The Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie vs. the Patagonia R1 Product Comparison
Table of Contents
Update 8/8/18: Due to high demand, Melanzana is not currently taking any online orders. Their products can only be purchased in their Leadville Store, or used on the internet.
Anyone who spends time outdoors should invest in a lightweight, breathe able microgrid fleece. It is one of the most versatile pieces of outerwear one can buy. On a cold day, a microgrid can be used as a baselayer. It can be combined with a shell for a warm mid layer, and their lightweight design makes them ideal for backpacking, climbing, skiing, and any sport that demands freedom of mobility. I love my microgrid fleece. I take it with me wherever I go, wearing it frequently in all sort of conditions.
While there are many lightweight fleece options available, the two most popular offerings these days seem to be the Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie, and the Patagonia R1. These fleeces are so popular, in fact, that there seems to be some conflict over which fleece is superior. I have experience using both fleeces, and I hope that by lending my opinion, I can help guide folks to the fleece that is best for them.
Comparison at a Glance
| Fleece | Picture | Hood? | Full Zipper? | Thumb Holes | Material | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie |  | Yes | No | No | 100% Polyester, Grid Pattern | melanzana | eBay | |
| Patagonia R1 Fleece |  | Yes | Yes | Yes | Polartec Power Grid (93% recycled polyester, 7% spandex) | Patagonia R1 Full Zip on Backcountry.com Patagonia R1 Full Zip Hoodie at REI | |
Both of these hoodies are comfortable and lightweight. It comes down to price and form fitting preference.
Melanzana
Melanzana is a small rapidly growing cottage manufacturer based out of Leadville, CO. The name Melanzana means ‘Eggplant’ in Italian. This name was chosen as a defiant gesture towards the trend of naming gear companies after exotic mountaineering locales. They may think they’re clever, but the name sticks. It is simple, wholesome, and stands out. Melanzana manufactures a host of outdoor technical clothing. By far, their most popular item is their Microgrid Hoodie.
Melanzana has made a name for themselves in Colorado. Supposedly, people all over the Colorado Front Range are sporting Melanzana products. During my JMT thru hike this summer, I met many PCT hikers who owned Melanzana microgrids. The Melanzana Microgrid seems to have a dedicated, cult following-the sort not seen by big name gear companies.
Patagonia
Patagonia is a giant in the world of outdoor clothing and activewear. Based in Ventura, California, Patagonia makes expensive clothes for people who like to do stuff outdoors. They use sustainably sourced materials in their products, and design and market them with the welfare of both humanity and the planet in mind. The company was founded some time ago by the famed Yvon Chouinard-a rock climber, surfer, and fly fisherman. With a name like his, you’d think he’d be a classical French alpinist. But no, Chouinard is just a boring old American.
Patagonia is a trusted name in the world of outdoor clothing and gear. You can find their recognizable logo pasted upon everything from Frat Boy trucker hats, to garish duffel bags. Most of their stuff is regarded to be of high quality, and have thuse earned a solid reputation.
Patagonia R1
The Patagonia R1 is the lightest weight option in the Patagonia Regulator line of fleeces. The Regulator line differs from other Patagonia fleece offerings, in that they are designed to be lightweight, compressible, and moisture wicking. Other fleeces that Patagonia offers, such as the Synchilla line, are designed as casual wear.
The R1 is arguably the most versatile of the Regulator line. It is the lightest, most breathable, and offers the most mobility. The R2 is heavier, offering more pockets, and a full zip. The R3 is basically an R2, with an added hood. Both models sport a similar microgrid fleece material to support breathability and reduce weight.
Update January 2020-It appears that Patagonia has dropped the R3 Fleece from their product catalog altogether. To make up for it, they’ve added a hood to the R2.
The R1 is probably the most popular Patagonia fleece. On any given day at the crag, or on the slopes, many folks can be seen with an R1. Its design makes it easy to layer, dropping bulk in favor of a sleek fit.
The R1 comes in a few different varieties. It can be purchased with or without a hood, and offers pullover, 1/4 zip, and half zip options. The hood conforms to the head snugly, making it a breeze to fit under a helmet. An R1 only offers a zip breast pocket, with nowhere to shove your hands on a cold day. Sporting thumb holes, Patagonia’s R1 is designed to make layering easy.
Patagonia R1 Alternatives
Though the R1 is a quality fleece, some users may be scared away by the high price tag, or they might find that it does not fit very well. The Melanzana Microgrid is a fair alternative, but hindered by availability issues. Here are a few fleeces similar to the Patagonia R1 that you may find more suitable.
- Eddie Bauer First Ascent High Route Grid Fleece Half Zip Hoodie (Mens | Womens)-Also available with no hood, and full zip options, the High Route Grid Fleece Hoody is clearly modeled after the R1. It features a similar fit, materials, and features, but can be found for half the cost. I had a chance to try one on, and it was hard to distinguish from an R1. For reference, the men’s medium fit my 6’1″ frame well. Check it out!
Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie-“The Melly”
I have already raved about the Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie in my Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie Review.
Known as “The Melly”, the Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie is a wonderful piece of gear. It is lightweight, packable, moisture wicking, and a great budget option. It is probably my favorite piece of outdoor gear, and has served me well while multipitch climbing, backpacking, and whitewater rafting.
Weight
By weight, I will be referencing the specs for the Large Mens sizes on the manufacturers website. There is no clear winner here. Both the Patagonia R1 and the Melanzana Micro Grid weigh about 12.5 oz. This is a pretty good weight for a warm, insulating layer, and the best for a fleece.
The R1 is just slightly lighter, but not light enough to make a real difference for climbers or backpackers. The women’s sizes are a few ounces lighter. If you’re a dude, and you don’t mind the women’s fit and colors, consider picking up a women’s size to save weight.
Warmth
On its own, no fleece with microgrid construction will be very warm. In fact, a microgrid fleece is probably one of the least weather resistant pieces of outerwear. Wind will cut right through, meaning that they can only effectively be used as an outerlayer on a calm day.
These fleeces shine as part of a layering system. Between a shell and a baselayer, microgrid fleeces provide plenty of warmth, while still allowing for freedom of movement. By this measure, both the Melanzana Microgrid, and the Patagonia R1 excel.
I will say that the Patagonia R1 has a slight edge in this category. The R1 is made with a tighter knit, quasi-hard face construction, not too dissimilar from the Arc’teryx Fortrez. This allows for slightly more wind resistance as compared to the Melanzana. Truthfully though, neither of these fleeces are designed to be used as outer layers. With few exceptions, use these fleeces to add warmth beneath a shell.
Fit
Perhaps the biggest difference between the Patagonia R1 and the Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie (besides the price) is the fit. The difference in fit between these two fleeces is like comparing apples to oranges. It reflects the thought process that went into the design of these respective fleeces, and the motivations of their manufacturers.
The Patagonia R1 seems to have been thought up with the mountain athlete in mind. Every aspect of its fit and design was made for the 21st century weekend warrior. An R1 hugs your upper body like a glove. It felt like a very lightweight wet suit (don’t take it SCUBA diving), and it features a snug balaclava hood that fits under a helmet. It is meant for layering, and seems to have a more athletic cut than other Patagonia clothing.
The Melanzana occupies the other end of the spectrum. The micro grid hoodie is a loose, boxy fit. Its hood does not fit quite as snug as the R1, and the kangaroo pocket can feel bulky at times. By all metrics, this fit is less adept for outdoor activities. Yet, I prefer it.
When I don my melanzana, its as if I have created a cozy force field between myself, and the world around me. Wearing it is the outerwear equivalent of being seated next to the fireplace at your local Cracker Barrel, and digging into a chicken fried chicken plate. Outside, the winter’s first snow falls to the earth on a sunday morning. It reminds me of coziness, warmth, and comfort. The Patagonia R1 does not. I’d choose this over the clinical, sterile feeling R1 any day.
Layering
If one word can be used to describe either of these fleeces, “layerable” would be it. Well, if layerable was a real word, anyways. Both the Patagonia R1, and the Melanzana Microgrid are ideal Layering pieces.
Sometimes, puffy down jackets get old. When they do, I’ve found my Melanzana to be the perfect midlayer. In the windy, frigid conditions of a Northern Arizona winter, I will throw my Melanzana over a light baselayer, and underneath a Softshell, such as an Outdoor Research Ferrosi. I’d feel comfortable in this get up whether I’m out on the town, cragging, hiking, or high up on a multi-pitch.
The R1 does an equally fine job as a midlayer, although it has no problem pulling double duty as a baselayer. The Patagonia R1 is a little more versatile in the layering category, making it a slightly better contender.
Durability
I found both of these fleeces to be durable enough. Both have been pulled through the proverbial ringer. After months of use, few signs of wear are visible. The durability of these fleeces is the last thing to worry about when buying. These are trusty articles that can be counted on.
Admittedly, my Melanzana has suffered some damage. An errant spark from a campfire floated onto the sleeve, burning a small hole. This doesn’t really bother me, as it does nothing to the performance of the fleece. It is merely a cosmetic issue.
My gripe about the lack of thumb holes seemed to have solved itself. I put on my Microgrid one day to find that a hole had worn into one of the wrists. I would have preferred that this feature be included, rather than a product of wear and tear. My Melanzana isn’t falling apart. It’s just well loved.
Price
The Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie is a clear winner in this category. The final cost for a Melanzana Microgrid, purchased new, comes out to a walloping $69. But you may retort “Well I’m just a cheap dirtbag. I can’t afford to drop that kind of coin on a sweater! I need to save up for my next trip to Chamonix!”
