The KÜHL One Shell Review
The KÜHL One Shell is one of many great products from KÜHL and one we’re happy to have tried out over the last few months and to continue wearing into the future. As a full disclosure, we previously partnered with KÜHL to test out some of their gear. We’ve honestly been impressed by their products due to the high-quality construction and ability to withstand our adventures.
Once again, we joined forces with KÜHL to test The One Shell. That said, these are my honest thoughts on the jacket after having worn it for the past four months in both the northern and southern hemispheres (notably Canada, Argentina, and Chile). I’ll revisit this article after sufficient time has passed to offer insights into the long-term durability of the jacket.
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Quick Overview Of The KÜHL One Shell
MSRP: $329.00
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL (See the Size Guide on the product page here)
The KÜHL One Shell is a lightweight, water-resistant, breathable, high-performance outer shell designed with nylon and “poly sylktouch knit advanced” lining. Its comfortable and adjustable fit allows for adequate under-layering and works to keep you dry and comfortable on your hiking (and non-hiking) adventures.
Features Of The KÜHL One Shell That We Love
Lightweight
This shell is lightweight and easily compatible, which is a big positive in my books, especially when trying to travel light, either on multi-day hikes or when traveling to hiking destinations by plane.
It’s also super light to wear, which is great in practically all situations. While hiking, this jacket feels lightweight yet durable enough to withstand changing weather.
Surprisingly Quiet
I was expecting this shell, like my past rain shells, to make a noticeable amount of noise. I actually haven’t even really noticed any noise from the arm movement of this shell throughout my use.
Of course, you will notice it when the hood goes up. But even still, I could never blame the hood of The One Shell for not being able to hear my fellow hikers on the trail (though the Patagonian wind made it impossible in some instances, with or without a hood on).
One Handed Adjustments
The One Shell is designed with “one-handed” underarm vents, hood, and hem adjustments, which I’ve taken tremendous advantage of during guided hikes, where regular stops for adjustment aren’t warranted. This shell is easy to adjust with one hand while the other hand holds the hiking poles, camera, or whatever else you may be carrying (for me, it’s nearly always hiking poles).
Water-Resistant & Breathable
The main selling point of this shell to me is its water resistance. Despite its thinness, it has held up very well.
It’s made with KUHL’s lightest (96 GSM) three-layer premium waterproof/ultra-breathable fabric, which is highly breathable. The breathability comes in handy as the inner layers come off. Combined with the underarm and sleeve vents, this shell can really be dialed in for maximum breathability.
The Inside Pocket
This may seem like a small thing, especially considering The One Shell has several pockets with YKK Aqua-guard weatherproof zippers to keep out wind and water. However, I’ve found myself using the inside breast pocket more than any other, on and off the trail. It’s a relatively small pocket, but it can keep my wallet, hydration tabs, and/or small bottles of insect repellent at arm’s reach.
Our Review Of KÜHL The One Shell
For starters, I think the jacket has great aesthetics. I’m certainly not into fashion, but I like the look of the carbon-coloured option.
The next criterion to note is the fit. I stand 175cm (5’9″) and weigh about 75 kg (165 lbs). The medium size fits nearly perfectly, with ample room to add layers underneath. This comes in handy during longer treks that span varying temperatures, sun exposure, and wind levels, where taking layers on and off is ideal — the shell works superbly as the outer layer throughout such hikes.
The adjustable hood and hem have allowed me to adjust fit (even more than I’ve ever needed to) to accommodate the layers beneath.
So, to me, the jacket feels good and, in my opinion, holds up even in rainy and snowy conditions. It’s both comfortable and effective.
When it comes to durability, I can’t honestly write about the long-term conditions, though The One Shell has held up nicely thus far (about four months) to heavy rain, snow, and wind, along with tight packing in my hiking pack.
It should go without saying that because this is a shell, it’s not designed to be particularly warm. Personally, I’m one of the first to shed layers as I get hiking, and this shell has proven to be more than enough for me, even on freezing hiking days (tested to about -10°C / 14°F). With that, underlaying is made easy with the additional room (again, the medium size is perfect for layering, and I’m 175cm and about 75 kg).
Check out the Size Guide on the product page for yourself!
If we had to be picky and find one flaw with this shell, it would be that it is not made with gore-tex material. As a result, it cannot withstand heavy rain over extended periods of time. However, the waterproofing works great in regular rainfall and even passed the test on a Patagonia snowstorm hike!
That said, I did have some issues over a full day of outdoor work in heavy rain, where water was starting to get through the shell. Of course, because I was working, I was regularly in and out of the pockets, which led to water getting underneath the shell, though the shoulders (which are far from any openings) eventually did have water come through.
But unless you’re planning to be in heavy rainfall and fiddling with items in your pockets for more than 5 hours, you should be fine with The One Shell, from my experience. It’ll keep you dry while still allowing sweat and moisture to escape, helping you stay comfortable throughout whatever activities you wear it for.
On the other hand, this shell is not equipped with DWR (Durable Water Repellent), meaning there is no coating that could dissolve over time. It remains to be seen how well this shell will hold up in the long run, but I anticipate it will fare better than its DWR counterparts.
While we live in Canada, we decided that the true test for this shell would be on our trip to Patagonia (read about our Patagonian hikes here).
To be honest, I was a bit nervous about bringing The One Shell to Patagonia as my only real outer layer. The weather can change rapidly through the day, and we were going to Chile and Argentina at the end of their winter.
I actually ended up making the last-minute decision to bring my winter jacket with me (which was packed at about five times the size of The One Shell, by the way). Thankfully, though, I didn’t need it!
On the first few days of hiking on the Argentinian side of Patagonia, the sun was shining brightly, and I was perfectly comfortable with the shell over either only a T-shirt or a T-shirt and fleece sweater combo. The vents came in handy to help regulate my temperature throughout.
However, when we got to Torres del Paine, our first hike (18 km) was in a wet snowfall. No layers came off that day, and to my delight, the underlayers stayed perfectly dry thanks to The One Shell.
It held up to the winds, though admittedly, we never experienced the summer winds of Patagonia, which often gust as high as 150 km/h! The hood kept my hat and head dry and warm, and the bit of snow and rain that did get in only really did so when I removed the hood.
Upon our arrival back to Eco Camp, The One Shell was quick to dry, drying as fast as the exteriors of my Gore-Tex pants and boots and much faster than my gloves, hat, face shield, and backpack (which was somewhat covered by my waterproof cover).
The One Line has proven itself to be just what hikers need at a reasonable price point. As a matter of fact, Julia has another jacket from this line called The One Jacket.
The One Jacket differs from the shell in that it has exposed insulation for temperature regulation, making it perfect for trekking adventures, trail running, and leisurely walks. The only thing we would change about this jacket is that it does not have a hood, unlike the shell. While it does provide wind and water resistance, you still need to wear an additional layer with a hood to protect yourself in varying weather conditions
