Here at Skiing Kids we do lots of gear reviews, and I want to take you behind the scenes of how those gear reviews work. I take the gear that we recommend VERY seriously. Almost everything that we share here is something we have either owned and tested extensively. Since we can’t personally try EVERY piece of ski gear made for kids, there will be times that we share product recommendations, based on my decades of experience in the ski industry.
Why Gear Testing Matters to Me
When my oldest was 3 years old, we bought him a new coat. We didn’t have much money, but we found a coat at a big box store that looked pretty good, was in his price range, and best of all…it was RED (his favorite). Once winter settled in, I noticed that he was coming in a lot more frequently than he used to. He’d complain about being cold after 10 minutes and wanted to come inside and have hot chocolate.
At first, I though he just loved the hot chocolate (obviously), but as time went on, this continued, even when I wouldn’t offer the cocoa. So one day, I asked a friend if we could borrow one of her kids coats and do a test. You probably aren’t surprised, but suddenly my son wanted to stay outside for HOURS wearing this other coat.
That was the moment that I realized that good gear can make all the difference, especially for kids!
Here’s how our gear testing process works
My kids have been testing ski gear for me since they were born. Granted, they didn’t know it, but I’ve always been quietly taking notes on how the things that they wear performs. I want to know what keeps them warm, dry, and is comfortable to wear all day long.
In our family, gear testing is just play, and my kids play HARD! Lots of puddle jumping, snow fort building, skiing, and any wild thing that my kids can come up with. I have a large family with 4 boys and 1 girl, so quality and durability really matter to me. My goal is to invest in great gear with our older kids so that I can pass it down through all of their younger siblings. In some cases that means we get something a little more expensive upfront, but the long term benefits are incredible. We’ve had plenty of gear that’s been in our family rotation for a decade, and then I”ve been able to pass it on to other kids after all of mine outgrow it. That’s the real test of great outdoor gear for kids.
Meet Our Gear Testers
I have 5 main gear testers. They currently range in age from 9-19, but considering they’ve all been testing gear their entire lives, that’s a lot of years of experience. Occasionally, we need to test gear that’s for kids younger than my own, and in those cases, I have a team of gear testers and writers who help me.
Brands We Work With
One of the biggest ways that this website supports my family is through affiliate relationships with brands. What that means is that I earn a small commission on purchases that you make through my links. It doesn’t cost you anything, and in many cases, the brands we work with will give us a discount code to share, so you actually pay less.
We regularly get samples from brands to test and review. We only share the absolute BEST! You’ll probably notice that there are products that we recommend over and over again. That’s because those brands and companies make products that are really great, and I want you to get the best gear possible.
Updating Gear Reviews
I do my best to update gear reviews annually, but I feel like I’m always behind. It’s TONS of work. If you have questions about a new version of a product I’ve recommended, but don’t see an update, reach out to me at jessica(at)skiingkid.com and I’ll tell you what I think.