10 best kids’ puddle suits for wet and windy adventures

Puddle suits, rain suits, splash suits – call them what you like, these all-in-one waterproof overalls are an essential item in any toddler and child’s wardrobe. Designed to be worn over as many layers of clothing as necessary for the temperature, they’re brilliant at keeping the rain, wind and cold at bay, so children can play and explore.

Available in a variety of thicknesses, some puddle suits are single-layer waterproof shells, others are fleece-lined, and some are three-in-ones, with a removable inner layer that, when worn together, provide maximum warmth.

All the puddle suits tested here are waterproof – a puddle suit that isn’t would be pointless, after all – and the majority of them have an official waterproof rating. The higher the rating, the longer the fabric will stay waterproof, so anything between 1,500mm and 5,000mm is waterproof in light to average rain, 5,000mm to 10,000mm is very waterproof in moderate to heavy rain, and above 10,000mm is classed as highly waterproof in heavy rain (also known as welly boot weather).

Some of them also have a breathability rating, which gives an indication of how much moisture can escape through the fabric. Anything up to 5,000g per metre squared a day is good for light levels of exercise – as you’d expect with childrenswear, none of the puddle suits tested here rate any higher.

It’s great to see many of the brands featured here using recycled materials in their puddle suits – both the outers and inners can be made from recycled polyester, and some also have eco-friendly water-repellent coatings. Also, these are built to last, and hard wearing enough to pass on to younger children, which is always a bonus.

How we tested

The weather played its part and provided plenty of rain in which to test these puddle suits. We headed to the woods, and encouraged lots of tree climbing, puddle splashing and mud-pie making. We also got the little ones changed in and out of the puddle suits while out and about. Extra points were given for comfort, particularly if there were no complaints about fiddly hoods or cuffs.

The best kids’ puddle suits for 2022 are:

• Best overall – Muddy Puddles three-in-one scampsuit: £80, Muddypuddles.com

• Best for big kids – Dinoski Spike the dinosaur puddle suit: £35, Dinoskiwear.com

• Best for windy days – Hippychick toddler waterproof fleece-lined suit: £32.50, Hippychick.com

• Best value – Tog24 buxley kids waterproof rain suit: £17, Tog24.com

• Best for animal-lovers – M&S Collection duck puddle suit: £20, Marksandspencer.com

• Best for stuffing in a bag – Kidly packaway rain suit: £30, Kidly.co.uk

• Best for really cold and wet days – Polarn O.Pyret shell fleece-lined waterproof children’s overall: £100, Polarnopyret.co.uk

• Best for small children – JoJo Maman Bébé waterproof fleece-lined all-in-one: £55, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk

• Best for stylish kids – Grass & Air stomper suit: £38, Grassandair.com

• Best for eco-conscious families – Frugi puddle buster all-in-one: £55, Welovefrugi.com

Muddy Puddles three-in-one scampsuit

There’s a lot to love about this puddle suit from Muddy Puddles – it’s brilliantly designed and well thought out. While it might be one of the more expensive here, we believe it’s worth it, due to its three-in-one design. The outer waterproof shell can be worn alone on wet autumnal days, the cosy inner fleece liner is snuggly for dry days, then pair them together for really cold and/or really wet days.

The specs are as good as the pretty fabric – the hard-wearing recycled polyester is coated in a chemical-free bionic eco finish for a waterproof rating of 10,000mm and a decent breathability of 3,000g per metre squared. Plus, the adjustable hood is peaked and there’s a double storm flap on the zip. It all adds up to create a very dry suit, whatever the weather.

The two smaller sizes (0-6 months and 6-12 months) have fold-over feet and hand warmers, while the suits aimed at one-year-olds and above have adjustable stirrups to keep the suit in place over wellies.

Buy now £80.00, Muddypuddles.com

Dinoski Spike the dinosaur puddle suit

We love Dinoski’s fun spirit – all its products hit the nail on the head and manage to be both wonderfully practical and utterly appealing to children. This puddle suit is no exception with its vivid colour and playful details, such as the triceratops horns on the hood.

Generously sized, these suits are the only ones we tested available in sizes up to 10 years old and it has handy features such as vents in the armpits and removable foot straps. The rain just falls off this suit, and not a drop got inside, thanks to the 10,000mm fabric, taped seams and aqua-seal zips.

Buy now £35.00, Dinoskiwear.com

Hippychick toddler waterproof fleece-lined suit

We love the snuggly material of Hippychick’s suit – its peach-skin polyester is soft to the touch and easy to brush clean. Designed for warmth, it’s windproof, waterproof, breathable, and fleece lined. It’s a more-grown-up design than some of the others we tested – the zip only reaches just below the waist, so it’s better suited to kids who are starting to dress themselves.

