Mountain Warehouse Exodus Kids Softshell Jacket Review: a practical everyday coat that handles school runs and light rain

I’ve tried enough kids’ jackets to know that half of them stay on the peg because they’re either stiff, noisy, or the kids hate the feel. With the Mountain Warehouse Exodus softshell, I was mainly looking for something my kid would actually wear without arguing, that could handle the walk to school, park trips, and the usual light British rain without needing a full-on winter coat. I’ve had it in rotation for a few weeks now on a 5–6 year old, with a couple of damp school runs and some windy playground sessions.

First impression: it feels like that typical softshell / scuba-style material — slightly stretchy, smooth on the outside, with a bonded fleece inside. It doesn’t feel cheap or papery like some budget kids’ coats. My kid put it on and didn’t complain about scratchy seams, zips, or the collar, which for me is already a win. The chin guard on the zip is one of those small things that actually matters, because they tend to yank the zip up themselves and usually end up pinching their neck.

In day-to-day use, it’s clearly made for transitional weather: spring, mild autumn, cooler summer evenings. It’s not a heavy winter jacket and it’s not a thin raincoat either. It sits right in the middle. On windy days, it blocks a fair bit of the cold air, and in light rain it beads water nicely at first. Once you’re out in proper heavy rain for a while, it starts to show its limits, which matches the “water resistant / softshell” description rather than a full waterproof shell.

Overall, after a few weeks, my impression is pretty clear: it’s a practical, no-nonsense jacket that does the job for everyday kid use. It’s not perfect — sizing runs a bit snug and the “waterproof” claim is optimistic in my opinion — but for the price and how much it’s been worn, it’s a pretty solid buy for school and casual outdoor stuff, as long as you know what you’re getting.

In terms of value, I’d put this jacket in the “good, not mind-blowing, but sensible” category. Price-wise, it usually sits below a lot of big-brand outdoor kids’ jackets, and for that money you get a proper softshell with bonded fleece, a decent zip, and a design that works for everyday use and light outdoor stuff. Considering the Amazon rating (4.6/5 from nearly 10,000 people), it’s clearly hitting the right balance for most families.

What I liked from a value point of view is that it covers a wide use case: school runs, park, light hikes, casual travel. You don’t need a separate windbreaker and a separate mid-layer for mild days; this one jacket fills that gap. It’s also less bulky than a padded coat, so it fits easily in a backpack or on a peg without taking over the whole hook. For the price, the materials and build don’t feel cheap, and it doesn’t scream “budget supermarket coat”.

On the downside, the whole “waterproof” wording in the spec is a bit misleading. In real life, it’s water-resistant, not a full rain shell. If you buy this expecting it to replace a proper waterproof for heavy rain, you’ll feel short-changed. Also, the sizing being on the snug side means you might have to size up and potentially buy more often as they grow, which eats into the value a bit if you were hoping for two full years of use.

Overall though, compared to cheaper basic raincoats that are sweaty and flimsy, or more expensive technical brands that your kid might hate wearing, this sits in a nice middle ground. If you want a practical, comfortable, mid-season kids’ jacket that won’t wreck your budget and will actually get worn, the value is pretty solid. Just pair it with a proper waterproof for heavy rain days and you’re covered.

Design-wise, the Exodus softshell is pretty straightforward. No overcomplicated details, no weird gimmicks. The version I handled is a solid colour “Mixed (05)” style, nothing flashy but still kid-friendly. Mountain Warehouse also does brighter colours and patterns (like the rainbow star one people mention in reviews), so if your kid is picky about looks, you’ve got options. The cut is a basic anorak style: standard length, slightly relaxed, with a band collar and long sleeves.

One thing that stands out is the clean front: single full-length zip, no extra storm flap, and two side welt pockets that stay fairly flat when empty. The pockets are big enough for small hands, tissues, or the usual rocks and random treasures kids pick up. There are no inside pockets, which I don’t really miss on a kids’ jacket at this price. The collar comes up enough to cover the neck a bit when zipped fully, and the chin guard stops the zip from scratching under the chin, which my kid usually complains about on cheaper jackets.

In terms of fit, I’d say it leans slightly small / fitted. On my 5–6 year old, the 5–6 size fits now with a thin jumper underneath, but I don’t see it lasting more than one season if they grow fast. That matches the Amazon review where someone said they’d go a size up for their 13-year-old. If you want room for thicker layers, I’d honestly just size up. The arms are a decent length but again, not overly generous.

