weather conditions.

To view their latest stock of Ski Wear and Waterproofs, please visit Muddy Puddles


Disclaimer: We were provided with the clothing items mentioned on a complimentary basis for the purpose of providing an honest and impartial review. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are my own.