Trespass Boys Padded Waterproof Jacket Review: a solid school and winter coat that just gets the job done

I’ve had this Trespass boys padded waterproof jacket in size 5-6 years for a few weeks now on my kid, mainly for school runs, playground, and weekend walks. I’m not a gear nerd, I just wanted a coat that keeps him warm, dry, and doesn’t fall apart after a month. In short: it does the job, with a few quirks you should know about before buying.

The first thing I noticed is that it feels like a “real” winter coat, not one of those thin fashion jackets that look nice but let the wind straight through. It’s padded, there’s some Sherpa fleece inside (not full lining, just partial), and you can tell it’s built more for cold and wet UK weather than for looking cute in photos. On my kid, it looks like a standard parka-style school coat, nothing flashy.

We’ve had a mix of drizzle, proper rain, and some cold windy mornings to test it. The 5000mm waterproof rating and taped seams aren’t marketing fluff here – in normal rain it keeps him dry. I’ve checked his jumper and shoulders after walking 15–20 minutes in the rain, and everything under the jacket was still dry. Wind doesn’t seem to get through much either, which is good when you’re standing at the school gate freezing.

It’s not perfect though. Sizing is a bit odd, it’s not the lightest coat, and the detachable bits (hood fur, etc.) are handy but also one more thing to lose. But overall, if you want a straightforward, warm, waterproof school and playground coat that can take a beating, this one is pretty solid for the price.

Looking at the price range this usually sits in and the overall build, I’d say the value is good but not mind-blowing. You’re paying for a proper waterproof, windproof winter coat from a known outdoor brand, not a supermarket basic. For that, you get decent materials, solid warmth, and features that actually matter (sealed seams, adjustable cuffs, proper hood, lots of pockets). It lines up with the 4.6/5 Amazon rating – people seem generally happy, and I get why.

Compared to cheaper high-street kids’ coats I’ve tried, this feels more robust and more genuinely weather-proof. Those cheaper ones often say “water-resistant” and then soak through in real rain. This one, with 5000mm waterproof rating and taped seams, actually behaves like a real rain jacket. So if you live somewhere with regular rain and cold wind, it’s worth spending a bit more for something like this instead of replacing a flimsy coat mid-winter.

On the downside, sizing means you might not get two full winters out of it unless you size up a bit. Also, it’s not the lightest or trendiest option – you’re basically paying for function, not style points. If your kid is very fashion-focused or you want bright colours, you might feel less satisfied with the look for the price.

Overall though, as a parent buying a coat that needs to survive school runs, wet playgrounds, and rough handling, I think the value is solid. It’s not dirt cheap, but it’s not overpriced either, and it actually does what the product page promises: keep your kid warm, dry, and reasonably comfortable through winter. I’d rather pay this once than buy two flimsy coats that fall apart.

The design is very straight to the point: black, parka-style, long enough to cover the lower back and bum a bit, which helps on cold benches and wet playground equipment. It’s listed as "short length" but on a 5–6 year-old it still gives decent coverage. There’s no big pattern or crazy colours, just a clean look that works for school uniforms and weekend jeans. That’s what I wanted – something neutral that teachers won’t complain about and that doesn’t clash with everything.

From a practical angle, the hem drawcord and adjustable cuffs with Velcro tabs are what matter most. You can tighten the bottom a bit so wind doesn’t shoot up their back, and cinch the cuffs over gloves to stop cold air going up the sleeves. In real use, this makes a bigger difference than any fancy branding. My kid is fidgety, and the Velcro cuffs let me quickly adjust once in the morning and then they stay put.

The detachable hood and detachable fur trim give you some flexibility. Personally, I see the fur as more of a style add-on – my kid didn’t care for it and I found it just soaked water faster in heavy rain, so I removed it. The hood itself is fine: padded, a decent size, and it stays on in the wind if you zip the coat up fully. There’s no wired peak or anything advanced, but for walking to school it’s enough.

In terms of design flaws, the main thing is that it’s a bit on the chunky side. Not ridiculously bulky, but definitely more of a winter parka than a light rain jacket. If your kid hates feeling wrapped up, they might complain at first. Also, it’s very clearly a practical coat, not something stylish for photos. To me that’s a plus, but if you’re looking for trendy cuts or bright details, there are more fashionable options out there.

Comfort-wise, this is clearly built for warmth and protection first, lightness second. When you pick it up, you can feel the padding. It’s not super heavy, but it’s not one of those ultra-light puffer jackets either. On my 5–6 year-old, it feels like a proper winter coat. The first day he wore it, he said it felt “big”, but after a couple of days he stopped mentioning it and just treated it like his normal coat.

The inside is fairly comfortable thanks to the partial Sherpa fleece where it matters. The fleece around the upper body makes it feel cosy when you first put it on. The sleeves have smoother lining so arms slide in easily over jumpers. No complaints of scratchy labels or rough seams from my kid, which is usually the first thing he moans about if something is off. The collar area also feels soft enough and doesn’t dig into the neck when zipped right up.

On cold, windy mornings (close to freezing), he comes back from the school run with warm hands and a warm chest, even if he’s been standing around a bit. The windproof outer and the drawcord hem help a lot. When we had milder days with drizzle, he did get a bit warm while running around, but that’s normal for a thick winter jacket. The easy full zip means he can just open it halfway and cool down quickly.

Sizing is where you need to pay attention. Many reviews say it runs a bit small or that kids grow out of it quickly. On my side, I’d say: if your child is near the top of their age range or you want room for thick jumpers, size up. For a 5–6 year-old who’s average, the 5–6 fits fine now but I doubt it will last more than one winter. So comfort is good once you pick the right size, but don’t expect loads of extra room if you stick exactly to age.

