Review: Kids’ Waterproof Trousers and Dungarees
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We love waterproof trousers: they are great for outdoor nursery, gardening, muddy puddles, wet playgrounds, and all sorts of messy outdoor play!
In this post we cover the key features to look for when purchasing waterproof dungarees or trousers for your children. We also review some of the waterproofs that we have owned and used.
Before we do that, one word of advice. Always make sure to spread your children’s waterproofs over the outside of their wellies. Otherwise water and mud will run down the trousers into their wellies, and give them very soggy feet!
Waterproof dungarees or waterproof trousers?
Waterproof dungarees have much better coverage of the midriff area, which is great when kids are sliding or climbing. You won’t end up with a cold gap around the tummy. They are also very comfortable as no elastic is needed at the waist. However, they can be challenging for toileting and nappy changes. I prefer dungarees for outdoor nursery, muddy play and wet playgrounds, especially for younger children.
Waterproof trousers are really easy to get on and off in a hurry, and you won’t have to take off your child’s coat. This is really their main advantage. The downside is that you can easily get cold or wet spots at the join between coat and trousers, especially in active play like going down a slide. I think trousers are preferable on a long walk in the rain where being able to make quick toilet trips is a priority. I prefer waterproof trousers for hiking with older children, and I think they can be easier when potty training too.
- Summary
- Kids’ waterproof trousers: What features should I look for?
- Didriksons Plaskeman dungarees
- Lidl Lupilu dungarees
- Playshoes dungarees
- Reima Lammikko dungarees
- Spotty Otter waterproof trousers
- Peter Storm Kids’ Storm II waterproof trousers
Summary
First, a summary of the different waterproof trousers/dungarees in this review:
| Didriksons Plaskeman Best for durability (dungarees) -Fixed stirrups, adjustable length -Robust no-pinch buckles –RRP: £28.00 View at Didriksons |  |
| Lidl Lupilu Best value -Fixed stirrups, one length -Available twice a year at Lidl –RRP: £5.99 Purchase dates at Lidl |  |
| Playshoes Best for warmth (fleece option) -Removable and adjustable stirrups -Elastic waist cinching -Fleece and unlined options –Average price (varies by colour and season): £21.00 (fleece-lined) or £17.00 (unlined) View on Amazon |  |
| Reima Lammikko -Removable and adjustable stirrups -No pinch buckles -Good range of colours -RRP: £25.00 View at Reima |  |
| Spotty Otter Waterproof Trousers Best for durability (trousers) -Adjustable waistband -Really clever zipped waterproof ankles -Reinforced knees –RRP: £60.00 (unlined version) View at Spotty Otter |  |
| Peter Storm Kids Storm II Waterproof Trousers –Good range of pockets -Zip to the knee helps with getting them on over boots -Unfortunately, the zip leaks! –RRP: £45.00 (often available on sale at Amazon) View on Amazon |  |
Kids’ waterproof trousers: What features should I look for?
For any kind of waterproof, you want to look for taped seams, which stops water from leaking in at the vulnerable points where pieces of fabric join together.
Features to look for in dungarees:
Easy to clean: waterproof dungarees are my kids’ messiest, muddiest piece of outdoor clothing. I want them to be easy to sponge down, which means I look for PU (polyurethane) fabric. The fabric feels slightly rubbery and is very waterproof, you can literally hose it down if you need to. In face, occasionally I’ve hosed it down with my children still inside it!
Adjustable shoulder straps: to extend the lifetime of the dungarees, I want to be able to change the length of the garment to fit a growing child.
Stirrups: These are straps at the bottom of the dungarees that you can use to hold them in place around a welly. This is really useful for bike riding or climbing where dungarees tend to ride up. I tend not to use them in other settings (just tuck them to the back) because stirrups are the place that gets the most wear and tear. Some dungarees have buttons so that you can adjust or remove the stirrups.
Side poppers: These are useful if your children are on the slimmer side, as they allow you to cinch in the dungarees under their arms. My children don’t tend to bother with their poppers unless they are wearing dungarees without a jacket.
Features to look for in waterproof trousers:
Adjustable waistband: these trousers are by their nature overtrousers, and it can get quite uncomfortable having two waistbands. An adjustable waistband can really help with comfort levels and fit.
Leg zippers: these make it easier to put the trousers on over shoes or boots. This is a real help if you are putting the trousers on whilst out and about. E.g. it starts raining on a walk. Not all leg zippers are created equal! Zippers are an obvious spot for leaks, and more expensive waterproof trousers will have gussets or waterproof zips to try and prevent that.
Pockets: older children especially may really appreciate these. On simpler waterproof trousers this can be a slit through which to access pockets on normal trousers underneath. Obviously there can be some water seepage here. More expensive trousers may have actual pockets.
Our favourite kids’ waterproof dungarees and trousers
Almost all of the trousers in this review will do a good job of keeping your child dry (with the exception of the Storm II Trousers!). Where they differ is in features like durability, warmth and buckle design.
Didriksons Plaskeman dungarees
Pros:
These get my vote for most reliable and durable dungarees. We have several pairs on the go, and the oldest pair have just developed a rip. They are three years old, have seen two children through outdoor nursery, and have been thoroughly used and abused. I am really pleased with how they have held up.
I especially like the Plaskeman’s thoughtful buckle design, which I think is more resilient to breakage than normal buckle clips.