$69 may seem like a good chuck of change, understand that the Patagonia R1 retails for $169, and you’ll see that the Melanzana Microgrid is clearly the better value. It is the budget option, yes, but it is arguably equal to the Patagonia R1 in design, construction, and warmth.
I take comfort in the fact that, if anything was to happen to my beloved Melanzana Microgrid Fleece, my wallet wouldn’t suffer too much if I wanted to replace it. Even though I am a poor, budget minded college student, I have toyed with the idea of purchasing a second Melanzana Micro Grid to compliment my first one. Why? Because I am a consumerist glutton. Although, that might not be as realistic if I have to drive all the way to Leadville to get a new Melly.
Although, Patagonia does offer a wonderful warranty on all of its products. They will repair or replace any damaged Patagonia product for free. Still, the initial price tag makes me want to treat their gear more carefully, even though my preferred outdoor activities are demanding on gear.
Availability
The Micro Grid suffers in this category, in that Melanzana is a cottage industry manufacturer. They need to match their manufacturing capabilities with the intense popularity of the Micro Grid Hoodie, and they often struggle in keeping up with the demand.
They do not have the logistics and infrastructure of a larger manufacturer, and they make everything by hand in a small building in Colorado. Needless to say, their sweaters sell out fast. The past few years have seen a meteoric rise in Melanzana’s popularity, and they’ve been unable to keep up with the demand. As such, they no longer sell online. New fleeces are only available in their Leadville retail store.
Patagonia can produce as many R1’s as they want, whenever they want. If you wanted to buy one, you could do so anytime. This gives Patagonia and other large companies a clear advantage over Melanzana. Looking back, I think that I was lucky to be able to purchase a brand new Melanzana Micro Grid. If you’re looking for a new fleece right at this instance, go with the Patagonia. Otherwise, you may be stuck waiting.
Melanzana Microgrid Fleece Alternatives
Melly’s are hard to come by these days. Unless you stop by the shop in Leadville, buying a used microgrid online will cost you extra. Fortunately, there are similar lightweight fleeces available that present viable alternatives.
- Ragged Mountain Stretch Grid Hoody II (Link)-Similar is design to the Melanzana, Ragged Mountain’s Stretch Grid Hoody II has become a favorite alternative during the Melly shortage. Designed and sewn by Ragged Mountain, a New Hampshire based cottage gear company, the Stretch Grid Hoody II has a few, clear advantages over the Melanzana. For one, it is about 5 ounces lighter, comes with thumb holes, and features a quarter zip. I haven’t had a chance to try one out, but, online reports indicate that Ragged Mountain’s Fleece is more slim fitting than the Melanzana.
- Old Navy Go-Warm Thermal Knit Pullover Hoodie-Old Navy certainly isn’t the name that comes to mind when you think of outdoor technical wear. Yet, I picked up the Go-Warm Thermal Knit pullover hoodie on a whim. I must say-I am very impressed by this sweater. The material feels somewhat abrasion resistant, similar to the R1, and a balaclava hood, thumb holes, and slim fit give it clear advantages over the Melanzana. It’s also ridiculously cheap. That said, fast fashion enters and leaves stores quickly, so I can’t guarantee how long this fleece will be available. Fortunately, there are about a million other cheap, grid fleeces on the market.
- Outdoor Research Trail Mix Jacket-Disclaimer: I haven’t tried out this hoody, but it seems to closely resemble the Melanzana. The Trail Mix uses a similar grid fleece material, and looks to use a similar stitching patter. The marketing copy on Outdoor Research’s website looks like it was ripped straight from several popular online reviews of the Melanzana Microgrid Fleece (cough, cough). This hoody looks interesting, admitted. I may try it out in the future.
The Winner for Best Fleece?
It’s a tough call to choose between these fleeces. Each are quality pieces of gear from respected companies. It seems that the Patagonia R1 has a sight edge over the Melanzana in nearly every category.
Despite that, I’ll have to go with the Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie. The simple design, durability, humble origins, and easy price tag win over my heart. I must say that I absolutely adore mine. I have owned it for only a year, but I have grown attached to it. It is like a second skin, following me wherever I go. As soon as the weather starts turning nasty, I throw it on and I am immediately more comfortable.
With all my fawning over Melanzana, you may think that I am being paid by them. But no, I am not. I simply just love their products, and respect them for what they are. But don’t get me wrong. The Patagonia R1 is a stellar product as well. It is durable, packable, lighter than the Melanzana, and comes with a kick butt warranty. Just about every hiker, cimber, and skiier I know owns one, and they love them. And deservedly so, because it is a quality product.
- The Best Campsites Around Big Bear California - February 26, 2021
- Hiking to the Hollywood Sign Via the Brush Canyon Trail - July 13, 2020
- Dirt Cheap Hiking and Backpacking Gear: The Most Affordable Gear on the Internet - July 4, 2020