Reviews > Clothing > Childrens Clothing > Molehill Mountain Hooded Fleece Jacket > Curt Peterson > Initial Report

Molehill Mt. Equipment Hooded Jacket

- Initial Report -
October 2005

Below you will find:

1) Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket Specifications
2) Co-Tester Information
3) Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket Initial Report and Test Plan
4) Tester Background and Contact Information

1) Molehill Mt. Equipment Hooded Jacket Specifications

• Jacket Size: 4/5
• Jacket Weight: 8.6 oz (246 gm) 
• Jacket Material: Malden Mills Polartec Classic 200 Weight Fleece, 100% Polyester 
• Jacket Color: Green Day
• Lifetime Warranty
• Recycle Program (see Initial Report below)
  
• Made in Mexico 
• Manufacturer Website: www.molehillmtn.com
  

2) Co-Tester Information

Name: Ethan Peterson
Age: 3
Gender: Male
Height: 3'3" (0.91 m)
Weight: 33 lbs. (15 kg)
Molehill Mt. Equipment Size: 4T/5T
Email address (Using Papa's): curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I'm a ridiculously cute and very active 3 year old. I hike on a trail every single day with my mommy and papa and dog. We go on the trail to the lake and throw rocks in the water. I live in the mountains where it can get pretty cold and fleece jackets are a great way to keep warm without overheating – especially when you're as much of a wild child as I am. My Papa got me skis and is going to teach me how to ski this winter. I can't wait. I even skied on the grass in July just to try it out! I should be able to use the jacket a whole bunch because I don't sleep. Ever.
 

3) Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket Initial Report and Test Plan

Initial Report

The Molehill Mt. Hooded Jacket is a basic fleece jacket, made for little ones.  The test jacket we received falls right into the middle of their range of products.  In addition to the 4/5 size we are reviewing, they make products for babies as small as 3 months old and for kids up to size 14 (XS).  The sizing system Molehill Mt. uses is unique in my experience, and much appreciate.  Instead of hard and fast size listings, Molehill Mt. overlaps ranges.  For instance, Ethan is currently about 33 lbs. (15 kg) and 3'3" (0.91 m).  This puts him about 2/3 of the way into the 3T range.  With the Molehill Mt. sizing chart, it also puts him at the bottom of the 4/5 range.  With the rate kids grow, this give the option of finding him something that fits now, or something that might be a little loose, but that he'll undoubtedly grow into quickly and get much more life out of the jacket.  We chose the bigger fit for now, knowing that it will only be a couple of months until he fills up the extra space.  

If we had gone with the smaller size and Ethan quickly outgrew the jacket, it would not go to the back of the closet, however.  Molehill Mt. has a clothing recycling program.  They build their clothing to take the abuse kids dish out, but expect that boys and girls will outgrow the apparel before wearing it out.  When a kid outgrows a piece of clothing, simply return it to Molehill Mt. and they clean it and donate it to Rocky Mountain area homeless shelters.  Not only does this keep stuff out of landfills, it keeps it useful.  As if this weren't enough, for doing so Molehill Mt. offers a 10% off coupon.  Very cool.  The Recycling Program toll-free phone number is even sewn right into the jacket on the neck tag.

The jacket itself is a cozy little fleece jacket that is sparse on features, but perfectly simple and well-fitting on initial use.  The waist and wrist hems are elastic.  It's nice to not have a drawcord of any kind on small kid clothing.  The wrist openings are a bit large, but I imagine that this will be appreciated once mittens are on those little hands.

The hood also lacks a drawcord - very important in kid outerwear.  Instead, it uses the same elastic edging that the waist and wrists do, but in a full circle that is nicely sized for a little guy's head.  The hood volume is a bit much with nothing underneath it, but like the wrist openings, I can see this being a benefit when a stocking cap is underneath it.

There's only one zipper on the whole thing, running right up the middle as is typical on a jacket.  It's a nice big locking #5 YKK zipper - easy for the adults who will undoubtedly be the ones using it most.  It also has a long fabric logo zipper pull to make the process easier with gloves.

The jacket itself is made up of 3 fabrics.  The main body, arms, and hood are all one color of fleece.  The side and underarms are a contrasting fleece color, and the underside of the arms from elbow to wrist has a reinforced panel of what appears to be Supplex nylon or something similar.  Nothing particularly complicated here, just  basic construction well done.  There are no loose edges or threads on initial inspection.

There are two handwarmer pockets.  They're big enough for gloved or mittened hands, but have no closure method so they won't retain items.  

Finally, there is a small square rubber logo patch sewn onto the left bicep.  It's nice to see companies showing some restraint in their logo.  I'm not a big fan of 3 year-old billboards.

Test Plan

We will test the Molehill Mt. Equipment Hooded Jacket in the fall and early winter months here in Washington State – the test timing is perfect for a fleece jacket. We will undoubtedly use it in snowy conditions while skiing, but most use will be on local trails accessible and exciting enough for a 3 year old. Typical use will range from 1,500 feet (460 meters) on valley trails to over 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) on ski slopes. Temperatures will likely range from the mid teens F (-11 to -8 C) to the mid 50s F (11 to 14 C).

It will go on every trip Ethan goes on - dayhikes, backpacking trips, and ski days.

We will test the jacket in various conditions and report on:

Material: Molehill Mt. Equipment lists the jacket in the 200 wt. fleece section, but there are a variety of fleece fabrics in this range produced by Malden Mills. Any special features to this variety?

Fit: Obviously this is crucial. Do the chart specifications translate to a good fit for little ones?

Safety: Is the jacket safe for little people?

Comfort: Is the jacket comfortable? Does Ethan like to wear it or is it scratchy or binding, etc.?

Ease of Use: This is primarily for the parents – is it easy to zip up on a squirmy kid?

Hood: Does the hood work? Will it keep a head warm and still allow them to see? Does it completely swallow the head? Too tight?

Durability: Does it last? Kids are hard on clothing – is the Molehill Mt. Equipment Hooded Jacket built for the abuse kids dish out? Do threads unravel?

Insulation: Does it perform as typical 200 wt. fleece? While the warmth provided by this common fabric is pretty well known, construction techniques and technologies can affect efficiency of insulation. Essentially, how warm is the jacket?

Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Molehill Mt. Equipment for the opportunity to test the Hooded Jacket!


4) Tester Background and Contact Information

Name: Curt Peterson
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 (122 kg)
Email address: curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 miles (32 km) from the PCT via footpaths leading right from my backyard. Most of my outdoor time here in Washington is spent on dayhikes, backpacking journeys, climbs, and ski trips everywhere from the Olympic coast to the rainforests to the massive Cascade volcanoes to dry steppe.

I played football in college and often evaluate products from a big guy perspective. I tested gear for Seattle's biggest gear retailer in the mid-90s, then guided backpacking tours in Olympic National Park for a few summers. My typical pack load ranges from 12 to 19 lbs (5.4 to 8.6 kg) and usually includes gear to keep dry in the Pacific Northwest's incessant dampness.
 

Reviews > Clothing > Childrens Clothing > Molehill Mountain Hooded Fleece Jacket > Curt Peterson > Initial Report