Engearment

Kate Agathon

The Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody is the epitome of mountain chic.

If you’re ever at Beaver Creek or Vail, you’ll notice that Kuhl is extremely popular for apres ski and it is easy to see why: it gives off some serious fashionable winter vibes.

 

The first thing that attracted me to the Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody is its fur lined hood and classic design that evokes romantic images of a winter wonderland. It immediately reminded me of a photo that I always liked of my mother clad in a fur-lined parka taken in front of a glacier in 1960s Alaska.

Secondly, because I live in a small mountain town, all my winter outerwear is some variation of technical-looking puffy down. I wanted to wear something different; something stylish that was a little more elevated than what I typically wear and wouldn’t look completely out of place in Beaver Creek or Denver.

 

Thirdly, I wanted a jacket that was stylish but performed its chief function of keeping me warm.

While there are many stylish jackets out there that are designed to look nice but cannot withstand harsh conditions, Kuhl’s UKON Fleece Lined Hoody is actually engineered to perform in severe mountain weather.

 

Look and Fit

As soon as I put it on, my fiance remarked how nice it looked on me and he loved how the fur lined my face when I wore the hood up. Then, he said it reminded him of the parka that the air force issued to him when he was stationed in Alaska in the early 1990s. Sounds legit, right? There’s a reason the design is classic and associated with frigid winters.

 

Strolling down Frisco’s Main Street in the jacket, I felt so glamorous. The faux fur trim on the hood and the overall silhouette made me feel elegant. I almost felt like I was giving off some runway-meets-Han Solo-on-Hoth vibes.

 

In addition to the hood, the attractive oversized snap front pockets completed the overall look.

Details and Function

The details of the Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody are what sets it apart from similar-looking counterparts. It was made to up your style game, but also built for function.

 

The Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody is cosy and warm. The high pile Italian Berber fleece provided a surprising amount of warmth.

 

I recently wore it on a bluebird day with a very cold breeze. In addition to the aforementioned fleece insulation, the jacket’s double front placket, fully zipped collar, and the wax-coated wind resistant fabric kept me toasty warm, even though I was just wearing a thin long sleeved top underneath.

 

Additionally, I liked the feel of the cotton blend exterior fabric because it wasn’t as stiff as one would expect (it did attract dog hair, though so keep a roller on hand).

 

The strategically placed soft shell helped with ease of movement so that was also a nice and unexpected thoughtful addition.

Kuhl UKON

The Kuhl UKON is available in a down parka and a fleece hoody.

 

Initially, I thought the parka would be better suited to my needs due to its length and insulation (I typically prefer down fill due to its weight), but the fleece hoody’s length provided adequate coverage on my petite frame and it wasn’t nearly as heavy as I expected.

 

Additional features:

• Wind and water-resistant wax-coated cotton blend material

• Multi-pocketed: zippered interior security pocket, two large handpockets with snaps

• Removable faux fur for versatility and style

• Interior knit cuffs with thumb loops

• Color coordinated dainty sleeve logo

Final Thoughts

The Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody is a beautiful addition to and the star of my winter wardrobe!

 

I get so many compliments when I wear this! I am delighted to have the Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody for days when I want to dress up a bit and stay warm while doing so. This is a beautiful, classic style that would look good on any body shape.

Just because it’s freezing outside doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style for comfort, and Kuhl understands this (which is why it is one of my favorite cold weather lifestyle brands).

 

The Kuhl UKON Fleece Lined Hoody is available in three colors (carbon, ivory, and blackout) and five sizes (XS to XL).

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing.

Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers. She and her fiancé, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving two terms on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.