The marketplace is full of bold claims made with scant evidence, and children's products are no exception. Educational DVDs promise to make our children smarter. Play tea sets promise to help us raise British aristocrats. And now a relatively new product category, the "super" cape, promises to enhance our children's natural strength, dexterity, flying abilities, and sense of justice.

When Little Capers first came out with their children's Super Cape - a short- or long-sleeved shirt with a cape that attached to the back with Velcro - I waxed philosophical about Little Capers' mission to take the violence out of super play. We have always felt we did our readers a disservice by failing to point out that no child under two should be permitted to wear a garment that allows them to fly.

Since that time, Panjo Kids offered to send us one of their handmade capes customized with Z's initial, and Little Capers has come out with a Big Cape, a shimmering 31" long cape that fastens at the collar. We decided that the best service we could provide to readers was to subject them to a rigorous comparison of the super abilities they impart. Below, a point-by-point comparison.


Vertical climbing: Little Capers. Little Capers' Big Cape outperformed the Panjo Kids Super Cape in this area, providing measurably superior spider-like agility and grip. The stouter and firmer Panjo Kids' entry was, however, less likely to trip up the smallest test subjects.


Balance: Panjo Kids. PK's cape functioned in our tests as an invisible human gyroscope, allowing Z to perform heretofore unheard-of acts of catlike agility. This skill may be specific to the type of cape used in our testing, which features a vintage astronaut print; a variety of backing fabric patterns are available, which may impart different powers.


We suspect the gyroscope function is hidden in the cape's attractive and durable neck closure, as the cape was able to levitate unworn in its proper orientation. Although we appreciate the gesture and the attention to detail, it does make it easier for children to justify not putting the cape away after use.

Flying: Panjo Kids. While we have to give this one to Panjo Kids, I'm sorry to say that both capes failed to live up to our expectations. Little Capers' Big Cape provided an ability better termed "gliding" than true flight, enabling Z to descend from the top of a telephone pole at an angle of approximately 30 degrees, but the vertical ascent function appeared to be broken. The Panjo Kids' cape, in contrast, allowed Z to levitate to a height of approximately thirteen feet, although she was unable to navigate in a true "flight" mode as she had in her toddler cape. The desired skill can be achieved by wearing both capes at once, but it seems unreasonable to expect consumers to purchase two capes to get what we feel should be a basic feature.


Speed: Little Capers. A radar gun borrowed from a local police officer clocked Z running at 67 mph while wearing Little Capers' Big Cape, with Panjo Kids maxing out at 58 mph. Either speed should be adequate for crime-fighting at the preschool level, however, and both capes flapped adequately at speeds above 2 mph, although the Big Cape did better on swings.



Psychological impact: Tie. Despite repeated tests, this one proved to be a toss-up. Above: A detail of the Super Cape's shimmering fabric, which stunned more than one invisible adversary into willing submission. Below: A signature initial, such as the customized letter or symbol available for Panjo Kids' capes, can help identify a specific superhero on the move to ensure maximum reputation-building while performing super acts.



Verdict: Tie. Panjo Kids' cape is smaller, thicker, and has handmade touches that make this cape a great gift, and at $40 it clearly demonstrates its value in both craftsmanship and the educational value of the lasers of fire it allows wearers to shoot from their eyes. Little Caper's Big Cape's size, however, make it an excellent option for older children - at $23, its fabric has a "wow" factor that belies its ability to transport children into the twelfth dimension (child harness recommended).



Both are available in a variety of designs, and a Halloween costume couldn't get much easier! Check them out at Panjokids.com and Littlecapers.com.