by Dave MacLeay
I’ve been toting my two-year-old son around the show. Mostly he’s been flirting with exhibitors and encouraging me to lay down in the tents that he likes, but we also found a few minutes to check out some technical clothing for the pint-sized set.
Mountain Sprouts outerwear includes a lot of little details that are missing from most kids’ clothing. Immediate standouts are reinforced patches in high-wear areas (knees and elbows for crawlers) and the use of reflective threads, which provide high visibility near traffic or when the little one scampers off into the woods by your campsite after dark. New products for 2007 include Mudskippers -- ripstop nylon bibs with adjustable shoulder straps -- and a silk-synthetic stretch polyester t-shirt and romper.
One piece that immediately caught my eye was the Rogue Jacket – a true soft shell (Polartec ThermalPro) for kids. Mountain Sprouts founder Jen Taylor told me that the jacket was designed/inspired by her oldest child, who wanted to have a jacket “just like his father’s.” I don’t know many five-year-olds who need a soft shell, but it’s a nice-looking jacket.
