Ski gear shopping for young kids really sucks. There isn’t a whole lot of ski-specific product out there for children under 5-years-old. Plus, what jackets and snow pants I have found are very expensive and too small within a few short months. So I was thrilled when I learned about Shred Dog.
Shred Dog
Shred Dog is a new company that focuses on making ski apparel just for kids. Their mission statement is to “help more families make more magic and more memories in the outdoors.” They are doing that by “making kids outdoor apparel that fits better, works better, looks cool, and is sold at a much better price compared to other brands.”
Pups Hardshell
Consider me sold. So I got the Shred Dog Pups Hardshell jacket for my 3-year-old, Ridge. I’ve been teaching him how to ski at Solitude Mountain this season and so far, the Shred Dog has been awesome.
First of all, I am very impressed with the quality. Most children’s outerwear just feels cheap with poor materials and hardware. Zippers break all the time. Seams tear. Not to mention these jackets suck at keeping bad weather at bay. Not so with Shred Dog. The Pups Hardshell is as nice and high-tech as my own ski jacket.
The shell material is fully waterproof and breathable with a DWR coating. The seams are fully taped. Holding it, the shell is soft and supple – more like a softshell. There are lots of pockets to keep RFID ski passes (and more importantly snacks) secure.
The hood is large enough to fit over a helmet. The sleeves have Velcro cinches. Pocket leases keep gear like gloves from getting lost when not in use. There are a ton of thoughtful features in this shell.
But what is most impressive and what I appreciate the most, is that this jacket will last my son a few years. How is that possible considering how fast kids grow? Check out the Adjust-A-Fit system. Using simple button and elastic button-hole strip inside the sleeves, I can make the jacket really small at the moment. Then as Ridge grows, the sleeves can be readjusted on-the-fly. Below is a video demonstrating how it works.
Other Shred Dog Offerings
Shred Dog also makes ski/snowboard pants and insulating mid-layers. Those mid-layers zip into the hardshell for a total layering system.
Another plus is that Shred Dog products are relatively affordable. They are a direct-to-consumer company. By cutting out the retailer middleman, Shred Dog can sell these high-quality jackets at a much lower price.
So if you’re a parent struggling with ski gear for your kids, give Shred Dog a look before dropping a bunch of coin on a name-brand ski company jacket. You’ll get you little ones high-quality ski gear that will last them a few years as they grow and it won’t put a dent in your bank account.
For more, visit shreddog.com
Speaking from experience as a ski coach for an organization that requires the ski team to purchase Shred Dog ski coats, I find their jackets to be less than adequate for serious ski families. The jackets are light weight, offer very little wind resistance, and little if any water resistance. On wet snow, or windy days, many of the shred dog kids are freezing. The ones that have learned to bring their Patagonia, Burton, Marmot, or Spyder jackets on the storm days are better prepared and able to last much longer on the mountain. My personal opinion is that Shred Dog jackets are sub par.
In addition, I have put in multiple requests to Shred Dog. My emails have gone unanswered, and they do not pick up the phone.
I would caution all against ordering Shred Dog products.