I realized at some point during autumn that my toddler had no winter gear, as the days got colder and darker and as snowy season approached.

I learned about Stonz and perused the website. I was impressed with the “toddler-friendly” array of products with helpful features, from the toddler snow boots (I’ve been overwhelmed with how to even shop for these) and toddler winter gloves.

In the review that follows, I’m going to tell you which products are worth it and which impressed me. I’m also going to tell you which one disappointed me, so you can know what to skip.

What is the Stonz brand?

In my own words, Stonz is a baby-to-kid brand for rain gear and snow gear. Basically, Stonz products are made to protect little ones from wet and cold weather.

But that’s not all: Stonz also makes booties, sunglasses, hats and diaper bags, which don’t rely on any type of weather to suit families appropriately!

Stonz was born in 2004 from a parent Lisa, who found it challenging to get outdoor products for her baby. Eventually, the company was born with a line of outdoor gear to make the outdoors “easy” for parents and kids alike.

I was happy to try out Stonz as a specialty brand for babies and toddlers, because I didn’t want to default to some cheap brand from Amazon for my toddler’s winter gear!

What we tried

I tried one item from each category for my toddler as we geared up for winter (and the following spring!).

  1. Toddler Trek Snow Boots
  2. Waterproof Rain Jacket
  3. Kids Snow Mitts
  4. Kids’ Eco Sunnies Durable Sunglasses
  5. Cruiser Original - Baby Shoes

Stonz products I liked best

In the following reviews, I’ll show you the features that I think are worthwhile and valuable in each rain or winter gear product.

Boot: Stonz Toddler Trek Snow Boots

The first thing I noted about these toddler snow boots is that they are very lightweight. I like this, because one thing I don’t want for my child is for them to be trudging through the snow in boots that bog them down.

I’ll be clear: we tried the Toddler Trek Snow Boots, NOT the Toddler “Booties” Stonz makes. These are the ones that go over sneakers or feet in socks. I couldn’t figure out the sizing on these in any case. They seem like a good invention for being on the go, though.

A few things I think are valuable about these snow boots are:

  • Fleecey inside: this would keep anyone’s feet cozy out in the snow.
  • Water-repellent materials
  • Easy to put on, and even better Velcro closure that wraps around and tightens (Good design)
  • Lightweight: Stonz claims they’re the lightest on the market for toddlers. I found it impressive.

Apparel: Waterproof Rain Jacket

I was looking at the apparel Stonz makes for rain days, and rather than choosing the “rain suit,” I opted for a simple raincoat to replace the one my daughter is outgrowing.

The Stonz Waterproof Rain Jacket was a good choice, because it’s a step up from the raincoat we’d been using during early fall. It has the following features that wow’d me as a parent:

Visor

Just an extra feature that can keep rain off a toddler’s face when the hood is on.

Safety reflectors

Helpful safety feature for when it’s both rainy and dark.

Gathered sleeve wrists

This makes the jacket comfier and more snug near the hands.

Soft hood interior

Lots of raincoats have a hood that feels like nylon both inside and out, but this rain jacket has a lined hood that’s not only warm, but less annoying to have on a little kid’s head.

A real waterproof zipper

I rarely see weatherproofed zippers on children’s raincoats, as this is the type of specialty feature I see on adult rain jackets like the one I own. I think it’s great that this exists on such a small rain jacket for toddlers.

The only thing I’m not sure I love is that the interior has a sort of non-slip material that I don’t think is right for the inside of a rain jacket, which I actually would want to not cling to inner layers like a sweater.

Worth it? Yes, for being well-designed. However, I have to be honest that it’s nearly double the cost of more run-of-the-mill rain coats for toddlers I see online, like the ones from Eddie Bauer, GAP and Columbia. This one’s more on par with the prices you’d see at REI.

Gloves: Kids Snow Mitts

Definitely a cute product, and glad I chose it among the available Stonz mitts for toddlers and kids.

They’re well-made, with grippy pads on the hand area, and tighten-able cords at the wrist. The inside is soft and fleece-lined, which is exactly what I’d want for my child on cold winter days.

A few highlights:

Designed to stay on little hands with the tighteners.

They clip together

so you can find them BOTH when you take them out of storage!

Tall and wide opening fits over jackets

Rather than creating a gap at the wrist where snow and wetness can come in, they will easily fit over most (probably every) jacket.

“Fleece nose wipe”

I was wondering what this is, and it’s literally a fleece spot on each thumb designed for wiping a child’s nose on their own (I can’t believe it - ha!)

