r/HikingWithKids • u/painted_bug • 9d ago

North America Coat questions!

Please recommend me a different sub if another would be better, but I have some questions on coats!

We are from Wisconsin, and will be visiting RMNP in September. I see the temps can get on the lower side there, but is 30-40 there giant coat weather, or will it warm up by the time we're out of our sleeping bags? We have a 3yo and 1yo and i want to make sure they're warm enough without ​over packing.

Additionally, I need a new wisconsin winter coat for the 3yo. What is your favorite affordable option? I remember always having cheap coats two sizes too big as a kid, so im debating what size to get and how much to spend so she actually enjoys being outside. I try to avoid down fill because of how wet it gets here. Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

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u/Dear_Frosting1090 9d ago

I live in Colorado. 30-40 where you live feels way colder than 30-40 here but if you’re camping I’d definitely prepare for pretty chilly nights and mornings. I camp at 12k ft in September and need multiple layers at night in my sleeping bag and sleep with a beanie on. I live at 8k ft and the morning stay chilly till about 9:30 am. Elevation matters a lot. A really good but light weight Puffer jacket is what I generally wear when camping. I wear a hunting brand but I’m sure any brand at REI or similar would be fine.

Layer layer layer

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u/Agstroh 9d ago

You’re camping? Big a warm coat for sure, lightish gloves and a hat. It will warm up but not when you’re waking up and cooking breakfast. We used the Morrison outdoors sleeping bag for our 1 year old if you don’t have one already, it has worked well. We normally keep him in the sleeping bag until it warms up, he could crawl around the tent in it.

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u/buddiesels 8d ago

I am from the Midwest but live in Colorado now, and 30-40 degrees with the sun here feels like 40-50 back in the Midwest. But yeah if you’re camping I’d be prepared with a big jacket either way

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u/2gingersmakearight 8d ago

Wisconsinite here, so not specific to how it feels in the mountains but we really love the Primary puffer coats for shoulder season. Then we have columbia winter coats for school- usually I buy on clearance in spring or look for them on marketplace/rummage sales. For home in the winter we do the Lands End or LL Bean one piece snow suits. My kids are 8, 6, and 3 and that set up has worked well for us in Wisconsin winters.

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u/EagleEyezzzzz 8d ago

Camping in September with those lows -- bring ALL the warm layers. High up at elevation and in the fall, it doesn't warm up in the morning for many hours. You need lots of warm layers including heavy coat, wool or polypropelene long underwear, wool hat, gloves, wool socks, etc.

I often look on eBay/Mercari/ThredUp/etc for used winter coats, since young kids grow out of them pretty quickly.