ProsDurable, Great Value, Comfortable, sized wrong
Great quality as always from Bean, but the size 14-16 is DEFINITELY more like a 10-12. My son is 5' tall and slim, not very big, and wears a 12 or 14 in most shirts/jackets. The sleeves on this jacket were 3" too short for him...
This review is for the solid print down jacket (oddly, the link for posting a review leads me to the print down jacket). I am very disappointed in this down jacket. I was looking for a nice, warm jacket that would keep my 7 year old son warm on his 10 minute walk to and from school. When I first received the jacket, I noticed that the down seemed very thin and the fabric seemed a bit flimsy. However, I trusted that the down would do its job and keep my son adequately warm, so I kept the jacket. It turns out that my son, who is almost never cold, has complained to me numerous times that he is cold while wearing the jacket in 20-something degree weather. Granted, he usually complains when it is windy in addition to being cold, but then the fabric should be heavier so that common winter winds can't penetrate. I very much doubt the jacket would keep kids warm to -15 degrees, as the website claims, since it is not even keeping my son warm in 20+ degrees. I am now looking for a new winter jacket for him!
ProsGreat Value, Comfortable, Performing as Expected
I ordered this jacket for our 12 year old son in the Cayenne color. He is small for his age, so the medium fit perfectly. The color is a rusty, earthy orange, not too bright as I thought it might be. I love the hood-it fits nicely with the soft, lined collar. The jacket it soft, light, and comfortable from the start. It works great to keep our son warm. We haven't tried it our yet in wet weather, but it seems to be water resistant. I also like the small reflective triangle on the lower back, since he walks to the bus in the dark. We've only had it a few days so I can't yet speak to the durability, but it appears to be very well made with no loose threads and a "solid" zipper. I shopped around, and you can't beat the price for a quality, genuine down jacket.
This is a thin down jacket. Should be a considered a down shirt for the colder climates. Needs more down and change the lining to a mini fleece to live up to Bean's sales copy.
As the L.L. Bean guide states down to -15 with long john shirt, fleece layer then the down on top, plus an active child. Kids don't dress that way to go to school.
A child waiting for the bus in this jacket will get very cold. Also, the jacket needs a draw cord around the bottom hem as there is NOTHING to prevent wind from blowing up from the bottom. The quality and construction is good, as expected from Bean.
