Mountain Warehouse Exodus Kids Softshell Jacket Review: a practical everyday rain coat that keeps kids moving

I bought the Mountain Warehouse Exodus Kids Softshell Jacket in Dynasty Green for my 11-year-old, mainly for school runs, park trips and light hikes. I wasn’t looking for anything fancy, just something he would actually wear without arguing and that wouldn’t be soaked through at the first bit of rain. After a few weeks of use, I can say it’s not perfect, but it does the job pretty well for the price.

My main concern with kids’ jackets is always the same: they’re either too bulky so they stay in the backpack, or too thin and they complain they’re cold. This one sits in the middle. It’s a medium-weight softshell with a light fleece lining, so it’s clearly aimed at mid-season or mild winter with a hoodie underneath. For that use, it fits quite well into everyday life.

We used it in classic British-type weather: wind, drizzle, short heavy showers, then sun again. The water resistance is decent for that kind of on-and-off rain. It’s not a full-on waterproof like a proper rain shell, but for the walk to school and back or a couple of hours outside, it holds up. When it rained harder for longer, it eventually started to feel damp around the shoulders and sleeves, which is consistent with a DWR-treated softshell and not a fully taped jacket.

Overall first impression: practical, kid-friendly, and good value if you know what you’re buying. It’s more of a daily softshell that handles light rain and wind than a hardcore hiking or all-day-in-the-rain coat. If that’s your expectation, you’ll probably be happy. If you expect it to replace a proper waterproof jacket in a storm, you’ll be disappointed.

In terms of value, I’d put this jacket in the “good deal if you catch it at a reasonable price” category. It’s not bargain-basement cheap, but considering the build quality, comfort, and the fact that it actually keeps kids warm and reasonably dry, I think it’s fair. Compared to big outdoor brands that charge a lot more for kids’ gear, this feels like a more sensible option for parents who don’t want to spend a fortune on something that will be outgrown in a year or two.

What you’re paying for here is a mix of practical features: water resistance, wind resistance, fleece lining, decent zips, and a 2-year warranty. The Amazon rating (4.6/5 with thousands of reviews) lines up with my experience: it’s not flawless, but it does its job well enough that most people are happy with it. If I compare it to cheaper supermarket jackets we’ve had, the Exodus clearly feels more solid and better finished. Cheaper coats often start to look tired after a few months, while this one still looks fresh after several weeks of quite rough use.

On the downside, it’s not a full waterproof and it doesn’t have a hood on the version I bought, which limits its use in proper wet weather. If you need a true rain jacket, you’ll probably end up buying a separate shell anyway, which adds to the overall cost. Also, the care instructions are a bit fussy: you’re supposed to re-proof it regularly if you want to keep the water resistance. Some parents will do that, others won’t bother, and then the performance will drop over time.

For me, the bottom line is: it’s good value if you want a solid everyday jacket that your kid will actually wear, and you accept that it’s not a full raincoat or deep-winter coat. If you can find it on sale, it’s a very sensible purchase. At full price, it’s still reasonable, but there are other brands that can compete, so it’s not the only option worth considering.

Design-wise, the Exodus is pretty straightforward. Solid colour, fitted cut, band-style collar, no flashy branding or overcomplicated details. The Dynasty Green is quite bright in real life, more of a vivid green than a muted forest tone. Personally, I like that because I can spot my kid quickly in a crowd or at the park, and it also helps a bit with visibility on grey days. If you prefer more discreet colours, this shade might feel a bit loud, but kids usually like it.

The cut is listed as “fitted”, and you can see that in practice: it’s not a boxy, baggy coat. On my fairly slim 11-year-old, the size 11–12 fits nicely with a thin jumper or hoodie underneath, but I wouldn’t go too thick with layers or it starts to feel tight around the shoulders and torso. If your kid is on the bigger side or you want to add chunky sweaters, I’d definitely go one size up. Some reviews also mention it running a bit small, which matches what I’ve seen.

The jacket has long sleeves with enough length to cover the wrists properly, even when arms are stretched. There’s no fancy cuff adjustment (no Velcro tabs), just simple elasticated ends. It’s basic, but it works and you don’t have extra bits to snag or break. The collar is high enough to protect the neck from wind when fully zipped, and the chin guard avoids the usual “zipper scratching the chin” problem. There’s no hood on the version I have, which is a key design choice to keep in mind. For some parents, no hood is a dealbreaker; for us, with my kid wearing a separate hat or hoodie, it’s acceptable but not ideal in rain.

