KUHL Spyfire Hoody - Women's Review

The Kuhl Spyfire is a midweight puffy with RDS (Responsible Down Standard) certified 800 fill down and a 20D Microtex nylon exterior. It has a tapered waist and wider hips than most, with an exaggerated drop hem. It weighs 14.0 ounces and does not pack into its own pocket or have an included stuff sack.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Spyfire comes with good-quality 800 fill goose down. It's on the thin side among jackets we tested but still offers decent warmth. An extra layer of fabric covers the front baffles on the outside to help prevent the wind from cutting through the seams. Dual hood bungees, a volume adjustment bungee on the back, and a small brim make this hood protective and warm. The Spyfire is thin enough to add a shell over the top, which comes in handy in inclement weather, as the jacket itself has no cinch around the hem to keep cold air from rushing up and chilling your core.

Comfort

Kuhl makes this jacket with a "women's fit", which translates to a highly tapered waist and wider hips. If you're someone with a curvy build, the Spyfire may be just the right fit for your sense of fashion. A large hem helps to keep your bum warm, even though you can't tighten the jacket around your core at all. Small armpit gussets add some mobility to our range of motion, and elastic cuffs help stop the long sleeves from falling over our hands while we walk. In addition to the typical 3 pockets found on most down jackets (2 hand pockets and 1 chest pocket), the Spyfire has a small zippered pocket on the upper portion of the left sleeve. While Kuhl emphasizes reflective trim as a part of this jacket, it's worth noting that all the reflective bits are inside the pockets, meaning you have to leave them unzipped and unhindered by your chilly hands for the reflective stripes to show. The metal toggles on the hood give it a decidedly fashionable appearance. In practice, they work well enough but can be a bit awkward as they are heavy, floppy, and require two hands to adjust.

Portability

The size Small Spyfire weighs 14 ounces, which is on the heavy side of jackets we tested, despite being one of the thinner models. It clearly isn't designed with portability in mind, as it's covered with heavy toggles and thick materials better suited to hanging in your closet than being packed in your backpack. It also doesn't stuff into any of its pockets, nor does it come with a stuff sack, as so many others in our lineup do.

Weather Resistance

The Spyfire isn't our favorite jacket to brave windy days. The adjustable hood helps, but the cinching system bunches the sides of the hood, leaving large channels through the folds of the fabric for air to rush in. The cuffs are a bit loose for good hand protection as well. Yet the most challenging aspect of wearing the Spyfire on a windy day is the bottom hem that cannot adjust. We appreciate that the front baffles have an added layer to block the wind, but it turns into a moot point when all that cold air just flies up the front of this bell-bottomed jacket. Treated with Microtex, the 20D nylon exterior of the Spyfire does a decent job of beading water in light precipitation. The shoulders have a slightly different material that doesn't repel water for nearly as long — a big bummer for anyone actually caught out in inclement weather.

Breathability

Wearing the Spyfire is a tad on the plasticky-feeling side of things, but not horribly so. It's a pretty thin jacket, and the open bottom (depending on how it fits you) facilitates airflow. It's one of the few coats we tested that has any sort of venting features. The armpit gussets are a stretchy fabric without insulation that help both with movement and with dumping excess heat.

Should You Buy the Kuhl Spyfire?

The Spyfire is a decidedly untechnical down jacket. It has a certain style that most of the rest of our lineup lack, making it a better choice for those who don't want their winter to be unfashionable. It's a better fit for wider-hipped and curvier ladies and is well-suited to moderating body temperature in mild to moderate climates. If you like the look and the flared hips of the Spyfire, it's a decent jacket that's enjoyable to wear around town.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

If you like this price point but want a jacket with a little better functionality and protection, check out the comfortable and affordable Rab Microlight Alpine. For anyone who finds themselves wanting a little more wind protection from their jacket and perhaps some added warmth for everyday pursuits, the Rab Neutrino Pro and Feathered Friends Eos are warm jackets we adore. But if you like the fit and fashion of this casual jacket, the mild-weather Spyfire is a decent choice.