Kuhl Alfpaca Fleece

The premium technical-and-stylish pick — a distinctive, especially soft alpaca-inspired plush fleece with a flattering, more fitted cut and premium detailing, for someone who wants standout fabric and looks. Premium-priced and more about style and fabric luxury than technical layering, but it stands out from the ubiquitous rivals.

The Kühl Alfpaca is the premium technical-and-stylish pick for someone who wants standout fabric, a flattering fit, and a more design-forward look. Kühl is known for distinctive, plush, high-quality fleece fabrics — the Alfpaca line uses an especially soft, alpaca-inspired pile — with thoughtful tailoring, a more fitted and stylish cut than boxy traditional fleeces, and premium detailing. It's warm, soft, and notably good-looking, positioned as a fleece you wear because you like how it looks and feels as much as for warmth. It's a premium price like the Patagonia and more about fabric luxury and style than technical layering performance, but for someone who wants a distinctive, flattering, plush fleece that stands out from the ubiquitous Patagonia and North Face, it's the standout. The fitted cut and plush fabric make it a fashion-forward choice rather than a pure performance layer.

▶ Video review

2015 Kuhl Women's Flight Fleece Jacket Review by Peter Glenn