Kuhl Stretch Voyagr: Best Rain Jacket for Windy Storms

Just about every day, it seems, Matador editors get hit with an email announcing a new outdoor gear or clothing brand. Each promises the same things – innovative design, an improvement on the standard – and there are occasions when that’s true. But in our experience, it’s often the outdoor-specific brands that have been through enough product cycles to test, re-test, and improve their stuff that make a better option for both rugged and recreational outdoor use. Outdoor clothing and gear options for women, in particular, have increased in recent years, but time-tested brands like Kuhl have remained committed to having ample choices for both genders – a strong point for the legacy brand despite all the newer players in the outdoor gear scene. I tested the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr rain jacket on several rainy hikes and travel days to see how it stacks up against other major players like Patagonia. For $179, it’s hard to beat.

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Buy Now – Men’s

Buy Now – Women’s

How the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr stacks up to the brand’s promise

Photo courtesy Kuhl

Kuhl claims the jacket is “So soft, quiet and light, you’ll wear it when it’s not raining.” It hasn’t convinced me to do that. Not that it isn’t worthy, I just don’t see the reason why anyone would wear a rain jacket if it’s not raining or, at the very least, exceptionally windy. The brand is spot on about the “soft, quiet and light” parts though. This is a jacket you could lay over yourself when napping in the car or while camping on a crisp summer night at altitude and feel as though you had a thin blanket on – albeit one that only covers down to your torso.

Rain jackets tend to produce a “swishing” sound upon walking that’s not unlike the infamous sound of the puffy jacket. The Kuhl Stretch Voyagr keeps that noise to a minimum, which I appreciate. When making my way down a trail I tend to either repeat a catchy song hook over and over in my head or fall down a rabbit hole of deep thought on a random topic I hadn’t expected to become so tendered toward but am glad I took the time to mentally work my way through, and I don’t want a repetitive noise disrupting these processes. The “swish” is there, but it’s not audible over conversation nor is it overwhelming.

I also came to appreciate how light the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr is. I keep the jacket rolled up in the bottom of my hiking pack when not in use, and tend to forget it’s there until I need it. It’s very breathable, to the point that when wearing it during a brief rainstorm on an otherwise 90-degree summer day, I didn’t sweat profusely and felt quite comfortable.

Most notably, the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr covers part of the face when tightened, which is incredible when the wind picks up. It’s become my go-to for hikes on windy days, or if I’m bike commuting in the rain.

Little things I appreciate about the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr

Photo courtesy Kuhl

This may seem superlative, but I really like the color schemes offered for the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr. I went with Soft Pine, and the sort-of-light-olive-green shade actually matches well with just about everything I wear on the trail. Black pants or leggings match well, any darker colored shorts match well, and even the trucker-style hats I tend to wear in the outdoors look good with the jacket. Its quite versatile in that sense.

Also, I went with a size L and still don’t feel like I’m drowning in the jacket. I like a rain jacket to fall below the waist, and I don’t have a perfectly flat stomach, so I’m loathe to go with a S or M even though I’m 5’7”. But I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered clothing or gear in a larger size only for it to be way too big. Note this, though – it does run smaller than a large size from some other brands, which works for me but may not for you.

Wearing the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr on general rainy days – as opposed to trail days – also proved to be a win for me. As I noted, the Soft Pine color I chose goes well with my “Colorado casual” wardrobe. It’s also soft and flexible enough that routine stuff like getting in and out of the car, moving through the office or grocery store, or lounging over happy hour were enjoyable with the jacket on.

What I’d change about the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr

Photo courtesy Kuhl

The first thing I’d do differently on a redesign of the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr would be to make the hood a bit wider. It fits over my head well even with a jacket, but I had trouble getting it over a bike helmet without feeling added pressure. The other thing is more of a personal tick, but the softness of the jacket makes me worried about it tearing should I hook it on a branch or something sharp like that.

When compared to other rain jackets, the Kuhl Stretch Voyagr excels in terms of breathability, general comfort, and style. I’d say it’s on par with major brands for performance during various intensities of rainfall – I always stayed dry – and I’ve replaced my prior rain jacket, from Patagonia, with this one. I recommend it if you like a jacket that’s size caters smaller than most and that matches well not only with general “outdoorsy” style but also with typical street clothes.

Buy Now – Men’s

Buy Now – Women’s