Last summer’s drought came to a dramatic end as Hurricane Helene raced up the western side of the Appalachian Mountains. Watching trees bend and buckle under the force of straight-line winds, I was high and dry in my Kuhl “One Shell” jacket, albeit not sure if there was actually anywhere safe to hide considering the chaos. Just days before, I grabbed the jacket from the package on my way out the door to Red River Scramble; what a way to start testing a new piece of gear. 

In the interest of transparency, after working with them on the Silencr hiking pants, Kuhl reached out to me early last year about reviewing their jacket on the same terms. Like packing an umbrella, that agreement led to the driest summer I can remember; needless to say, all things end, and Helene put emphasis on that dusty summer, soon followed by an unseasonably wet spring. At 5’10”, 180 pounds with a 34″ waist, a size large fit me just right. If I wanted something more form fitting a medium would probably work, but a XL would be a dress on me.

As an Army veteran and motorcyclist, I’ve worn no shortage of “rubber suits” in an attempt to stay warm and dry. Based on that experience, the extremely lightweight and breathable fabric of the One Shell was the first thing that stood out to me. Kuhl says the One Shell is manufactured from a 20-denier mini ripstop fabric with 3 layers of their trademarked “AERO” breathable waterproof membrane and weighs 96 grams per square meter (I unfortunately don’t own a scale smaller enough to test that). Like all waterproof gear that comes through my door, the One Shell received the same test treatment; put on the gear and jump in the shower. Despite standing under the constant flow, water failed to soak through the fabric to sneak through the zippers despite the direct spray.

Rucked up and enjoying the spring rain on a solo walk in the woods, I was again pleasantly surprised to find it was only raining outside my jacket, while not sweltering on the inside which is a more common experience when hefting around a pack whilst battling the elements in a rubber suit. When elevation changes start ramping up, the jacket also has underarm vents to move more air. These vents also zip down to close, ensuring that the zipper start is upstream from falling water. The main closure features a YKK “Aqua-guard” weatherproof zipper including rain gutter and “garages for the zipper pull to prevent water ingress when parked. The main zipper also has reinforced fabric near the chin portion to protect the garment from “high traffic” when adjusting the face cover for ideal comfort. 

It may sound silly, but the hood is my favorite part of this jacket. In my experience, a hood is a useful adornment to a jacket or sweatshirt, but compared to neck gaiters and hats, hoods seldom reign supreme on effectiveness against alternatives, but not on the One Shell. On a windy day, normal hoods are drafty unless you pull the drawstring so tight you can’t see. The One Shell has a 5-panel hood to properly fit your head and neck to keep you dry. When not in use, the hood lays flat over the shoulders but is meant to be pulled into place with a single hand, and can be adjusted with the behind the neck drawstring that leaves your field of view unobstructed. The hood also includes a brim stabilizer to help keep the rain off your face; which turns out to function well in tandem for a ballcap for follically challenged “hat guys” like me. When the rain is coming in sideways, the jacket can be zipped fully closed and pulled above the chin to minimize the spray on your face.

Contrasted with Frogg Toggs and motorcycle rubber suits, the One Shell is loaded with features and classy details. Handwarmer pockets are silky soft on the inside, also featuring water resistant zippers with garages. Inside the left breast of the jacket is a small convenience pocket for keys or a cell phone; held against the chest beneath the waterproof outer layer. There’s a second convenience pocket on the left shoulder; a spot I found best to stash my car keys, again kept safe behind a garaged water-resistant zipper. When it gets breezy, branded and precision cut Velcro wrist closures can be adjusted to keep the damp air out. Each side of the waist has a sewn in elastic drawstrings with some of the smallest and lightest adjusters I’ve seen. Similar to the Kuhl pants, brand logos are crisp and applied judiciously. Lastly, for runners or early morning explorers, zipper pulls, drawstrings, and nylon hooks are reflective to help drivers see you in the dark.

Available in “Harvest” orange, “Raven” black, “Carbon” grey, and “Velocity” blue, the One Shell retails for $329. Contrasted with various options from sporting goods stores, the One Shell is anywhere from a third to triple the price depending on how tight you’re pinching pennies. Budget rain jackets are attainable under $50, and for a concert or random downpour you’ll be glad you have one. That said, lots of budget options are fashionable trash bags not necessarily designed to live in. Considering the molded hood, venting, wrist closures and waist cinch, the One Shell is tailored for activity and motion. There are higher-end competitors from brand names you’ll undoubtedly recognize where the pricing has more parity. In addition to function, longevity, and effectiveness, the One Shell is a functional windbreaker and more “fashionable” than a check-out aisle rain suit; I wear the jacket to work regularly. For whatever it’s worth, my employer’s campus is now 11 buildings… I’m now an all-weather engineer apparently. At any rate, the One Shell checks all the boxes of a rain jacket with a hallmark of literal and proverbial flexibility; it’s an investment but solves multiple problems while being a jacket I want to wear, instead of a rubber duck suit I’m desperate to peel off at the earliest opportunity.