Cons:
My only real gripe with the Plaskemans is that they are only available in very limited colours, often just navy! I want to have a different colour for each child so that kids can find their own dungarees quickly. Bright colours are easier for me to spot at the park or in the woods, and my children enjoy choosing fun colours!
Didriksons waterproof dungarees are also available in a top and bottom set called ‘Slaskeman’.
Lidl Lupilu dungarees
Lupilu dungarees can be purchased from the ‘Middle of Lidl’ twice a year. The fleece-lined versions were for sale in the first week of October 2022 and again at New Year 2023. The unlined versions were on sale in my local Lidl in the first week of March 2023. Keep an eye out in your local store!
Lupilu market these dungarees as ‘Lupilu kids’ rain trousers’ but they are definitely dungarees.
Pros:
These are a fantastic budget option, available from the ‘Middle of Lidl’ in the spring (unlined) and autumn (fleece-lined) at very reasonable prices. They sell out fast, so watch out for them!
Cons:
The fabric is a bit thinner than on our other dungarees, but they have been very resilient so far.
The bib area of the dungarees comes less far up the torso than other dungarees we own, so I don’t think they are as warm, and there is a bit less torso coverage if you are wearing them without a jacket (e.g. mud kitchen play on a sunny spring day, or a playground trip after rain). This is the case for both the lined and unlined versions.
One observation I would make about the fleece-lined Lidl dungarees is that the fleece-covered area is smaller than on other waterproof brands. In the photographs below, you can see that the fleece lining on the Playshoes dungarees (yellow) comes right down to the cuff, whereas the Lidl dungarees (navy) have about 10cm of nylon lining material on the inside leg before you get up to fleece.
I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing…this area mostly overlaps with a welly anyway so the lack of insulation doesn’t matter too much. I find that the bottom inside of dungarees can get very muddy if puddle jumping or allotmenteering, and the nylon is easier to wipe clean and reduce washing.
The fleece does end lower on the torso as well compared to Playshoes, and given that these dungarees are already lower cut at the torso than other brands, I would say they are not as warm around the midriff.
Playshoes dungarees
Pros:
These are a wee bit more expensive than the Lidl dungarees, but still excellent value, and available all year round. They come in a good range of colours, and there is an unlined and a fleece-lined option. We have the fleece lined dungarees which are very cosy, and great for the winter.
I like the elastic at the back of the waist which makes these more form fitting but still flexible.
Cons:
My children do have some issues with the fleece lining when they are trying to putting the dungarees on. It gets stuck around their feet and stops them from pushing their feet out of the bottom cuffs. I think this is because the fleece lining is not attached to the side seams, only around the bottom hem, and so there is quite a bit of loose fabric to get tangled. Other than that, we’ve been very happy with these dungarees.
Reima Lammikko dungarees
Pros:
These dungarees are newer to us, but I’ve been impressed by some thoughtful design elements, particularly the reflective stripes and the no-pinch buckle design. They also have a handy name label with space for three names.
The dungarees come in a good range of colours.
Cons:
The spare elastic on the dungaree straps is hanging loose, where on most dungarees it is stitched in to the back of the shoulder (see picture). I think this could be annoying if you were buying large and needing to keep the shoulder straps short, as this would leave long pieces of loose elastic around the child’s shoulders.
Spotty Otter waterproof trousers
We have the fleece-lined option which is not currently available new, though the dungaree form is available, and the unlined trousers.
Pros:
These are such high quality waterproof trousers, with all the sensible features I’ve come to expect from Spotty Otter. Adjustable waistbands, reinforced knees, and adjustable ankle straps. They have a leg zipper with an ingenious waterproof gusset beneath, to give you extra flex when putting the trousers on over boots. This works reasonably well; I prefer not to try and wrestle them on over the chunkiest snowboots, but will happily put them on over hiking shoes.
Our two pairs were second hand. They have had several years of use here, and look like they’ll keep going for several more. Very durable.
Cons:
Expensive! But you get what you pay for.
Peter Storm Kids’ Storm II Waterproof Trousers
Pros:
We purchased these trousers as a lightweight option for hillwalking. I liked the zip to knee feature to help with putting them on over boots, as this is something I find useful in my own waterproof trousers. These are for an older child who appreciates the good range of pockets. They have a mesh lining and roll up fairly small.
Cons:
The main drawback is that the zips are not waterproof in heavy rain. Unlike the Spotty Otter trousers, there is no gusset under the zip, just a clear opening. On an all day wet hillwalk, their owner came back soaked to the knee, and dry above the knee. Admittedly, they had been put through their paces being tested crawling in undergrowth. The waistband is not adjustable.
Kids’ waterproof dungarees: an area for manufacturing improvement
For our family the weak point of dungarees is always the shoulder elastic. Over time, the elastic loosens and lengthens, and the buckle adjusters seem to lose their grip on it. This means that you have to tighten the shoulder straps every time you put on the dungarees.
I am very sparing with how often I run dungarees through the washing machine, and careful with the settings (Delicates 30C with Nikwax Techwash) but we still have these problems. I would love to see manufacturers work on improvements to the shoulder straps, both the elastic and the adjustment system.
If you are thinking about kitting your child out in the winter time, you might also be interested in my posts on salopettes/snow trousers and my winter gear guide for outdoor nursery.
