The Jack Wolfskin Kids’ Active Hike Jacket is a PFC-free waterproof, breathable, hardshell and super comfortable rain jacket for kids who like to explore the grand outdoors. Our seven-year-old reviewer loves this jacket, and he’s way cooler and more stylish than me, in addition to being very environmentally engaged, so I’d say that’s a big thumbs-up all round for Jack Wolfskin.
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Jack Wolfskin Kids’ Active Hike Jacket
Highlights: A stylish, high-performance waterproof, windproof, breathable kids’ jacket that is PFC-free and made with recycled materials. A 5-leaf product, let down only by the plastic packaging!
- Waterproof, windproof, and breathable 20K/15K!
- Looks great – kid-approved aesthetics!
- Two hip pockets and a chest pocket
- Comfortable, soft mesh inner lining
- PFC-free
- Made with recycled, Bluesign certified materials
- Comes in plastic packaging
- Only two colorways offered currently
- JW says it’s for boys, but it’s for all genders
Jack Wolfskin Kids’ Active Hike Jacket – Out of the box
The jacket arrived in a plastic bag with, unfortunately, another plastic bag containing the jacket. Both bags could be recycled (and were), but neither seemed to be made with fully recycled plastic. Jack Wolfskin can definitely do better on the packaging front, and this is the main reason the jacket lost a leaf. With less packaging that is more sustainable, this is easily a 5-leaf product.
First impressions of the jacket itself, though, were very favorable. The colors are vibrant – we got the Coastal Blue colorway, with an Indigo Blue also available – and the material and manufacturing is clearly very good quality, with no loose threads or errant stitching.
Initial thoughts from our seven-year-old reviewer were that he likes the color and that it is double-lined near the chest. He also likes the paw print embroidery at the top. And, drum roll, he begged to wear it to school the next day, which seems like a real seal of approval from a fashion-forward kid!
Size and Fit
The Active Hike Jacket is available in sizes for kids aged 18-24 months, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 12-14, and 14+. Our seven-year-old reviewer is on the smaller size for his age but the 7-8 year-old size fit really well, suggesting it might be good to size up if you’re kid is on the other end of the size for age scale. Note, too, that Jack Wolfskin uses European sizing, which means it’s worth measuring your kid instead of assuming your usual size will fit.
This jacket is meant to be a little roomy, to allow for layering underneath. It’s not baggy or oversized, though.
Performance and features
The Jack Wolfskin Active Hike Jacket for Kids is waterproof, windproof, and breathable. It’s a great choice for keeping your kid cozy and dry without them getting too hot or feeling sweaty and chilled once they stop running around (do they ever?!). There’s a mesh lining that feels comfortable on the skin,
The jacket has a chest pocket that kids young and old love as it’s great for stashing treasures or essentials. The two-way color adds a pop of fun without being over the top, and the Jack Wolfskin pawprint logo is understated, meaning even the most stylish kid will likely appreciate this jacket.
There are two hip pockets and a chest pocket, reflective detailing for road safety, and water-resistant zips to keep out rain and snow.
The jacket is water resistant to 20,000 mm, making it 20K/15K for waterproofing and breathability. In other words, this jacket holds up very well to prolonged heavy downpours and is breathable enough to wear when very active, such as when hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing.
After wearing it a few times, our reviewer reported the following: “I like that it feels like a sweater but protects me like a jacket.”
Sustainability
Jack Wolfskin makes the Kids’ Active Hike Jacket using recycled material for the main fabric. This includes a 100% recycled membrane to keep out the elements. Specifically, this jacket features Jack Wolfskin’s Texapore Ecosphere Mini Ottoman for the outer material, and an inner logo lining made of polyester, plus a mesh lining that is dyed using a water-saving, non-toxic Future Dye process.
The whole jacket is made with at least 90% Bluesign certified textiles and 30% Bluesign certified components. This jacket is also totally free of forever chemicals (PFCs), like all of Jack Wolfskin’s current catalogue, including their Texapore hiking boots and North York Coat (tried, tested, and heartily approved by me!).
You can machine wash this jacket at 30 degrees, but it’s best to hang it to dry.
Final thoughts on the Jack Wolfskin Kids’ Active Hike Jacket
The Jack Wolfskin Kids’ Active Hike Jacket is a fantastic choice if you’re a family that loves mountaineering, trekking, or otherwise engaging in serious outdoor activities. It’s also just a super stylish and high-performing jacket for daily wear if you live somewhere rainy, windy, and cold.
Little kids will love the colors and pawprint and how comfortable they feel in this jacket, while older kids will appreciate the smart design and how it keeps them sweat-free, cozy, and protected from the elements. Parents will love the name tag on the label, for when it inevitably goes AWOL, and the fact that this jacket will help keep kids happy to hike for longer!