Overall, the design is practical and kid-friendly. It’s not trying to be a fashion piece, but it doesn’t look cheap either. It looks like the kind of jacket a kid can wear to school, on a walk, to the playground, and not feel like they’re in “technical gear”. If you want lots of patterns or fancy styling, look elsewhere. If you want a simple, sporty jacket that blends in, this fits the bill.

Comfort is where this jacket does pretty well. My kid is quite picky with clothes and usually complains about stiff fabrics or scratchy seams. With this one, he puts it on without fuss, which is already a good sign. The softshell fabric has enough stretch so he can move his arms freely, climb, run, and mess around without feeling restricted. The fleece lining adds a cosy feel without making the jacket feel heavy or bulky.

In terms of warmth, I’d say it’s perfect for 8–15°C weather with a t-shirt or thin jumper underneath. Below that, he adds a hoodie and is still fine for walking or waiting at the bus stop. It’s definitely not a deep winter coat, but for mid-season and mild winter days it hits a good balance. He hasn’t complained about being too hot at school either, which often happens with heavier jackets that trap too much heat when they’re indoors.

The collar and chin area are also handled well. The chin guard prevents the zipper from rubbing, and the inside of the collar is soft enough. No red marks or complaints after wearing it fully zipped in windy conditions. The sleeves are lined with fleece too, so it’s comfortable on bare arms. The only small downside is that the fitted cut means if you try to stuff a very thick jumper underneath, it starts to feel tight and less comfortable around the shoulders and chest. So you have to plan your layering a bit.

Weight-wise, it’s light enough for kids to carry in their hands or stuff into a backpack when they get hot, but not ultra-packable. It doesn’t fold into a tiny ball like some thin rain shells. For daily use, that’s fine, but for travel where space in the bag is critical, you might want something more compact. Overall, comfort is one of the strong points: kids can move, play, and wear it for hours without complaining, as long as you choose the right size and don’t over-layer underneath.

The jacket is made of 93% polyester and 7% elastane, which is classic softshell territory. The outer layer feels like that “scuba” type material some reviewers mentioned: slightly stretchy, smooth, and a bit rubbery to the touch, but not in a bad way. It feels tougher than a basic hoodie fabric and gives the impression it can handle a fair amount of rough play, scraping against walls, or dragging on the floor without tearing instantly.

Inside, you’ve got a fleece lining that covers the body and sleeves. It’s not a thick, fluffy fleece like in a winter parka, more of a medium pile that adds a noticeable layer of warmth without turning the jacket into a sauna. After a few wears, it hasn’t pilled yet, and it still feels soft against the skin. My kid sometimes wears it over a short-sleeved t-shirt and doesn’t complain about itchiness or discomfort, which is important for picky kids.

The fabric is treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish, which is what makes water bead and roll off at first. In practice, light rain just runs off the surface, and you can shake off droplets easily. Under heavier or longer rain, the fabric starts to darken and slowly absorb some moisture. That’s normal for this type of jacket, but it means you can’t treat it as a full waterproof shell. The care instructions are also pretty strict: 30° wash, no softener, low tumble dry, no ironing, and re-proofing every few months if you want to keep the water resistance. If you’re the type who just throws everything in a hot wash with softener, this might lose its performance faster.

Overall, the material quality feels solid for the price. It’s not premium mountaineering gear, but it’s clearly above supermarket-level kids’ jackets. The trade-off is that you need to respect the care instructions a bit if you want it to last and stay water resistant. If you do that, I can see this holding up for at least a couple of school years, or until your kid outgrows it.

Durability is always the big question with kids’ clothes, because they grow out of things fast and also destroy them fast. After a few weeks of daily use, the Exodus jacket is holding up well. No loose threads, no broken zip, and the fabric still looks almost new. My kid isn’t especially careful; he drags his backpack across it, leans on rough brick walls, and tosses it on the floor. So far, the jacket hasn’t complained.

