Mountain Warehouse Exodus Kids Softshell Jacket Review: a no-nonsense school & outdoor coat that actually holds up

I grabbed the Mountain Warehouse Exodus Kids Softshell Jacket in black for my kid (7–8 years size) mainly for school runs and weekend walks. I’m not a gear nerd, I just wanted something that could handle rain, wind, and the usual playground abuse without falling apart in a month. I’ve had cheap supermarket jackets before that looked fine on day one and then started shedding zips and peeling coatings by half-term. So I was curious if this one would actually do better.

We’ve used it for a few weeks in typical British weather: light rain, wind, chilly mornings, and the odd dry, mild day. So far, the jacket has done what it says on the tin: it keeps my kid fairly dry in light rain, blocks wind pretty well, and is warm enough for autumn and spring with a jumper underneath. It’s not some high-end technical thing, but it feels more serious than the usual thin school coats.

What stood out to me first was the feel of the material. It’s that “scuba” softshell type fabric, slightly stretchy but still structured, with a fleece lining inside. My kid calls it the “soft jacket” and actually picks it over his bulkier padded coat unless it’s really cold. That’s already a win in my book because a jacket only works if they actually wear it instead of leaving it in their bag.

It’s not perfect, though. The sizing runs a bit on the snug side in my opinion, and I wouldn’t treat the “water resistant” label as a full-on raincoat replacement in heavy rain. But for day-to-day school, walks, and light hiking, it’s pretty solid. If you’re expecting a proper winter parka, this isn’t it. If you want a practical, midweight jacket that can take some abuse, it’s worth a look.

Looking at the price, the Amazon rating (4.6/5 from thousands of reviews), and what you actually get, I’d say this jacket is good value for money. You’re not paying premium outdoor brand prices, but you’re getting something clearly better built than the cheapest supermarket or discount-store jackets. The materials feel tougher, the zip is better, and the overall cut and comfort are more thought out.

Where the value really shows is in the versatility. My kid uses it for school, light hikes, bike rides, and just general messing about outside. It covers a big chunk of the year: autumn, spring, and the milder parts of winter with layers. If you already have a heavy winter parka and a thin waterproof shell, this slots nicely in the middle and will probably be the jacket they wear the most. It’s also neutral enough in black that you can pass it down regardless of gender, which helps stretch the cost over more than one kid.

On the downside, you do need to be aware that “water resistant” is not “fully waterproof”. If you buy it thinking it’s a full-on raincoat for heavy storms, you’ll be disappointed. It’s more for light rain and short showers. Also, the sizing can be a bit tight if your kid is on the taller or broader side, so you might end up buying a size up, which slightly eats into the value if you were hoping to get multiple years out of it.

Overall, though, I think it’s a pretty solid deal. It’s not perfect, and there are better technical jackets if you want serious hiking gear, but for everyday school and casual outdoor use, it hits a nice balance of price, durability, and comfort. If your expectations are realistic – midweight, water resistant, good for wind and general use – you’ll probably feel you got your money’s worth.

Design-wise, this jacket is pretty no-nonsense. The black version is plain, with a small Mountain Warehouse logo and nothing flashy. For school, I like that – it doesn’t clash with uniforms, and it doesn’t scream “outdoor brand” from across the playground. My kid doesn’t care much about fashion yet, but he does like that it looks more like a “grown-up” jacket than a puffy baby coat. If you want brighter patterns or colours, the range has those too, but the black is as simple as it gets.

The two side pockets are slanted and big enough for small hands, a pair of gloves, or random treasures kids pick up. They’re zipless, which is both good and bad. Good because kids can shove their hands in easily without fiddling with zips. Bad because if they put keys or small toys in there, they can fall out when running or hanging upside down on the climber. Personally, I’d have liked at least one zipped pocket for peace of mind, but for the price I can live with it.

One thing I do like is the chin guard at the top of the zip. It’s a small flap of soft fabric that stops the zip from rubbing the neck or catching the skin when you yank it up. My kid is very sensitive to scratchy bits, and he hasn’t complained about the zip once. The collar is a standard round/stand-up style when zipped, so it covers the neck reasonably well without needing a scarf in mild weather. There’s no detachable hood mentioned in the data you gave, and mine doesn’t have one, so bear that in mind – if you want a hooded jacket, double-check the specific variant you’re buying.

