REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Warm
Simple
REASONS TO AVOID
More style than function
Bulky
Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip Review
Billed as casual outdoor wear, this warm fleece can move from out on the town to out at the crags
Credit: Kuhl
RELATED: Best Fleece Jackets of 2023
Our Verdict
The Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip blends style and function in a warm streetwear fleece. The articulated arms help with movement, and the quarter zip alleviates some overheating. However, this piece functions more in terms of its fashion than its function, as it's a bit heavy and lacks breathability. Still, our testers like the coziness and the ability to wear a fleece that appears less technical. If you're looking for a layer to throw on for around town, the Interceptr is a solid choice.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on May 9, 2023, to align our metrics with other new additions.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  | ||
| Price | $119 List Check Price at Backcountry | $82.46 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $149 List $54.83 at REI | $33.74 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Stylish, warm, simple | Breathable, lightweight, inexpensive, stretchy | Soft fleece, warm, comfortable | Soft, stretchy, warm, thumb holes | Inexpensive, warm, comfortable |
| Cons | More style than function, bulky | Average warmth, odd hood shape | No zippers on pockets, basic, feels lower quality | Not especially breathable, clings to base layer | Bulky, hoodless, poor layering |
| Bottom Line | Billed as casual outdoor wear, this warm fleece can move from out on the town to out at the crags | A lightweight and breathable hoody with a lot of stretch for mobility and hard-to-beat value | A simple fleece jacket with a high-volume cut that keeps in body heat | This super soft fleece hoody is a versatile and warm addition to any cold-weather layering system | Affordable, comfortable, and functional, this fleece offers the no-frills basics that you'd want in a jacket |
| Rating Categories | Kuhl Interceptr 1/4... | Outdoor Research Vi... | Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip | REI Co-op Hyperaxis... | Columbia Steens Mou... |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Layering Ability (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Kuhl Interceptr 1/4... | Outdoor Research Vi... | Cotopaxi Teca Full-Zip | REI Co-op Hyperaxis... | Columbia Steens Mou... |
| Type | Midweight | Lightweight | Midweight | Midweight | Midweight |
| Measured Weight | 15.1 oz | 13.2 oz | 12.9 oz | 16.7 oz | 16.6 oz |
| Main Material | Body: 78% acrylic, 22% polyester Side panels: 70% acrylic, 30% polyester |
94% polyester, 6% spandex | Shell: 100% recycled polyester fleece Stripes: repurposed polyester taffeta with DWR finish |
Polartec Power Stretch Pro polyester | 100% polyester |
| # of Pockets | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Unique Features | Thump loops, articulated sleeves, low bulk seam stiching | Thumb holes, UPF 30, 3-panel hood with binding | Recycled and repurposed materials | Thumb loops, bluesign-approved 4-way stretch polyester | None |
| Hood Option? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip takes a fashion approach to fleece. The Alfpaca Gold fabric adds significant warmth to this midweight fleece which works to transition from the streets to casual hiking and outdoor adventures. The slim, athletic cut moves well with the body, but the fleece has a general bulky feel making it better suited for evening strolls than for hard hikes or back-country ski missions. Still, the style of this fleece makes it an attractive option.
Performance Comparison
The Kuhl Intercepter worked best as a warm, casual wear piece. Our testers loved it for its ability to go from hanging out outside to wearing out to dinner.
Credit: James Lucas
Warmth
The midweight Interceptr uses Alfpaca Gold fabric and Kashmira side panels to create a warm, thicker fleece. The majority of the fleece's bulk comes in the front and back panels where the Alfpaca Gold is. The upper arms also have that material as well, and the sides and underarms use the Kashmira. Despite how thick the fleece is, the jacket moves well. It certainly provided our testers with a lot of heat while hanging out around the Flatirons in Colorado during the chilly fall months.
While many of the fleece in our review tend towards being strictly performance pieces, this fleece worked well as a stand-alone, providing significant warmth. While some of our testers wish they'd had a hood, the jacket provided plenty of heat for fall walks and casual hikes. If the weather comes in heavier, then you'll likely need another layer with this piece.
Our testers really liked the softness of the fleece, which felt incredibly cozy against the skin.
Credit: James Lucas
Comfort
The Interceptr has an amazing amount of comfort, with the side panels feeling soft against the skin and enjoyable to wear. Kuhl placed a zipper carriage at the neckline and lined it with soft fleece to prevent chafing. Our testers enjoyed lounging and hanging out in it after climbing. It made summer campfires pleasant and tailgate beers at the end of a day of sport climbing in Rifle, Colorado, very nice.
This fleece has a slim fit with a bit of a flared waist. The articulated arms move well though some of our testers found it to be a bit restrictive for serious overhead movement. Kuhl also added thin elastic thumb straps, which help keep the sleeves in place, though the straps chaff a bit if worn for a while.
You can see the zipper carriage in this jacket. Our testers liked the comfort of the fleece and the way the zipper carriage fit against the skin.
Credit: James Lucas
Breathability
This piece's thickness makes it nice for casual around-town wear, but it also makes its breathability fairly poor. The side panels help move some heat from the piece while hiking, as does the quarter zip, but it's not comparable to the same level of function in one of the performance pieces in this review. However, if you're not planning on a big mission into the mountains or doing any vigorous activity, this fleece is great for lounging and relaxing.
The Interceptr was less than ideal in terms of breathability. The thickness of the fleece made exercising in it difficult but it served well to hang outside at the park.
Credit: James Lucas
Layering Ability
The Interceptr feels a bit thick, which makes it a nice piece to layer over with a thin shell. The thumb loops help keep the sleeves in place while wearing another jacket. They're a bit thin, though; some of our testers noted they cut into their hands. The general slim fit of the jacket made it slide under other pieces well.
The jacket has a short torso which made it feel like it was riding up when under a second layer. While it adds a stylish feel, the hem made it less than ideal for layering. It works well for throwing a jacket on when it's raining around town, but for heavy activities in the mountain, this piece only does an adequate job of layering.
The thumbloops help with the layering allowing the sleeves to stay in place while wearing a hard shell over the Interceptr. However, these loops can easily break off.
Credit: James Lucas
Weight
This quarter zip fleece offers plenty of warmth, but despite its simplicity and lack of frills, it weighs in on the heavier side at 15.1 ounces for a medium. For casual, around-town wear when having something heavier and comfortable works well, this jacket does great, but for fast and light alpine missions where every ounce counts, it's best to pick one of the higher performance pieces in this review.
While it's possible to wear this jacket out at the crag, our testers found it better as a casual wear piece out on the town.
Credit: James Lucas
Should You Buy the Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip?
This fleece offers good warmth in a quality fleece. It's comfortable and has a great style to it that makes it worth wearing around town and then going for occasional low-commitment hikes. The price isn't prohibitively high, and overall it's a well-crafted piece. If you're looking for something less technical but with plenty of style, this jacket does the job well.
The fleece zips up well and offers some protection against the wind and inclement weather. The jacket will soak up water if it gets heavily wet though and it's best to bring a heavier piece or rain shell if there's inclement weather.
Credit: James Lucas
What Other Fleece Jackets Should You Consider?
The Kuhl Interceptr is a midweight fleece designed for fashion. The cut, thickness, and lack of a full zip make it less ideal for performance attire, but it looks great for the transition from the city to the crag. The Outdoor Research Vigor Full Zip] isn't as warm, but it offers better breathability and a lower weight. For our favorite overall fleece, check out the Patagonia R1 Air Hoody.
—
James Lucas and Buck Yedor
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