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Keeping children warm and safe from the dangers of cold when you’re in the mountains is of course a priority for all parents. Finding the best clothing is therefore essential and it begins wih the base layers.
Some products, particularly cheaper items made with synthetics, can be counter-productive in their warming qualities we’ve found in testing over the years.
Products using natural fibres tend to perform best and having extensively tested many different products over the years, our top choice are Smalls, a range of everyday, but very high-qualiy, Merino wool basics for children aged 0 to 14.
The success of Smalls are down to the fact that their 100% superfine merino wool not only provides warmth when its cold, but when the kids go inside (and for younger children particularly there’s usually a lot of alernating indoors/outdoors during their ski day) there’s no cold sweat, it actually keeps them cool when it’s hot too.
Smalls are also super soft, with no static, and are also very light weight, keeping little ones toasty without the bulk.
British Ski legend Konrad Bartelski, one of Smalls’ fans, explains: “It may have taken someone giving me a piece to try to make me realise how truly fantastic a fibre merino wool really is. I won’t use anything else for alpine sport now. It’s brilliant that there’s a merino product of this quality available for children.”
The naturally occurring weight to warmth ratio of Smalls Merino means that kids need fewer layers on the slopes, and thanks to its natural stretch that means maximum freedom of movement. Smalls styling means that they can be worn on, or off the slopes, all year ‘round giving users more wear out of winter base layers.
Smalls is the creation of Cat Pharo (Freelance Stylist and Art Director) and Emma-Jane Adam (ex Digital Marketing), both New Zealand-born mothers-of-three, who fell in love with merino babywear.
Smalls Co-Founder, Emma-Jane, explains: “Alongside building careers in the UK, we have built our families and now have three gorgeous kiddies each who are the inspiration for Smalls. As babies, our kiddies became addicted to the skin- loving miracle fibre that is superfine merino. Wrapped up snug in merino, they stayed warm in the cold British winters and cool in summer or indoors. The problem was that as our kiddies grew, the ranges did not…and so Smalls was born.”
“Last year, I road tested Smalls’ new Raglan T and 24hour trouser on my son, who’s our toughest critic. He wore them to ski, for Après ski and to bed for ten days running. Not only did he not want to take them off but they didn’t smell thanks to the amazing anti-bacterial properties of merino wool!” Emma-Jane added.
5 reasons to love Smalls’ Supermerino
- Thermo Genius – cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold, Merino naturally regulates body temperatures all year ‘round.
- Tough cookie – wear them lots, machine wash whenever. Merino won’t fade shrink or pill, Smalls are naturally antibacterial, so never get smelly.
- Skin Loving – Smalls won’t irritate the skin; the antistatic fibres repel dust, which can cause allergies and asthma. Merino is breathable, keeping skin dry and less prone to eczema. And there’s no itchy label.
- 100% natural, supersoft Smalls are made with eco-friendly fibres and are built to last so they can be handed down.
- Sustainable – Smalls’ Merino comes from TRULY happy sheep, we use Zque approved, traceable wool, which is the very best in the world
Using the same 100% superfine Merino which the brand has become renowned for, Smalls’ new ‘Aroha’ baby range has just launched this season.
RRP: £17.50 – £79.95 with free delivery online
