REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket - Kids' review

The current REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket - Kids' (item 227851) is a stand-alone, child-size rain shell, not the adult Rainier under another size label. REI describes a 2.5-layer recycled-ripstop nylon shell with a HydroWall waterproof/breathable membrane, fully sealed seams and a DWR finish it says is made without PFAS. The page is useful for comparing listed construction and child-specific details; it does not provide an independent weather test or promise that every child will fit the listed size range.

Its construction is a shell, not built-in warmth

REI lists 100% recycled ripstop nylon and calls the jacket waterproof, windproof and breathable. Its 60-mph windproof figure is the maker's claim, not a result measured for this review. The page identifies a 2.5-layer HydroWall membrane and fully sealed seams, but gives no numerical waterproof-pressure or breathability rating. The word “breathable” should not be turned into a guarantee against feeling clammy during hard play or exertion.

No separate insulating garment is listed with this jacket. It is best understood as a shell over clothes chosen for the child's activity and conditions, rather than a warm rain coat with insulation built in. That arrangement lets a caregiver vary layers, but makes the underlying clothing and the shell's room over it part of the fit decision. REI's listed weight is 7.4 ounces; the page does not identify a size for that value, so it is a maker-listed reference rather than a measured weight for every size.

Child-focused details, with their limits

The listed hood has three panels, a rain brim, a rear hook-and-loop adjustment tab and elastic at the sides of the opening. The cuffs are adjustable. REI also lists reflective details, zippered hand pockets with soft brushed fabric, an inner-neck lining, an interior hanger loop and a write-on ID label. These are concrete convenience and visibility features; the product page does not describe a helmet fit, a quantified visibility standard, or a test of comfort while moving.

Care is part of the long-term waterproofing plan. REI says to machine wash cold with zippers and closures secured, avoid bleach and fabric softener, and tumble dry low. It recommends cleaning and drying the garment and renewing DWR if the face fabric continues to wet out afterward; any wash-in or spray-on DWR product is not included. That maintenance advice is not a claim that the finish lasts indefinitely.

Check the child size block rather than borrowing an adult label

The exact page lists XXS through XL in Kids' sizing. It does not call this a men's or women's fit block, and its sizing should not be matched to an adult size by name alone. Use the maker's current size chart and check the garment over the layers the child will actually wear. No personal fit, room-for-growth, or size-to-age guarantee is available from the listed measurements; the page does not provide a jacket length or sleeve measurement in the technical specifications.

Features that are not confirmed

The checked feature list does not name underarm pit zips or a pocket that stows the whole jacket. Those are unconfirmed, not proved physically absent. A general description of packability would still not identify an own-pocket stow route or a packed-size measurement. If either feature is essential, compare only exact pages that name it. Likewise, the page's “made without PFAS” wording applies to the DWR finish; it is not a statement about every garment component, a residual-chemistry measurement, or a blanket PFAS-free guarantee.

How it differs from the infant/toddler Rainier

REI lists a separate Rainier Rain Jacket for Infants'/Toddlers' (C01911). Both pages identify a 2.5-layer recycled-ripstop nylon shell and DWR wording, but the infant/toddler page describes a waterproof/breathable coating without naming HydroWall. Its hood, chin guard, elastic cuffs and 360-degree reflectivity are separately listed details; they are not interchangeable with the Kids' page's adjustable cuffs and pocket description. The pages also list different weights, 7.4 and 4.9 ounces respectively, with no size attached to either value. Read the infant/toddler Rainier assessment for that distinct size block and evidence.

Who should keep it on the shortlist

This model merits a closer look when a buyer wants a child-block shell, a documented recycled-ripstop face, and REI's stated shell-only rain arrangement. Before choosing it, check the child's measurements against the current size chart, allow for the intended clothing layers, and decide whether the listed hood, cuffs, pockets and reflective details suit the routine. Do not assume it will pack into a pocket, vent through pit zips, or provide insulation. The exact item number 227851 and its current package should be checked at purchase; this assessment does not track price or availability and does not claim hands-on use.