Gear Highlight: Kuling Rain & Shellwear

When we moved to Western Washington from San Diego three years ago, I knew the weather was going to be the biggest adjustment. The number one tip I received from seasoned PNW moms was, "Just because it's raining doesn't mean you stay inside."

Like any good San Diegan, I ordered us all rain jackets before we made the move north. I found the boys cute patterned Patagonia water-resistant rain jackets and called it a day.

Welp, if you know anything about rain gear you're probably already chuckling. "Water-resistant" does not equal waterproof. I had a couple of soggy, grumpy toddlers to prove it. The Patagonia rain jackets, though cute, were a total waste of money.

Take two. I researched & understood my error. We needed waterproof materials, not water-resistant, and we needed full body coverage, not just jackets.

We've now had our Oaki rainsuits for 2.5 years and have loved them well. They were a massive upgrade from the precious, dinky jackets. Unfortunately, they haven't held up to wear and tear as much as I had hoped. In our family, the expense of children's outdoor gear requires that it lasts through all three of our kids. And if I'm being honest, momma likes neutral colors & Oaki's bright options weren't my jam.

Take three. I knew I wanted rain suits that were durable enough to use as hand-me-downs and came in neutral colors, and I hoped to find two piece sets for my older two for versatility's sake. We were also way behind on our waterproof glove game and desperate to find a long-lasting solution. Quickly into our search, I stumbled upon Kuling.

Kuling rain gear is blowing my mind, y'all. Their children's rain suits come in beautiful, simplistic colors and patterns; they have matching waterproof gloves (that go up to their forearms!); the material is recycled; their waterproofing method is free from PVC, Formaldehyde and Paraffin; they encourage mending instead of tossing; and they even give you patches for each item. Not to mention the washing instructions that double as a coloring sheet. I am genuinely nerding out over this find.

While I can't yet speak into their long-term durability, the material of Kuling's items appear much sturdier than previous rain suits I've seen. To put them to the test, we took the boys' new gear to Flaming Geyser State Park, and--so far--they've handled rough play very well & wiped down easily.

To top it all off, we found our boys' Kuling gear on babyshop.com for 25-60% off. *insert praise hands*

Normally I'd wait until late summer to grab rain gear but I couldn't resist the spring sale prices.

If you're in search of quality, gorgeous rain gear for children & in need of discount prices--check out Kuling on babyshop!