Visually, it’s not trying to be a fashion piece. It’s more of a functional, school-appropriate jacket that you can pair with anything without clashing. If you want loud colours, go for the brighter variants; if you want something that doesn’t show dirt too quickly, the darker solids are safer. Overall, the design is practical and kid-friendly, but keep in mind that the fit is more on the snug side than baggy, so plan your size accordingly.

Comfort is where this jacket does well. The softshell fabric and bonded fleece make it feel more like a comfy hoodie than a stiff raincoat, which is probably why my kid doesn’t complain when I tell them to put it on. The inside is soft against the skin, and there are no annoying labels or seams rubbing on the neck. The chin guard over the zip is genuinely useful — my kid tends to zip up fast and usually ends up catching their skin with other jackets. With this one, no complaints so far.

In terms of warmth, I’d call it medium warm. On a cool, windy day with a T-shirt or thin jumper underneath, my kid was fine walking and playing outside. On a cold winter day, this alone would not be enough, but it’s perfect for spring, autumn, and those in-between days where a full padded coat is overkill. Because it’s not too thick, they can still move their arms freely, climb, and run without feeling like they’re in a sleeping bag.

The fit around the shoulders and arms is comfortable, but as I said earlier, it’s not overly generous. With a thin hoodie underneath, it’s okay, but with a chunky jumper it starts to feel a bit snug. If your kid is on the bigger side for their age, I’d go one size up just for comfort and longer use. The cuffs are simple — no adjusters — but they grip enough to keep wind from shooting straight up the sleeve.

Breathability is decent for a kids’ jacket. My kid ran around at the park for a good while and came back warm but not drenched in sweat. It’s still a polyester softshell, so it’s not magic, but compared to fully waterproof plastic-feeling jackets, this is much more comfortable for active kids. Overall, in day-to-day use, the comfort level is high, and that’s probably the main reason it keeps getting picked over other jackets hanging by the door.

The jacket uses a 96% polyester / 4% elastane softshell fabric with bonded fleece on the inside. In the hand, it feels like that typical “scuba” or neoprene-style material people mention in the reviews: smooth, slightly stretchy, and thicker than a basic raincoat. It doesn’t rustle loudly when the kid moves, which is a small but important detail — some cheaper coats sound like a crisp packet and kids hate that. Here, the fabric is quiet and flexible enough for climbing and running around.

The bonded fleece lining is on the thinner side but it covers the whole inside, so it gives a consistent warmth without adding bulk. Don’t expect a fluffy, thick fleece interior; it’s more of a compact layer that traps some heat while keeping the jacket relatively slim. For mid-season weather, that’s actually a good thing, because they don’t overheat the moment the sun comes out. It feels soft to the touch, no scratchy patches or rough seams that I noticed.

The outside has a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, which makes water bead and roll off at first. On fresh fabric, light rain just sits on the surface and can be shaken off. After some wear and a couple of washes, you’ll probably need to re-proof it if you want to keep that effect, and the care label is very clear about using a wash-in re-proofer and avoiding fabric softener. If you ignore that and just wash it like normal clothes, the water resistance will fade faster. That’s not unique to this jacket; it’s how most softshells behave.

Stitching and zips feel pretty solid for the price. The main zip runs smoothly and doesn’t snag easily, and some reviewers mentioned that the zip held up for years, which doesn’t surprise me based on how it feels. There’s no fancy taped seams or premium hardware here, but nothing feels flimsy. For a kids’ jacket that’s going to get thrown on the floor, stuffed in bags, and worn on playground equipment, the material choice makes sense: tough enough, easy to wash, and warm without being huge.

Durability was one of my concerns because kids are brutal on clothes. So far, the Exodus jacket is holding up better than some more expensive brands we’ve tried. The outer fabric doesn’t snag easily and hasn’t shown any pilling or obvious wear after a few weeks of almost daily use — school, playground, bike rides, and the usual rolling around on the ground. It’s thick enough that it doesn’t feel like it’ll rip the first time it catches on a branch or fence.