Visually, it’s not exciting, but it’s practical. The cut gives enough room for a jumper underneath without turning your kid into a marshmallow. Sleeves are long enough to cover the wrists properly, and the hem doesn’t ride up too much when they’re climbing or cycling. If you’re looking for something stylish and trendy, this is more on the “functional” side. If you just want a clean, simple jacket that blends in, this fits the bill.

Comfort is where this jacket does well. My kid normally complains about stiff coats and ends up taking them off the second he gets to school. With this one, he actually keeps it on in the playground, which tells me more than any marketing blurb. The fleece lining is soft enough that he doesn’t mind wearing it over a T-shirt, and the outer fabric bends and moves with him instead of feeling like a cardboard shell.

The jacket is lightweight, so he doesn’t feel weighed down. For walking to school, cycling, and running around, it’s a good balance between warmth and freedom of movement. He can climb, swing, and mess about without the jacket pulling or bunching up too much. The low-stretch softshell has just enough give that it doesn’t feel restrictive, even with a jumper underneath. On cooler mornings (around 8–10°C), a long-sleeve top plus this jacket is enough for him. When it drops closer to freezing, I’d still add a thicker coat or extra layer.

The chin guard and the non-scratchy collar are small details, but they matter for kids who hate anything irritating around the neck. My kid hasn’t complained once about itching or rubbing, which is rare. The inside seams don’t feel rough either, so wearing it over a short-sleeve top is fine. The sleeves are long enough that they cover his wrists and part of his hands when he stretches, which he likes because he doesn’t always want to wear gloves.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the fit is a bit on the small side. If your kid is at the top of the age/height range or you want to use it with thick jumpers, I’d go one size up. One reviewer with a 13-year-old mentioned the same thing. In our case, the 7–8 fits now but I don’t see it lasting more than one school year before it gets too short in the arms. Still, in day-to-day use, comfort is good, and my kid actually reaches for it, which for me is the main test.

The jacket is made from 93% polyester and 7% elastane on the outside, with a fleece lining inside. In the hand, the outer fabric feels like a proper softshell: slightly stretchy but still firm, with a smooth finish that doesn’t snag easily. Compared to the really cheap kids’ coats we’ve had, this one feels thicker and more “structured”. It’s not bulletproof, but I’m less worried about it tearing the first time it scrapes against a wall or a tree.

The inner fleece is on the thinner side. Don’t expect a big fluffy lining; it’s more of a low-profile fleece layer that gives a bit of insulation and makes it comfortable against bare arms. For my kid, that’s enough to make it feel cosy without being bulky. One Amazon reviewer mentioned expecting a thicker fluffy lining – I agree with them that the product photos can make it look a bit warmer than it actually is. It’s warm, but it’s not a full-on winter teddy fleece level.

Stitching and zip quality seem solid. The main zip runs smoothly and hasn’t snagged yet, even with my kid yanking it up and down constantly. Another reviewer mentioned still having the original zip working fine after years, which doesn’t surprise me based on how it feels. Seam lines look clean, no loose threads out of the bag, and nothing has started fraying with a few weeks of daily wear and a couple of washes.

The water-resistant coating (DWR) does its job for now – water beads up and rolls off in light rain. That said, these coatings always wear off with time and washing. The care label is pretty clear that you should wash with a re-proofer and avoid softener if you want to keep that effect. So if you’re willing to treat it properly every few months, you’ll get more life out of the water resistance. Overall, for the price range, the materials are pretty solid and feel a step up from the bargain-bin options, even if they’re not on the same level as high-end hiking brands.

Durability is always the big question with kids’ jackets, because they’re basically stress tests on zips and seams. After a few weeks of daily use, this Exodus softshell still looks pretty much new: no pilling on the fleece, no frayed stitching, and no issues with the main zip. That lines up with what a lot of Amazon reviews say – people mention using it for years and the zip still holding up, which is usually the first thing to die on cheaper jackets.

