hiking clothes for sensory sensitive kids

[laurajv]

if anyone has any ideas where to get very soft, but NO COTTON, pull-on trousers or leggings for kids, please let me know. zippers very much not preferred.

my kids love very soft cotton clothes, but that is actively dangerous for overnight hikes in cool weather, so I'm on a quest for things that will protect them from ticks, wick moisture, and unlike cotton, won't give them hypothermia if it rains.


edit, 9/15/21: what turned out to work best for my particular kids was Eddie Bauer Extra Mile Trail Tight Leggings. These are available in the "girl" section of Eddie Bauer online. Both my kids are nonbinary & love leggings in all colors, luckily for me.

Comments

[raine]

REI, maybe? REI.com would be the first place I'd look followed by Patagonia.

[dine]

yeah, Patagonia immediately popped into my mind too

[laurajv]

we were at REI yesterday and the older one rejected every hiking pant in their size in the whole store. I was. trying not to lose my mind.

they like the texture of my Columbia hiking pants, so I'm now combing through Columbia's kids offerings. Will check Patagonia as well, thank you!

[owlboy]

softshell? its waterproof without that plasticky feeling, expensive tho

eta: can they tolerate wool?

[laurajv]

they tolerate wool socks ok. i suspect merino would be fine.

[ngaio]

Not sure they'd be totally suitable, but as someone with texture issues I spend about 75% of my time in Lucy Locket Loves leggings (they may not be protective enough?) which have no cotton.

http://i.refs.cc/3223XeqH?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo3MjA4ODQxMzR9 - freely admit this is a referral link so I will get a little bit of a reward if you use that and decide to buy, but I *think* you also get something too, not sure

[laurajv]

ok, i LOVE the patterns on those! I will measure up younger kid and see if it would be an option for them. Thanks!

[ngaio]

I wear the 'casualwear' leggings and I think that the children's leggings are made of the same stuff which is lovely and soft without being too ... furry? Sprog has some of the lounge pants which I think are made of pretty much the same stuff (not 100% on that) but I've not tried them as I think I'd be too tall.

But yes, I love the patterns! I have a worrying number of pairs of the leggings and just them and a plain top and I'm set for pretty much anything!

[vass]

I have no idea (beyond trying hiking stores, which I'm certain you've already thought of) but your kids have my sympathies. When I was a teenager going to canoe/kayak camp, we were instructed that we had to bring a 100% wool jumper, not a poly/cotton windcheater, to wear on cold days, because if we fell in and got soaked, it'd retain our body heat. It was SO ITCHY OMG. Beautiful and durable, but just about unbearable to touch.

[laurajv]

yeah, wool can be really brutal! for me some kinds are OK and some kinds aren't but I know a lot of people can't tolerate it at all.

the kids are DETERMINED to do overnight hiking/camping trips, and I'm happy about that, but it means that our usual day hike tactic of "yeah well if you get wet there are dry clothes in the car" isn't going to fly

[lilysea]

Minus 33 for soft, stretchy wool thermal tops and thermal leggings

https://www.minus33.com/

[laurajv]

thanks!

[azurelunatic]

I might look at the brand Cuddl Duds; Mama sent me a pair of their under-layer that are basically leggings and were very cozy and very unlikely to be cotton.

[laurajv]

I wear cuddl duds underlayers & I think the kids do, too, for cross-country skiing and ice skating. They're super nice for purpose but sadly not thick enough to be protective on hikes on their own.