The outer fabric is a polyester canvas type material. It’s not soft like a hoodie, but it feels tough and slightly textured, which is what you want if your child tends to scrape against walls, fences, and playground equipment. I’ve seen cheaper kids’ coats where the outer shell feels thin and shiny; this one feels more solid and less likely to rip at the first fall. After a few weeks of use, including a couple of tumbles on the playground, I haven’t seen any tears or worrying scuffs.

Inside, the lining is polyester with partial Sherpa fleece. That means you get that fluffy warm feeling mainly in the upper body/back area, not all the way through the sleeves. The sleeves are more of a standard smooth lining, which actually helps with getting the coat on and off over jumpers and long-sleeve tops. My kid can put it on alone without sleeves bunching up too badly, which is a daily battle with some thicker coats.

The padding is synthetic and fairly generous. This is clearly built for cold weather, not just light autumn chill. On frosty mornings, I’ve checked his chest and back when we get home and he’s warm but not sweaty. On milder days, if he runs around a lot, he gets a bit hot, but he just unzips it and it’s fine. So it’s more of a proper winter coat than a mid-season jacket, which matches the “winter” and “cold weather” tags in the specs.

Stitching, zips, and Velcro all feel decent for the price. No loose threads out of the bag on mine, and the zippers haven’t jammed yet, even with my kid yanking them up and down. It’s made in China like most things, but the overall build feels solid. Not premium luxury level, but definitely not flimsy supermarket-coat level either. For the money, the materials and construction feel fair and ready for daily school use.

Kids are brutal on clothes, so durability matters more to me than some fancy feature. After a few weeks of daily school runs plus weekend use, this Trespass jacket is holding up well. No ripped seams, no broken zips, and no obvious thinning on the elbows or cuffs yet. My kid has worn it on the playground, slid down slightly rough surfaces, and used the pockets constantly. So far, the outer canvas-style material seems tough enough for that kind of abuse.

The zips are often the weak point on kids’ coats, but these feel decent. The main front zipper goes up and down smoothly, even when my kid yanks it in a hurry. The pocket zips haven’t lost their teeth or jammed. The Velcro on the cuffs still grips properly after repeated opening and closing, although like any Velcro it will probably collect fluff over time. For now, it’s holding strong.

One thing I like is that the black colour hides dirt pretty well. He’s come back with mud splashes and general grime, and most of it brushes off once dry. I’ve put it through the washing machine according to the label instructions and it came out fine – no weird shrinking, no clumping of the padding, and the waterproof feel of the outer fabric still seems the same. Obviously, long-term waterproofing might drop a bit over years, but that’s normal.

Realistically, kids grow so fast that the bigger question is whether it survives a full winter or two, not five years. Based on how it’s doing so far, I’d expect it to last at least through the intended size range, and probably be in good enough shape to pass down to a sibling or cousin. It doesn’t feel indestructible, but for the price bracket and for a daily school coat, the durability is pretty solid.

Out of the bag, the jacket looks like a classic black boys’ parka. No big logos screaming on the front, just a small Trespass logo and a fairly neutral design. It’s clearly aimed at school and everyday use, not skiing or hardcore hiking. The listing mentions it as a "Boys Padded Waterproof Jacket Detachable Hood Parka Style" and that’s basically accurate. It’s medium weight, not feather-light, but my kid can move fine in it and doesn’t complain about it being too heavy.

There are loads of pockets – the specs say 7, and that sounds about right. You’ve got two lower zip pockets that are actually usable for kids’ hands and gloves, plus a contrast zip pocket that’s handy for small stuff like tissues or a small toy car. My kid instantly filled them with random playground junk, so capacity is clearly enough. The zips feel decent and haven’t snagged yet, which is a good sign for daily school use.

The hood is padded and detachable, and there’s also a detachable faux fur trim. In practice, I ended up taking the fur off because it annoyed my kid and got wet in heavy rain. The plain hood underneath is fine and more practical. Inside, you get a partial Sherpa fleece lining – basically, some fuzzy warm bits but not a full teddy-bear interior. It adds warmth where it matters but keeps the jacket from becoming a sweatbox.

Overall, the presentation is "no-nonsense winter coat". If you’re looking for bright colours or patterns, this isn’t it. But for a school coat that doesn’t show dirt too easily and looks normal with any outfit, the design and layout of pockets and features make sense. It feels like a coat meant to be used, not just looked at.

On paper, the jacket has a 5000mm waterproof rating, is windproof, and has taped seams. In practice, that means it handles typical UK rain and wind pretty well for school and weekend walks. We’ve done several 15–30 minute walks in steady rain, plus a few sessions of light drizzle while he played outside. Each time, when we got home, I checked under the coat: shoulders, chest, and back were dry. No obvious leaks along the seams or around the zip.

The windproof part is noticeable on colder days. There was one particularly gusty morning where I was freezing in a lighter jacket, and he seemed fine – no shivering or complaining about the wind. The drawcord at the hem and the Velcro cuffs help seal things up. If you cinch the cuffs over gloves, you don’t get that annoying cold air shooting up the sleeves, which kids hate.

For warmth, the padding and partial Sherpa fleece do what they’re supposed to do. With a basic jumper underneath, he’s been comfortable around low single-digit temperatures. I haven’t tried it in snow blizzards or mountain conditions, but for normal winter in town, it’s more than enough. It’s definitely more of a winter coat than something you’d wear in late spring or early autumn – he’d get too hot then.

One thing to note: it’s waterproof for rain, but the detachable fur trim, when attached, does get wet and soggy in heavy rain. That’s not a disaster, but it’s one reason I just keep the fur off most of the time. Also, like any padded coat, if your kid sits in puddles or kneels in wet grass, the lower parts will eventually get damp. But as a top-layer protection for the torso, arms, and head in normal rain and wind, it’s effective and does what the spec sheet promises.