Kühl Spyfire® Parka Review

I recently got sent a Kühl Spyfire Parka for a review and I honestly have to say I love it! It’s such a fantastic jacket for the cooler months in Seattle and I absolutely love that it covers the butt and upper thighs which is essential for staying fully warm on daily walks and even short hikes. Here’s the breakdown:

Warmth

I’d give the Kühl Spyfire Parka a 5/5 on warmth because it holds up to all my other warm winter jackets, especially with the length of the jacket as a parka. I’ve never had a parka previously and I have noticed that it helps hold my core warmth much better than a typical jacket. It’s a pretty thin jacket for a down jacket and doesn’t feel bulky at all, which is why I was surprised by how warm it kept me. With the 800 down fill, the Spyfire Parka is one of the best jackets out there for ultra light warmth. I also really liked that the wrists have an internal soft knit cuff that really keeps the heat in.

Fit and Comfort

For fit and comfort, I would give the Kühl Spyfire Parka a 4/5. While the parka length is wonderful for warmth, it can be a bit awkward at times. Overall it is quite comfortable to use and mobility is relatively quite good for flat walks. But with the restriction in the legs due to the length of the parka, stairs and steeper terrain requires a bit more effort to maneuver with the jacket. The only major drawback is, again, only due to the parka length. Starting the zipper from the bottom of the jacket is difficult when it’s further down than a normal jacket, but the zipper does zip wonderfully once it gets started. In terms of comfort and fabric material, somehow the jacket has a very soft feel to it despite being made out of nylon

Durability

I would also give the durability a 4/5 for the Kühl Spyfire Parka because it’s not fully waterproof, which is essential in Seattle or PNW weather. However, it does have a water resistant finish, which still makes this parka perfect for the light misting we often get in Seattle. Otherwise, I think it has been a great jacket to wear around town and even on light hiking excursions.

Functionality

I love all the details in the Kühl Spyfire Parka so I’d definitely give it a 5/5. There’s two perfect pockets at the right position for your hands to hang lower than other jackets would allow. It’s even got a sleeve pocket and inner jacket pocket to secure smaller items and leave your side pockets free for the hands. I thought it was essential that the zippers worked in both directions and you could even belay in this jacket while keeping your butt warm. The hood is also the perfect shape where it doesn’t fall back down easy, which is the downfall of many other hooded jackets. It’s great for the coldest days when you want to keep your head warm but forgot your hat.

Bonus, they have 10 different colors to choose from with 5 new colors for 2025! Mine is the mineral blue. And if you don’t love the parka style, this jacket comes in 4 versions – parka, hooded jacket, no hood jacket, and a vest. So take your pick and find your favorite!

Note: Gifted from Kühl, MSRP $339