The outer fabric feels tougher than the usual thin polyester school coats. My kid has scraped against brick walls, slid down random surfaces he shouldn’t, and thrown the jacket on the ground a few times. So far, no obvious scuffs or tears. I’m not saying it’s indestructible, but it definitely feels like it can handle rough everyday use without falling apart quickly. The softshell material also doesn’t show dirt as badly as lighter colours, especially in black, which helps it look decent for longer between washes.

On the maintenance side, you do need to be a bit careful if you want to keep the water resistance. The label says 30° wash, no softener, and ideally use a wash-in re-proofer now and then. If you just throw it in a hot wash with normal detergent and softener, the DWR will fade faster. That said, even if the water resistance drops, the jacket will still be usable as a windproof and general midweight coat. So the core durability is there; it’s mainly the water-shedding effect that needs upkeep.

The only real limit to durability here is kids outgrowing it. The sizing is fairly standard but leans slightly small, so your kid may grow out of it before it actually wears out. In our case, I can see us passing it down to a younger cousin when my son moves up a size. So while there are definitely more rugged (and more expensive) technical jackets out there, for the price bracket this sits in, durability is pretty solid and better than a lot of budget options I’ve tried.

In practice, this jacket is strong on wind and decent on rain. On windy days, it does a good job of blocking cold air. We’ve had a few blustery walks where my kid was fine in this, while I was feeling the wind more through my old hoodie. The fabric doesn’t flap around too much, and the fit keeps drafts from shooting up the back. For a midweight kids’ jacket, the wind resistance is one of its best points.

On the rain side, it’s clearly water resistant, not waterproof. In light showers and drizzle on the school run (10–15 minutes outside), he comes home dry underneath. You can see the water beading and rolling off at first. Once you push it into longer or heavier rain, the outer fabric eventually starts to darken and feel damp. It doesn’t instantly soak through, but I wouldn’t send him out for a long hike in heavy rain with just this. For short bursts of bad weather, it’s fine; for proper downpours, I’d throw a thin waterproof shell over the top.

For temperature range, I’d call it an autumn/spring jacket, maybe early winter with layers. It’s warm enough for cool mornings and windy days, but not for very cold, frosty weather on its own. The fleece lining adds a nice bit of insulation without making it bulky, which is good for active kids who run hot when they start moving. If your kid gets cold easily and you live somewhere with harsh winters, this will be more of a mid-layer than a main winter coat.

Day to day, it’s handled playground abuse pretty well so far: climbing frames, concrete walls, bikes, and general rough play. No rips, no seams coming loose, and the zip still feels smooth. Another Amazon review mentioned using it for years with the original zip still going, which lines up with how robust it feels. So in terms of real-world performance, I’d say it gets the job done for school, walks, and casual outdoor stuff, as long as you understand its limits in heavy rain and deep winter.

On paper, this thing is a softshell jacket for kids with a fleece lining, water-resistant outer, and a standard zip front. In reality, it feels like a cross between a hoodie and a light coat. The model I have is the black version, size 7–8 years, with two slanted side pockets and a full-length zip with a chin guard. No fancy patterns or branding screaming across the chest, which I personally like for school and everyday use.

The brand markets it as water resistant, not fully waterproof, and that’s accurate. It has a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating, so light rain beads off and rolls down. After about 15–20 minutes in proper rain, you start to see the fabric darken and you can tell it’s slowly taking on water. So in practice, I treat it as: fine for drizzle and showers, not great for standing in a downpour for ages. For that, you still want a true waterproof shell on top.

The jacket is lightweight but not flimsy. The fabric is 93% polyester and 7% elastane, with a soft fleece lining on the inside. No insulation padding, so it’s not a deep winter coat. It’s more of an autumn/spring jacket, or a winter mid-layer with a thicker coat on top when it’s really cold. The cut is regular, not super slim or baggy. On my kid, it sits just below the hips, so it covers the lower back properly when they bend or sit.

In the box, you literally just get the jacket. No storage bag, no spare zip pulls, no frills, which is fine. Care instructions are clear: 30° machine wash, low tumble dry, no softener, and you’re supposed to re-proof it every so often if you want to keep the water resistance. So if you’re the type who just throws everything in a hot wash with softener, you’ll probably shorten its life. But if you follow the label, it feels like it’ll last more than one season and can probably be passed down to a sibling.