The rain season is underway and living on the wet (west) coast, you’d be crazy not to own a rain coat! Each year we have the same issue as green parents. How can we stay dry for weeks of drizzle and stay green and non toxic as well??
We discovered there are very few alternatives out there for green parents, until Vancouver based company Puddlegear.com contacted us. We were eager to test drive their PVC/Phthalate free rain gear and see for ourselves. As soon as we tried out the gear, it reminded us of the quality gortex gear we used to wear as kids, but without the nasty teflon!
From Puddlegear.com:
Puddlegear is PVC free – many Environmental groups concerned about chemicals in our world refer to PVC as poisonous plastic�many kids rain suits are made of this dangerous plastic. It poisons our world from the manufacturing practice until well… who knows because it’s not biodegradable… Scientist believe that it never stops off gassing. Without organs to filter these toxins out of your child’s blood these poisons go straight through your child’s skin to collect in the body. This is referred to as “toxic load”.
All of the gear undergoes a process that tests for over 100 harmful chemicals as part of their ecological certification process. Puddlegear’s raingear is made of Atec, a Polyurethane-coated stretch fabric, that is environmentally-friendly and PVC and Phthalate free. The gear is imported from Swedish manufacturer of 60 years – Abeko. The raingear is also wind and waterproof, tear resistant and machine washable. Best of all, Atec is soft and flexible, so kids do not feel restricted while splashing in water and mud puddles.
We test drove the jacket and matching bib pants with knee pads on our 2 year old, puddles and all! One of the nicest features in our opinion is the softness of the gear which makes it much easier for very young children to wear. Their sizes range from 6 months to 9 years old! Don’t be fooled though, this gear is hard wearing.
The other feature that was really nice is how lightweight the gear is. It truly is multi-seasonal rain gear because you can layer under the gear as you need without becoming a bowling ball. Puddlegear offers a whole range of colors to choose from. Mix and match the jackets and pants, go with a top/bottom set or a one piece rain suit for maximum muddy fun. Accessories like hats and mitts are also waterproof, covering your kids from head to toe in warm dry comfort.
We highly recommend Puddlegear as a better alternative to the traditional PVC rain gear. It’s not a purely natural fiber like wool, per say, but it IS a great step as a safe and greener option for families who love to venture outdoors during rainy months. The gear is certainly not the cheapest in town, but then again, you get what you pay for. Puddlegear IS great European quality all the way around. We suggest buying a size up or two up and taking advantage of the adjustable pants. Since Puddlegear.com is Canadian, Buyers from the USA will benefit from an additional 20-25% savings due to the exchange!
Buy online at www.pugglegear.comor check out their growing list of retailers.
