If a kid is serious about recreating outdoors, then he or she deserves some serious gear. But the conundrum for parents is how to outfit a child who outgrows everything within a year (that and finding ski gear that doesn’t cost too much money.) That’s where Shred Dog comes in and why my son, Ridge, has been skiing in the Elevated Kids Hardshell jacket.
The Shred Dog Story
Shred Dog is a kid-focused company that makes ski apparel just for the little ones. 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.”
The company is able to accomplish this by using a direct-to-consumer model, bypassing retailers and their associated costs. That means no retail markups and no middlemen, which translates to 40% off retail value.
Shred Dog Elevated Hardshell
That brings me to my review of the Shred Dog Elevated Hardshell. I was first introduced to Shred Dog when Ridge was 3-years-old. At Solitude, he got to test the Pups Hardshell, which we both loved. Read that review here. Ridge is now 5-and-a-half and outgrew the Pups shell. So this season we upgraded to the Elevated Hardshell, which maintains the quality and features we’ve come to expect from Shred Dog.
The Elevated Hardshell is packed with everything you’d expect from a high-end shell for adults. It’s fully waterproof (20K waterproof rating), fully seam-taped, and even has waterproof zippers. The shell can be layered with a zip-in insulator for cold days.
Probably the coolest feature is the 2-way sleeve length adjustment. Instead of seam-ripping to lengthen sleeves as kids grow, the Shred Dog Adjust-A-Fit System allows sleeves to be lengthened, and then re-shortened as a hand-me-down later.
Other high-end features include pit-zips for underarm venting (great for spring skiing) rubberized wrist gaskets, powder skirt, hem drawcord adjustments, and a helmet-compatible hood.
Elevated Hardshell on the Slopes
Ridge has been skiing with the Shred Dog Elevated Hardshell at Solitude this season. Simply put, this shell has been perfect. Ridge is 5, so I got him the size 6. With the Adjust-A-Fit System, I was able to shorten the sleeves a bit for an ideal fit, and hopefully he won’t grow too much and will be able to wear it next season.
Having a shell that’s slightly too large is ideal anyway, because it allows for easier layering. On very cold days, I put a puffy jacket under the shell with space to share. Side note: Shred Dog makes the Element Insulator that zips into the Elevated Hardshell for a seamless fit.
On the slopes, the Elevated Hardshell performs beyond expectation. On sunny, warmer days without an insulated layer, to freezing days with snowfall, the shell protects my kid and keeps him comfortable. This is especially important because, thanks to COVID-19, we can’t go inside ski lodges to get warm. Thankfully Ridge has not complained about being cold or wet at all while wearing this shell. In fact, I’m so impressed with the shell’s waterproof rating, that Ridge will be wearing it as a rain jacket this spring and summer.
One feature in particular that I appreciate is the sleeve pocket. Solitude uses RFID passes that gates scan in the lift line. Generally, skiers keep their RFID card in a side pocket that’s at the gate’s scanner level. But kids are short and their side pockets are lower than the scanner. The Shred Dog Elevated Hardshell has a pocket on the sleeve that fits an RFID card. So now Ridge can simply wave his arm up to the scanner to pass through. It’s a small thing, but a feature that shows just how much thought and purposeful design Shred Dog put into a children’s jacket.
Final Word
If your child is a serious skier who’s making turns no matter the weather, then you owe it to your mini-me to outfit them with the best. And Shred Dog lets you do that without costing a fortune. Let me put it this way: I’m a grown-up who’s picky about outerwear. But if Shred Dog made an adult version of the Elevated Hardshell, I would totally wear it. This shell really is that good.
A quality shell of this caliber would normally cost $300. But the Shred Dog Elevated Hardshell will save you some coin at only $180. Add the fact that the Adjust-A-Fit System will let the shell grow with your child, then size back down for younger siblings, you can be confident that this is gear that will last for years.
Purchase this and other Shred Dog gear at www.shreddog.com