The main zip feels sturdy. It runs straight, doesn’t catch much, and hasn’t lost teeth or gone wobbly. One Amazon reviewer mentioned their kid used it for years and the original zip was still fine, and I can believe that based on how it behaves. The stitching around the pockets and seams looks clean and secure; no loose threads or gaps out of the box. For a jacket in this price range, that’s decent.

Washing-wise, I followed the label: 30° wash, no softener, low tumble. It came out looking the same, no shrinking, no colour fading, and the fabric didn’t go stiff. The DWR will slowly fade with more washes, but that’s just how these coatings work. If you bother to use a wash-in re-proofer every now and then, you’ll extend both the water resistance and the life of the outer fabric a bit.

The only real “durability” downside is kid growth more than the jacket itself. Because the fit is slightly snug, you might only get one solid season out of it before they size out, especially if you don’t size up. But in terms of pure robustness, it’s pretty solid: no early failures, no peeling, no dodgy zips. For a jacket that’s going to be thrown around and not treated kindly, it holds its own.

In real use, the Exodus jacket handles wind and light rain well, which lines up with what Mountain Warehouse says about it being wind-resistant and water-resistant. On a breezy day, it clearly blocks a good chunk of the wind — my kid wasn’t complaining about being cold, and you can feel that the fabric isn’t letting air whistle straight through like a thin hoodie would. For playgrounds, short walks, and bike rides in mild weather, it does the job nicely.

On the rain side, it’s solid for showers and drizzle. Water beads up on the surface and rolls off, especially when the jacket is still fairly new or freshly washed with re-proofer. We had one day with steady light rain on the school run, about 15–20 minutes outside, and my kid came home dry underneath. Where it starts to struggle is in longer or heavier rain. After a while in proper downpour, the fabric begins to darken and feel damp, especially on the shoulders and arms. It’s not like a fully taped waterproof shell, and calling it fully “waterproof” in the specs is a bit optimistic in my opinion — I’d treat it as water-resistant softshell, not a raincoat replacement.

For temperature range, I’d say it’s comfortable from around 8–16°C depending on what you layer underneath and how active your kid is. Below that, you’ll want more insulation; above that, they might get warm if running a lot but it’s still manageable because the fabric isn’t too heavy. The jacket doesn’t soak up tons of water or mud, and it dries reasonably fast once you hang it up, which is handy for daily school use.

Overall performance is pretty solid for what it is: a mid-weight, everyday jacket. It’s not going to replace a proper waterproof for hiking in heavy rain, but for school runs, playgrounds, and general outdoor messing about, it holds up well. The key is to understand its limits — if you accept that it’s for light rain and wind, you’ll be happy. If you buy it expecting a full storm-proof shell, you’ll be annoyed.

On paper, the Mountain Warehouse Exodus kids jacket is sold as a softshell, water-resistant, wind-resistant coat for boys and girls. The model I used is the 5–6 years size, labelled as a standard length with a simple anorak-style cut. It has two side welt pockets, a full front zip with a chin guard, and a bonded fleece lining. The fabric mix is 96% polyester and 4% elastane, which basically means a slightly stretchy, smooth outer and a soft inner layer.

The brand pushes the whole “DWR-treated, water-resistant, wind-resistant” angle. In practice, that means it’s fine for light rain and short showers, not a full-on storm. They also claim it’s breathable and flexible, which is fairly accurate — my kid runs around in it without turning into a sweaty mess in mild weather. It’s clearly targeted at the school run, playground, walks, and general outdoor activities where you don’t want them in a thick winter coat but still need some protection from wind and drizzle.

The care instructions are the usual softshell story: 30° delicate wash, no softener, low tumble dry, no ironing, no dry clean, and they insist on using a re-proofer to keep the water resistance. That’s a bit of extra effort compared to just chucking it in with everything else, but it’s standard if you want the water beading to last. For parents who don’t care about re-proofing, expect the water resistance to drop off over time.

Given the Amazon rating of 4.6/5 with almost 10,000 reviews, this jacket is clearly popular. That lines up with my experience: it’s not some fancy technical piece, it’s a simple, practical kids’ jacket that fits a lot of everyday situations. If you’re expecting a full waterproof hiking shell, you’ll be disappointed. If you want a grab-and-go coat for most school days that’s warmer than a thin raincoat and less bulky than a padded winter jacket, this is basically what you’re getting.