Review: The Melanzana Microgrid Fleece Hoodie
Greetings!
Here at Hike The Planet, we love gear. We love to research brands and all the awesome offerings they have to enhance our outdoor experience-brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia, and more. These are all big brands with a well established reputation for making quality goods, and deservedly so. But what most people seem to overlook are the little people. The small Mom and Pop shops who may garner a small regional following, but have big dreams, and even bigger hearts. There are a handful manufacturers like these, and frankly, many deserve more recognition for the fine, high quality products they produce. One such company is an outfitter called Melanzana, and we’re about to see what they’re all about with a juicy Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie Review!
Melanzana: Who They Are
Melanzana is a small company operating out of Leadville, Colorado. They are a 20 person shop, with all of their products made by hand. Though I have never personally visited their shop, I am told that they do all of their manufacturing in the same building as their brick and mortar store. When you walk in, you can see all of their employees sewing away. I think that’s pretty cool. They also send you a personal, handwritten note whenever you buy one of their products. Now that is really cool!
Melanzana gets their name from the Italian word for Eggplant. Though it seems like a random name, it is really a joking parody of popular, big name gear brands named after far off exotic mountain destinations. Though of course friendly in nature, it is this tongue in cheek, down-to-earth attitude that comes in welcome contrast to the melodramatic marketing campaigns that larger brands like to exude.
Melanzana makes a variety of products, but their most popular item by far is their Microgrid Fleece Hoodie. They also make dresses, beanies, socks, rain jackets and more. I had first learned of this company from a coworker. In the summer, he guides part time on the Arkansas river in Colorado. Being that the Arkansas has its headwaters in Leadville, it’s a popular river guide hangout. I’m told that all the guides sport Melanzana products, and you can easily spot a local guide by the Melanzana logo sewn into their clothing. In this instance, he was wearing his microgrid fleece, and I was very impressed by not only the quality, but also how dang comfy it looked. With my interest piqued, I decided to try them out.
The Microgrid Fleece
Luckily, I was already in the market for a new fleece. With Winter looming on the horizon, I wanted to perfect my layering system. The two top contenders were the Patagonia R3, and the Arcteryx Fortrez Hoodie. Though both solid choices, I decided that the price for both was a little too steep. Ever the cheapskate, I continued my hunt for the perfect balance of quality, and price.
Related: Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie vs. The Patagonia R1
The first thing I wanna say about the Microgrid fleece is the astounding build quality. At first glance, it is obvious that it is made from quality materials. And as it turns out, it’s not the cheap fleece you might buy at your local crafts store. Turns out, it is Polartec fleece-the very same found in products from the big name companies. It is also locally sourced in the United States. With the materials, labor, and headquarters all being in the United States, you can feel good about nearly all the money spent on their products staying in the United States. How great is that?
However, lets resume with the review shall we? If you don’t know, the term microgrid refers to the construction of the fleece. It is made in a “waffle” pattern that maximizes warmth, while minimizing weight. This means that you get a hoodie that is lightweight, packs small, and retains oodles of warmth. The slim nature of it makes it a great midlayer for layering under a shell.
The light make of this fleece makes it breathable, and therefore ideal for aerobic activities. When the temps start dropping, this will serve you well, whether you are hiking, trail running, or climbing. Unfortunately, this also makes for the Hoodie’s one big drawback. The exceptional breathable qualities also mean that there is little to no wind resistance. Thus, the fleece is not ideal as an outer layer.
If I could use one word to describe the features of the hoodie, it would be “minimalist”. While you’ll find other offerings sporting things like thumb holes and chest pockets, the Microgrid Fleece Hoodie merely has a balaclava style hood, and a front “kangaroo pouch” style pocket. The hood includes a cinch that closes the hood over your face, and makes it optimal for keeping nasty weather out. While extra features can be nice, the lack thereof makes this hoodie a great choice for lightweight backpackers, bikepackers, and mountaineers.
However, I think the best thing about this hoodie is the price. Melanzana sells it for a mere $69! This gives you the same lightweight warmth and functionality as fleeces from big brand names, but for a fraction of the price. After shipping and taxes, my total came out to less that $80. If you’re a dirtbag on a budget (like me!) I think this gives this fleece an edge.
Another great thing about the fleece are the colors offered. Melanzana uses either muted, pastel colors, or darker earth tones. One of my pet peeves in the outdoors are seeing bright obnoxious colors interfering with the natural landscape. The big brands are notorious for this. They put out bright yellows and pinks and oranges that detract from the outdoor experience. This is just my opinion, but I believe that outdoor gear should mesh well with the outdoor landscape, and not clash with it. A bonus point is that the modest nature of the microfleece makes it acceptable to wear in an urban environment. It makes going from trail-to-town easy when you don’t have to worry about bright, ugly colors, and an overabundance of zippers clashing its way through the pub.
The Good
- Lightweight, warm, and packable.
- Quality Microfleece construction.
- Muted, nature friendly colors.
- Casual and Comfortable
- Affordable. A steal at only $69!
- Purchase supports a small, U.S. based business.
- Breathable, ideal for aerobic activities.
The Bad:
- Little to no wind resistance.
- Not quite as warm as heavier fleeces.
There you have it. If you want a spectacular, affordable lightweight fleece, look not further that the Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie.
Buy: melanzana.com
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