Accessory: Kids’ Eco Sunnies Durable Sunglasses

I’m not someone to typically go after on-trend baby stuff, but given that Stonz only makes a few pairs of sunglasses and I wanted to choose one, I chose the Stonz Sunglasses for toddlers and I am GLAD that I did!

I think the style is adorable, and I would even wear these if I could. They have polarized lenses with UVA/UVB protection (so they’re not just for show, or for a photo—they’re really doing their job). They are made from non-toxic recycled materials.

One thing I’d like to note to you about sizing: they come in one size, and it is called “2-6Y.” If your child’s head runs big or wide, they may not fit at all.

Worth it? Again, these are slightly on the expensive side. They’re more on the price tier of brands like Babiators or Nordstrom. Shopping on Amazon would save 50% of the cost (but might not yield the same quality, in all honesty).

Shoes: Cruiser Original - Baby Shoes

I’ll serve it to you plain and simple: I thought these shoes were really cute, and being that they’re made by Stonz, I trusted the design and build for these cute sneakers.

Here’s where it gets sticky: the “Baby Shoes” come in sizes (Toddler) 4, 5, 6 and 7. That’s right: so I ordered a size 5 for my 22-month-old toddler, because that’s her current shoe size in Stride Rite and Nike sneakers.

We were disappointed, though: upon checking out the shoes when they came out of the box, they are baby shoes. Here is what we found:

  • No arch support
  • No grippy bottom
  • The website says “designed for early walkers,” but they seem more like they are designed for children who are about to walk, and learning to walk.

Our overall question is, why are the “baby shoes” coming in toddler sizes, for children who are already proficient at walking? The Cruiser Toddler Shoes begin their sizing in size 8, which seems large to me, like for a 2-3 year old who’s been walking for 1-2 years already. And yes, they look like they have a lot more sturdiness to them. But why not size this shoe in the 4-7 toddler shoe sizes?

All in all, that was our frustration with these baby shoes, and I wanted to be sure I could tell you about it before you order yours. I do recommend these shoes for crawling children who are taking their steps and cruising with parent assistance: I think they would be fine for that. I also think the Velcro is nice and strong to prevent toddlers from taking them off at inopportune times.

Check them out: Cruiser Baby Shoe (sizes 4-7) + Cruiser Toddler Shoes (sizes 8-12)

Worth it in the end?

You’ll notice that I explored all these products before going out into the snow (and that’s if we get any this year in the Northeast!). I wanted to be prepared size-wise and weather-wise for whatever our season brings.

With Stonz, the prices are noticeably higher than the prices for run-of-the-mill “whatever” toddler items you’ll find on Amazon. I will say, though, having had exposure to “Amazon sneakers” this past year, they broke within 2 months. That made them feel like a waste of money, a waste of time and ultimately, they became trash: I couldn’t pass down the sneakers to a friend’s kid, or my future kids.

That made me sad because I prefer to focus on quality, longevity of what we buy for our kids and of course, sustainability and recycling. I’m finding that the real ways to save money with a baby and kids is to get quality stuff that’ll last for two kids, or three.

So all in all, what I am getting at is that Stonz is a quality baby-toddler-kid brand and if you’re reading this and other reviews, you’ll see that the gear really performs. It’s also important to have quality winter and rain gear when it comes down to your child playing happily outside in the rain or snow, not complaining and not making a ruckus that their feet are cold, wet or uncomfortable.

I think I’m glad that I found Stonz and I know my toddler is going to love those cute sunglasses starting as early as springtime, or even for those bright winter days when we want to shield our eyes! I’m also looking forward to the Stonz gear lasting throughout the early years of ALL our children, not just one.

Where to buy Stonz

I’d first suggest shopping for Stonz products from the Stonz website directly. The reasons are that you’ll see the widest array of available sizes and colors, and that orders over $75+ ship free. There’s also 30-day returns if you’re not happy with what you chose for your child.

Lastly, products purchased on the Stonz website do benefit from a one-year warranty! You can see more about that at the Stonz FAQ.

Next, it looks like Stonz products are available on Amazon, BUT I will warn you: beware of fakes. Make sure that when you shop for a product like the Baby Cruiser on Amazon that it links to the official Stonz Amazon Store.

Sustainability

Yay: I was hoping Stonz had a commitment to sustainability and I found it on the website. Just like with other eco-friendly brands I’ve discussed like in my DYPER brand review, I want to see a focus on impact from brands I trust.

Stonz tries to reduce its total carbon footprint and focuses on making quality goods that WON’T get thrown out, like I mentioned above. The commitment is to the long-lasting products that make sure they continue their lives as hand-me-downs! Of course, that’s one of my favorite ways to get baby stuff for free!