As a lifelong adventure seeker living in New York City, any piece of outerwear I consider bringing into my gear closet (aka a few storage bins stacked in my living room) must meet the following criteria: be functional in a range of weather conditions and stylish enough for frequent wear in an urban landscape, too. The KÜHL Aktivator Hoody ticks both boxes.
For the past couple weeks I’ve been testing the hooded jacket around town, from trips by bike to the climbing gym to morning jogs and daytime grocery runs. Beyond simply being constantly surprised by how soft and comfy the midweight jacket is, the benefits of the clever and visually interesting body mapping design are clear. It's lightweight, yet warm, with three different weights of synthetic insulation arranged to help regulate body temperature—a crucial combination for the fluctuating weather in NYC and nearby mountain environments—and provide warmth where you need it most and avoid excessive heat in areas where you don’t.