Back-to-School Must-Haves: Eddie Bauer First Ascent Boys' MicroTherm™ Down Hoodie

One of the hardest things about last winter for our now 5-1/2 year old son was struggling with his winter coat.  I had bought him one of those bulky coats with numerous removable layers.  When he was wearing it, he could not even put his arms down completely by his sides.  I wanted him to be warm, but it ended up being at the expense of his comfort.  He also struggled terribly with the zipper.  Not only was it difficult to zip, but it was confusing for him because there were multiple zippers for all the removable layers.

For the upcoming winter season, I am excited to have our son try out the Boys' MicroTherm Down Hoodie from Eddie Bauer's First Ascent outerwear line.  This jacket appears to be lightweight, but it is filled with 800 fill Premium Goose Down.  Of course, we have not been able to test it out in cold temperatures yet, but I can certainly attest to the quality of the workmanship and the design, as well as the fit.

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Both my son and I are very pleased with the general style and colors of this coat, which he chose himself.  I think he made a great choice.  We have the perfect red and blue for New England Patriots fans, not to mention that Superman, Spiderman, and Captain America also wear those colors.

Our son is in a size XS, which is the equivalent to a size 5/6.  The jacket fits him well and has enough room for us to add another layer underneath for those days when the temperatures drop to the 20's or lower.  The sleeves are a little long, but I would much rather have that than their being too short.  Our son always wants to pull his sleeves over his hands anyways.

The zipper on this jacket is beefy, but not too hard for him to zip on his own, although he did need to practice a few times.  Some other great features are a place for emergency information on the inner lining, a small zippered pocket on the chest for money, keys, or a phone, plus one hand-warming zippered pocket on each side.

There are also stretchy panels behind and under the shoulders for added freedom of movement, plus sleeves and a hood that hug the body around the edges.  I love how deep the hood is, so our son's ears and head are protected from the cold and the wind.

I rarely wash my children's winter coats unless they have managed to soil them somehow because they outgrow their coats every year.  However, I am happy to know that this down jacket is machine washable if I ever do need to launder it.

The Eddie Bauer Boys' MicroTherm Down Hoodie retails for $89.95 on EddieBauer.com and comes in four colors with contrasting linings . . . Carrot (orange), Coast (blue), Indigo (navy blue), and Limeade (neon yellow).


Thank you to Eddie Bauer for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Holiday 2011: Eddie Bauer Boys' Classic Down Jacket

Our nearly 8 year son is growing more fashion-conscious as he gets older.  It use to be that he would approve of outerwear as long as it kept him warm and dry and cared little about style.  Now the scale is slowly tipping in the other direction.  Luckily, this Boy's Classic Down Jacket from Eddie Bauer is both warm, water-resistant, and stylish.

My son chose this jacket himself out of all the ones offered by Eddie Bauer Kids, so I know that he loves the look of it.  Temperatures around here have not dropped enough to warrant a goose down jacket, so it was hard to gauge how much insulation this coat offers.  Our son says that this jacket feels warmer than the parka he wore last winter.

It has been quite awhile since my son has owned a winter jacket without a built-in hood.  Even though this jacket will keep him warm, I may still have him layer a hoodie under it on days with heavy snow.  I always worry that snow will sneak in at the back of his neck without a hood on.  I could also see if he is ready for the responsibility of using a scarf.

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Some great features about this coat are that all 3 pockets have a zip closure, the cuffs of the sleeve are elasticized for a snug fit, and there is a label inside on which you can write your child's name and an emergency phone number.  The neck and the pockets are lined with a super-soft fabric.  I think the main thing my son likes about this coat, aside from the warmth and the style, is that it is not bulky and extra long like some of the coats he has worn during past winters.  Even when it is cold out, he still goes outside for recess during school, so this jacket will be much easier for him to run around and be active at those times.

The Eddie Bauer Boys' Classic Down Jacket is available in 3 colors . . .  Redwood, which is what our son chose, Deep Olive, and Midnight Navy.  This coat normally retails for $59.95, but is currently on sale during the Eddie Bauer 75th Annual Down Event.  For a limited time, you can also receive Free Shipping on most orders containing outerwear when you check out with Code: OUTERWEAR.


Thank you to Eddie Bauer for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon.

Review: Lands' End Men's SnowSystem Jacket

My husband is a strange breed. He thinks 45 degrees is shorts weather. Unfortunately, we live in New England where the temperature often drops below 45 degrees in the winter and sometimes even in the fall. Still, he despises wearing anything bulky as far as outerwear goes.

The Men's SnowSystem Jacket from Lands' End suits my husband perfectly. It can be worn three different ways . . . with the waterproof outer shell alone, the sporty quilted "PolarThin" inner liner alone, or both pieces together. Even with both pieces together, my husband admits that this men's winter jacket is not cumbersome like most others he's owned.

What my husband and I thought about this Lands' End jacket:

1) I find this jacket to be very attractively designed. The outer shell is stylish and sporty, but more classical, which makes it suitable for men of all ages. The inner layer is more sleek and modern and is not quite my husband's taste. If he were to wear one of the layers alone, he would most likely opt for the outer layer.

2) Although this jacket is lighter than a parka, it is still built for cold weather protection. The air between the outer and inner layers offers extra warmth, similar to the air within down filling.

3) It is very convenient that the neck area is protected so that there is no need for a scarf.

4) Some outerwear manufacturers skimp on the quality of interior hardware, such as the zippers and snaps. This is not the case with this Lands' End jacket. The attention paid to quality of the interior is equal to that of the exterior.



5) The Velcro around the wrists are designed to catch easily, so that someone wearing ski gloves could adjust these straps without removing their gloves.

6) Because my husband gets overheated easily, he was very pleased with the ample length of the pit zips.

7) Two great features that keep the wind, cold air, and ski powder out are the toggle drawstring on the inside hem of the outer shell and the elasticized removable hidden skirt.

8) Other perks about this jacket are the MP3 pocket, which includes a cord port, amply sized pockets inside and out, and this jacket is machine washable, which is an extremely important feature.

My husband is extremely happy with his Lands' End SnowSystem Jacket. He even said that he would not need to take this jacket off when he got in his car as he normally does with all of his other winter coats.

I see that this jacket is currently reduced in price. Even at regular price, this Lands' End jacket is a great value compared to other name brands. A comparable jacket by High Sierra or North Face would cost twice the price of this one. If you or someone you know is in the market for a new men's winter coat, I would definitely put this one on your list of considerations.

To learn more about the SnowSystem Jacket for men, visit LandsEnd.com .

Thank you to Lands' End for providing us with a review product free of charge.