AO Review: KUHL Spekter Pullover – “Keep this Away from your Girl!”
Patrik Orcutt 07.19.23
The KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody was purchased by myself and Kuhl has not been allowed to preview this review prior to publishing. I purchased this hoodie a little bit over a year ago when I saw it on sale at a PX in Germany. I had no desire to buy anything that day when I walked into the store but once I tried on this hoodie, I knew I had to own it . Ever since then, it’s been my favorite hoodie for traveling and for sitting at home on a cool, lazy Sunday.
Kuhl’s origins trace back to 1983 when it was known by a different name, Alfwear. Founded by John “Alf” Engwall, Conrad Anker, Jay Boyle, and Kevin Boyle, Alfwear aimed to deliver well-designed gear for skiing and mountaineering. Their focus was on creating products that catered to the mountain environment, exemplified by their initial offering, the Alf Hat. This Peruvian-styled hat featured polar fleece for enhanced warmth. Tragically, a car accident claimed the life of Alf Engwall. The remaining co-founders persevered and strived to propel Alfwear forward. However, in 1989, they decided to pursue individual endeavors. Conrad Anker became a world-renowned climber, Jay Boyle pursued an MBA and relocated to Shanghai, while Kevin Boyle chose to acquire Alfwear.
Recognizing the need to expand beyond the Alf Hat, Kevin understood that skiers and mountaineers required more than just one hat. This marked the official transition to the name Kuhl and the introduction of a new product, the Jacquard Jacket. This midlayer, crafted with Euro-styled Polartec fleece, boasted an innovative thumb-loop cuff system – a first-of-its-kind design. Unsurprisingly, the Jacquard Jacket garnered substantial attention and firmly established Kuhl as a prominent brand.
Since then, Kuhl has continuously expanded its offerings in the realm of mountain gear. They provide a wide range of tops suitable as midlayers or casual attire for unwinding after a day on the slopes. Throughout its journey, Kuhl has remained an independently owned and financed company. The enduring passion of its original co-founders is evident in the brand’s product line, serving as a constant source of inspiration.
Specs – KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody
- Materials – 59% Polyester, 25% Cotton, 12% Lyocell, 4% Elastane
- Pockets – Two Zippered Pockets
- Weight – 16 oz
- Country of Origin – El Salvidor
- MSRP – $100
Quality and Comfort – KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody
One of the reasons I was so enamored with this hoodie when I first picked it up, was just how comfortable it was. The advanced fabrics that are used in this hoodie consist of 59% polyester, 25% cotton, 12% Lyocell, and 4% elastin. The softness of these materials definitely deserves some attention. It’s a very durable lightweight hoodie that is also very soft and a pleasure to wear.
I also love the way this hoodie looks and it’s very minimal design. There are no draw cords that will dangle from the hood. Personally, I hate having drawl cords on my hood because I feel that I always have to adjust them so that they are roughly the same height, because of my OCD. The front of the hoodie has a very minimal hand pocket with two zippered pockets for access. I love that when not in use this front pocket, basically disappears into the hoodie giving it a very clean look. The lining on the interior of the hand pocket is a very breathable and soft material and feels nice against your hands. The zippers on the hand pockets are YKK so you know they last forever.
Inside the sleeves where the cuffs meet, you will find two small elastic bands for your thumbs. This is a nice touch to have these for when it gets colder out or if you are wearing gloves with this hoodie. I prefer this kind of approach with the thumb hole Over the traditional kind of extended calf thumb hole. This is for a few reasons, but mainly because you don’t have an extended arm sleeve it’s too long, and you don’t have these random thumb holes in your sleeves when not in use, you can tell the people at Kuhl really thought through all the details on this hoodie.
Warmth – KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody
This truly is an all-season hoodie as long as you layer appropriately with it. I have worn it in Finland in the middle of December with an external jacket, and also last summer out in Montana. Kuhl claims that this is a self-regulating garment and I believe that claim to be true. I found this to be a very comfortable hoodie when it came to temperatures but obviously, if it’s colder out, you will need to layer up, and if it’s warmer than 60° outside I found this hoodie to be a bit too warm for me.
Sizing and Fit – KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody
Another thing that I love about this hoodie is the overall fit. I know traditionally hoodies are supposed to be a little bit bigger and bag year but I like my clothes to be more of an athletic fit if possible. The Spekter hoodie certainly fits me very well while wearing a size small. For reference, I am 5 foot nine, 165 pounds with an athletic build.
Weight and Packability – KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody
Weighing exactly 16 ounces this hoodie is definitely on the lighter side when compared to other hoodies you might normally wear. I found this to be a favorite of mine when I was traveling and wanted to stay as light as possible. This was my go-to emergency warm layer whenever I was traveling throughout Europe on weekend vacations with that being said, this is a very packable hoodie as well and can be compressed down into a very small package compared to most hoodies that will take up an entire backpack on their own, you can really see where KUHL’s design philosophy shines through in this product. Keeping things, light and packable, but also versatile and warm.
Likes
Likes - Priced well at $100
- Very comfortable
- Designed to be lightweight and rugged
Dislikes
- Not quick Drying
Wrap Up – KUHL Spekter Pullover Hoody
In the 18 or so months that I have been wearing this hoodie, I can in quickly say that it is one of my favorite hoodies I have ever owned. To this day I still bring this thing Practically everywhere I go because I love this layer. It’s lightweight, it’s warm, and it looks really good. Surprisingly unlike most of the products that KUHL produces this one is actually not that expensive. Coming in at a very reasonable $100. I think that’s a great price for a superb quality product like this if you were looking for a more athletically fitting hoodie that can kind of do everything this is the one to get in my opinion. Finally, make sure you never let your girlfriend try this on ore else you won’t ever get it back!