The zip quality is decent, which is crucial on kids’ jackets. Cheap zips are usually the first thing to fail. Here, it runs smoothly and hasn’t started to misalign or catch. The zipper pull is easy to grab for small hands, and the stitching around it looks strong. The pockets also still zip fine, with no snagging. I’ve washed it once on a 30° cycle, following the instructions (no softener), and it came out without any damage or visible change to the fabric.

Some Amazon reviews mention having these jackets for years with the original zip still working, which is reassuring. I obviously can’t confirm long-term durability yet, but based on the construction and how it’s behaving so far, I’d say it should easily last through at least one kid, and probably be good enough to pass down to a younger sibling if you don’t abuse it too much. The seams are neat and even, and I haven’t seen any weak spots around high-stress areas like the shoulders or underarms.

Overall, for the price bracket, the durability feels pretty solid. It’s not indestructible, and if your kid is into extreme tree climbing and sliding down rocks every weekend, you might want something more heavy-duty. But for regular school and weekend use, I expect it to outlast the period before they grow out of it, which is all I really ask from a kids’ jacket.

On paper, the Mountain Warehouse Exodus Kids Softshell Jacket ticks a lot of boxes: water resistant, wind resistant, fleece-lined, four pockets, 2-year warranty, and a fitted cut. The one I got is the Dynasty Green colour in size 11–12 years. Out of the bag, it looks and feels like a classic softshell: slightly stretchy outer fabric, smooth to the touch, with a warm but not bulky fleece lining inside.

The jacket is medium weight (around 0.34 kg), so it’s not one of those flimsy rain shells that fold into a pocket, but it’s also not a heavy winter coat. It’s more in the line of a school / everyday jacket that can handle a bit of everything: wind, light rain, and cooler temperatures. The brand pushes it as suitable for all seasons, but realistically it’s better for spring, autumn and mild winter days. In summer it would be too warm, and in proper freezing temperatures you’ll need a good mid-layer underneath.

One practical thing: the zip feels decent, not cheap or flimsy. My kid tends to yank zips aggressively, and after several weeks of daily use there’s no sign of it snagging or misaligning. The chin guard is a small detail but useful; he usually complains when zips rub his neck, and with this one he hasn’t said a word, which is a good sign. The pockets are standard slanted zip pockets plus extra ones inside, enough to stash keys, tissues and random school junk.

In terms of positioning, I’d say it’s aimed at parents who want a practical, affordable outdoor jacket for kids without going into the premium outdoor brands. Judging by the Amazon reviews and the long life of this model (it’s been sold since 2014), it clearly has a solid user base. I don’t think it’s the best you can buy if you’re doing serious mountain hikes with kids, but for everyday city and light outdoor use, the feature set makes sense.

In practice, this jacket is very good against wind and decent against rain. On windy days, it blocks cold air well. My kid wore it on a blustery walk by the water, and I could feel the wind cutting through my thinner jacket, while he said he was fine. The fabric is clearly wind-resistant, and the fitted cut helps avoid drafts getting in from the bottom or sleeves.

For rain, I’d classify it as solid for light to moderate showers. During drizzle or short bursts of rain (10–20 minutes), the water just beads off, and the inside stays dry. We had one day with about 40 minutes of steady rain while walking and waiting for a bus. At the end, the shoulders and arms were starting to feel slightly damp to the touch, but not soaked through. For a DWR softshell, that’s pretty normal. If you expect this to handle all-day heavy rain, you’ll be disappointed; that’s not what it’s built for. For school runs, dog walks, and general outdoor play, it’s enough.

In terms of daily abuse, it handles kid life quite well. So far we’ve had: playground slides, scraping on concrete, sitting on wet benches, and rolling around on slightly damp grass. No tears, no popped seams, and the fabric doesn’t show obvious scuffs yet. Dirt wipes off fairly easily with a damp cloth, and mud stains haven’t set in badly. I haven’t re-proofed it yet, but if we keep it as the main jacket, I’ll probably follow the advice and re-proof after a few months.

So, is it effective? Yes, for what it’s designed for: a wind-resistant, water-resistant everyday jacket. It does not replace a thick winter coat or a fully waterproof shell with taped seams. If you use it within its limits, it performs well. If you try to push it as your only jacket for all conditions, you’ll find its weaknesses when the weather gets more extreme.