Kuhl Interceptr 1/4 Zip Review

While most fleeces in this review follow the adage that form should follow function, the KUHL Interceptr flips the script a little and prioritizes a clean silhouette while still offering decent performance. This fleece is ideal for winter evenings out on the town or an apres-ski drink. The tight fit and low breathability don't make it a high performer for athletic pursuits, but it is a worthy mid-layer for casual exploits.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The midweight Interceptr offers a decent amount of warmth and is one of the warmer jackets in the review. The fleece is composed of two different styles of fleece. A thicker fleece makes up the bulk of the piece, covering the front and back panels, as well the top portion of the arm sleeves, while a thinner fleece is used on the side panels and underarms.

Kuhl has succeeded in creating a piece that kept your core warm without feeling too bulky or restrictive. It certainly provided our testers a lot of heat while hanging out around the Flatirons in Colorado during the chilly spring months.

This piece will work as a standalone jacket in moderately cold conditions, wearing around camp, or out on the town but when darkness falls, or real winter hits, you'll undoubtedly need another insulating layer to throw on top. The jacket doesn't provide quite enough warmth for heavy snow or seriously biting cold. You'll also want another piece if you're doing more technical activities as this piece is almost too warm for serious cardio.

Comfort

One of our favorite features of the Interceptr is that the zipper carriage around the neckline is finished with an incredibly smooth and comfortable fleece that protects your chin from any undue chafing. The interior itself is quite soft and enjoyable to wear; it feels great against the skin. 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.

The overall fit of the fleece is on the slimmer side, and despite the articulated arm seams, our review team found it to be restrictive and too tight for easy overhead movement. The bottom of the jacket felt a bit flared out. This fleece has the surprising addition of elastic thumb straps hidden in the wrist cuffs. While it's a nice addition, the elastic straps are not the most comfortable.

Breathability

While the thinner side panels attempt to make this a more breathable piece, when comparing it to other fleeces on the market, it just doesn't stack up. This fleece doesn't shed moisture incredibly well, and this is the primary reason our testers found this to fall more into the casual around town category. If you don't need as much breathability, this jacket is adequate.

If you're planning on running, hiking, or doing serious cardio events, then other jackets would be better suited. Don't plan on hiking a Fourteener or any serious mountain adventures in this piece, as you'll end up disappointed. It lacks the ability to breathe well enough on bigger missions, but is great for lounging around and relaxing.

Layering Ability

The slim fit makes layering over this fleece a nonissue even with low volume or slimmer fitting puffys. The addition of the thumb loops makes sliding your arms in and out of layers tangle and bunch-free. The thumb loops are also fairly thin and stay out of the way. Some of our testers preferred the thumb loops in the cuffs but the ones in this jacket proved adequate for keeping the sleeves in place.

The shorter cut of the torso gives limited coverage and was difficult to get to stay tucked underneath a climbing harness. Our testers found it difficult to climb in partly because of this. Again, the short cut makes for a stylish look but not ideal for layering underneath equipment.

Weather Resistance

The thick front and back panels were actually pretty wind resistant as far as fleece goes but readily soaked up water when exposed. The thick fleece, once soaked, is slow to dry.

If you're looking for a super weather-resistant jacket, this isn't the best option due to its lack of a water-resistant treatment. If the skies open up, reach for a better shell than this piece.

Weight

For being a quarter zip with only one pocket, this fleece is on the heavier side of things. Weighing in at 15 ounces, this probably isn't the fleece you'll be wanting to bring on your fast and light missions into the mountains.

As casual wear, it's lighter than the three other more casual fleeces we tested, making it a good choice for throwing it in your work bag or gym bag and having a stylish option for when the temps drop.

Should You Buy the Kuhl Interceptr?

While this fleece isn't a bargain, it is in the mid range to the low end of prices for premium branded fleece. It's well made, comfortable, and has more street style than many of the other more "teched out" fleeces, which can make you look like an uber mountaineer. If you're looking for a city fleece that will make an occasional appearance on the trails, this is worth buying. If you are looking for a purely technical piece built for running around the mountains, you will want to look elsewhere.

What Other Fleece Jackets Should You Consider?

The KUHL Interceptr is a midweight fleece designed to be mountain chic. It is too heavy and not breathable enough to be a true performance piece, but its ergonomic stitching and decent warmth make it a great mountain/city hybrid. The Outdoor Research Vigor, however, is a higher scoring fleece that also costs less, though it does offer less weather resistance than the Interceptr. The Mountain Hardwear Stratus Full Zip offers higher overall performance for a similar price.