We’d prefer to see elasticated cuffs at the wrists and ankles, instead of the adjustable Velcro tabs, but they work well alongside the tabs at the waist and hood, and mean there’s plenty of flexibility with sizing. It’s deliberately oversized to fit plenty of layers beneath, but we found them very well insulated regardless, and our reviewer loved the hip pocket for storing foraged treasures.

Buy now £32.50, Hippychick.com

Tog24 buxley kids waterproof rain suit

A decent amount of waterproofing and breathability make this rain suit from Tog 24 a reliable go-to. It’s not overly bulky, so can easily be stuffed in a bag for those “just-in-case” moments. However, it’s not the roomiest, so is best suited for autumn and spring, when you don’t need to wear too many layers.

We love the elasticated hood (plus ankle and wrist cuffs) and the zip that runs all the way down to the ankle – our tester appreciated having to take off only one welly when we needed to get this on quickly in a sudden shower.

Buy now £17.00, Tog24.com

M&S Collection duck puddle suit

This is a really cute option from Marks & Spencer, it’s just a shame this only goes up to age two to three years. For those small enough to fit, it’s a treat. Available in a bright yellow duck style, with beak and eyes on the hood – or a green frog with a 3D face on the hood – we love its simplicity. With fleece-lined legs and body and elasticated cuffs, it keeps out the chill and features Marks & Spencer’s water-repellent stormwear finish.

Buy now £20.00, Marksandspencer.com

Kidly packaway rain suit

We love this suit for many reasons, but top of the list is because, as the name suggests, it can be packed away into its own pocket on the back and won’t make everything else in your bag wet and/or muddy if your child wants to take it off.

A simple, unlined but reliably waterproof suit (rated at 6,000mm), it’s ideal for spring showers and autumn drizzle, plus is roomy enough to wear a few layers underneath for extra warmth. The hood deserves a special mention for its decent peak and elasticated sides. It’s got credible eco ratings too, made from PU-coated recycled polyester with a PFC-free eco finish, and is available in a gorgeous range of jewel-tone colours.

Buy now £30.00, Kidly.co.uk

Polarn O.Pyret waterproof kids overall with fleece lining

Polarn O.Pyret’s overall is the mother of all puddle suits. It’s the one to go for if your child is typically outside all day in all weathers, or you live a particularly outdoorsy life and aren’t deterred by snow or rain. It’s the most waterproof of all we tested, and is properly toasty too. If things get too warm (its 5,000g per metre squared breathability rating helps guard against this), the PrimaLoft fleece lining can be removed to leave a still very windproof and sturdy shell – a fiddly downside is that the liner is attached with poppers, so it’s not a quick job to add or remove it.

This overall has all the bells and whistles needed for a long day of playing – the knees and seat are reinforced, the hood is mesh-lined and adjustable, and it has well-placed and decent-sized 3M Scotchlite reflectors. It’s very generously sized and the waist can be pinched in from the inside. Built to last, Polarn O.Pyret tests the fabric for abrasion resistance – this is the most technical here, and will last and last.

Buy now £100.00, Polarnopyret.co.uk

JoJo Maman Bébé waterproof fleece-lined all-in-one

JoJo Maman Bébé’s snuggly all-in-one is our pick if your child is in nappies – two zips on the front (one down to the ankle, the other to the hip) mean it’s easy to fold it back and change a nappy without having to completely undress your baby.

On the brand’s own rating system, it scores three out of three for waterproof, windproof and breathability, meaning it’s 100 per cent waterproof, with taped seams, and offers full wind protection and maximum cosiness. We found it easy to get on and off, and the fabric was quick to brush clean.

Buy now £55.00, Jojomamanbebe.co.uk

Grass & Air stomper suit

We love the laidback style of this suit. It’s fuss-free and does a great job of keeping children dry in the rain. The waterproof shell is designed with plenty of space, not just so extra layers can be worn underneath, but also so arms and legs can move freely – our tester loved being able to clamber and climb unhindered. It’s made of tough fabric too, so we weren’t worried about it tearing. The diagonal zip means it’s easy to put on, and the hood stayed put even in the gustiest of winds.

Buy now £38.00, Grassandair.com

Frugi puddle buster all-in-one

Frugi’s whole ethos is about “little clothes, big change”, and the company donates one per cent of its turnover to charities working in animal habitat preservation, children’s special needs, environmental education and more.

This waterproof puddle suit smartly shows off those values, as it’s built to last and made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. It’s got a waterproof rating of 10,000mm, fully welded seams, a wide stream flap and the body and hood are fleece-lined too, so it’s ideal for everything from showers to downpours throughout the year. Our tester loved the colour and so did we, as it made them easy to spot!

Buy now £55.00, Welovefrugi.com

The verdict: Kids’ puddle suits

Top spot goes to the Muddy Puddles scampsuit. It’s not only packed with features and really functional, it’s also great value for a three-in-one, and is available in three eye-catching designs.

Check out our review of the best kids’ wellies to complete their rainy-day ensembles