I strongly recommend the Baffin Unisex Pinetree Snow Boot because kids can easily get these boots on and off without help, they are completely waterproof, and they are designed for conditions more extreme than you’d ever want your kid in anyway.

The best outdoor products for kids you’ll find out there are designed to specs such that the kid part of the equation could be dropped with no loss in quality, durability, or performance. In other words, the best kid gear is every bit as good as stuff made for adults.

Look, there are times when it’s OK to skimp a bit. Does your kid need a $75 pair of sandals? No. Whereas you could wear said sandals for three, maybe four summers in a row, she’ll outgrow them in three or four months, so go ahead and go cheap. Does a youngster need a $100 sweatshirt? No. Get him a $15 hoodie instead. And on it goes, as long as you are talking about casual gear and apparel.

Now, when it turns to technical gear, which we can loosely term as the gear upon which someone needs to count on for performance and safety, not for looks or casual comfort, I take a far different stance. I don’t care if the kids will outgrow the stuff, if it’s technical gear or apparel, it’s gotta be good.

And these Baffin PINETREE Snow Boots? They’re great. As in rated for -40º Fahrenheit weather great. As in my son can quickly and easily put them on himself great. And as in they are warm and comfortable enough for hours of snowy romping without a single cold foot complaint.

The PINETREE Snow Boot uses a clever system of lacing attached to a single toggle to secure the boot around the wearer’s upper foot and ankle, while another toggle cinches the upper collar closed around the lower calf, creating a barrier against snow, rain, and cold air. The toggles are easy for little hands to operate, and can even be used with gloves on, though said gloves may need to be on a parent’s hand if the kid is pretty young.

Inside, multi-layered foam insulation keeps feet warm, dry, and supported all at once. All my son needs to keep his feet warm, dry, and comfortable is any pair of socks, no added thickness or special materials needed here. And thanks to the durable rubber sole that features a deep tread pattern, he can stay upright even in slippery conditions.

Due to the quality construction of these boots, your kid will outgrow them a long time before they break down. But that’s OK, because they will make great hand-me-downs. And when those feet stop growing a few years from now, remember that Baffin is a boot-centric footwear company in general, not a kids’ footwear brand. They just happen to offer some high quality kids’ snow boots along with the rest of their gear.