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Grid fleece: it’s all the rage these days. And for good reason. It’s cozy, lightweight, comfortable, wicks sweat, and is perfect for active outdoor pursuits. And yes, it can even be part of a good winter layering strategy.
And if you love outdoor apparel, especially grid fleece, chances are you’ve heard of Melanzana, the small Colorado brand that’s based in Leadville with a cult following. Do they make fun and functional grid fleece? Absolutely. But are they easy to get? Absolutely not. In fact, in order to buy one, you have to make an appointment to visit their store in Leadville in person (those appointments can be competitive and you may wait for months), you’ll be limited in how many items you can buy, and you have to actually be nearby. Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives and, guess what? You can buy them online! We rounded up some of our faves to help you decide which grid fleece is right for you.
What’s the Deal with Grid Fleece, Anyway?
While I can’t speak to why microgrid fleece has become so popular among outdoorists over the last few years (we don’t pretend to know much about fashion trends), I CAN speak to what makes it such a unique material and so well suited to outdoor activity.
So what the heck is microgrid fleece? It’s essentially just what it sounds like: a (usually) synthetic material knitted into a tiny grid pattern. Take a look at the photo above, but it’s fabric that has tiny lofted squares separated by thinner sections of more breathable fabric. And what it does is pretty cool.
See, what research has found is that a pattern like this with peaks and valleys creates an article of clothing that’s a delightful balance of breathability, warmth, and light weight. A full fleece is super warm, but not very breathable. A shirt that’s just one even layer is breathable, but not very warm. A grid fleece is a happy medium, offering warmth but also plenty of breathability.
It’s also great at wicking sweat. See, those little raised squares do more than look good; because they have an increased surface area compared to a smooth, flat fabric, they actually take moisture like sweat from the inside of the shirt and wick it away fast, helping that moisture dry quicker than it would from a thicker, even layer.
Basically, it helps regulate your body temperature by wicking moisture and transferring it to the outside of the material for faster evaporation. The channels between not only increase breathability, but reduce bulk, too, making it an extremely packable layer. And when paired with a windproof jacket, those channels can trap more heat than smooth fabrics, helping you feel a bit warmer (at least when compared to a similar weight standard fleece, that is).
Squak Fleece Mid-Layer Grid Hoodie: The Active Microgrid
Not gonna lie, when we first got our hands on a pair of Squak grid fleece hoodies, we couldn’t believe how nice they were considering the price. Because Squak, which is based here in Utah, makes some of the most affordable grid fleece on the market, sometimes by a pretty hefty margin. But that doesn’t mean they cut corners when it comes to quality.
On the contrary, the fabric is stupid soft, available in a wide range of solid colors, and has all the bells and whistles you expect on a grid fleece. That includes a cinch-able hood with a metal (gasp!) pinch lock, a kangaroo pocket, even thumb holes. Seems look as clean and well stitched as we’d expect from a fleece twice the price and the hoodies were delightfully stretchy and fit beautifully.
Speaking of fit, we did both size up because Squak designs their grid fleece with a more fitted look in mind and we like ours just a touch on the roomy side. Josh wore a large and I wore a small. That turned out to be the perfect decision because we never want to take them off. The only downside: the thumbholes on the women’s version are a little snug. Both men’s and women’s styles were on the boxy (not curved or tapered) side, which I prefer, and the hem is the same width as the body. The sleeves? Plenty long, even for folks with long arms, and they’re more fitted than some of the other options.
As for performance, they kept us plenty warm when paired with a base layer on a sunny winter hike and a cloudy uphill slog when temps hovered near freezing. A light breeze helped keep us from sweating too much. They also kept the cold at bay in the same conditions when layered under and insulated jacket while skiing. We never once complained about the cold.
Use code TERRADRIFT for 15% off your order!
Sizing: Women’s: XS – XXL. Men’s: S – XXXL.
How it’s sustainable: Squak is a small basement-run brand based in Utah. The hoodie is PFAS-free.
Pros
- Lots of colors available
- Stretchy
- Adjustable hood
- Kangaroo pockets
- Soft exterior
- Smooth interior good for layering over a base layer
Cons
- Small thumb holes on women’s version
Sambob Microgrid Hoodie: The Customizable Cozy
When we first tried on the Sambob Hoodie, we immediately knew we had found our new favorite cozy loungewear and warm midlayer. Not only was the fabric super soft to the touch on the outside (the softest we tested), but it was also brushed and soft on the inside, which made for a layer we never wanted to take off, inside or out. It was also the warmest we tested. On a sunny hike with temps near freezing, we were plenty warm in just a thin baselayer and the hoody on an easy hike. When the wind picked up, a light jacket was all we needed to block the wind and keep us from feeling the chill. On colder days or in the wind, pulling up and cinching the hood kept our faces plenty warm.
We also love the color options. There are limited colors available and they seem to vary season to season, but that’s because Sambob uses mostly offcuts and fabric that was rejected by whoever purchased it originally. That doesn’t necessarily mean it was destined for the landfill, but considering the amount of waste in the apparel industry, we wouldn’t be surprised. But Sambob takes it and puts it to use crafting funky color-blocked grid fleece that’s truly unique. You can get solid colors, of course, but the house speciality is a bright mixture of hues.
But you can also custom design your own hoodie! Yes, it costs extra to pick out your own colors and blocking, but if you’ve got the cash, customization tends to encourage you to keep your clothing in play longer, take care of it better, and not attempt to replace it before it’s ready to be retired for good. Also: it’s fun! The brand even launched cozy matching grid fleece pants to go with your hoodie and we couldn’t be more obsessed. We’ve been wearing them around the house and under our ski pants.
As for fit, the hoodies run large, so don’t be tempted to size up if you plan on layering. I found that an XS in the narrow fit was plenty roomy enough in the body and arms. In fact, it has a very relaxed fit that borders on baggy, which I really liked. We loved the wide cuffs and kangaroo pocket on the hoodie, but there are no thumb holes. Honestly, though, that’s not a deal breaker. What I found more important is that the hood has an adjustable bungee, plus it lays more like a cowl when not in use. And yes, the pants have pockets, too.
The hoodie and matching pants may be my favorite new loungewear, aprés ski wear (or under-skiwear), and cool weather midlayer. the pants and hoody wear just as well on their own as under a shell or snowboard jacket or over a fitted baselayer.
Sizing: Unisex: XS – XL in wide and narrow fits.
How it’s sustainable: Handmade in Maine, USA using rejected fabrics.
Pros
- Soft
- Warm
- Available in lots of colors
- Customizable
Cons
- Expensive
SkyGOAT CAMP Hoodie: Best of Both Worlds
Warm, comfy, breathable and built for action, The SkyGOAT CAMP Hoodie was one of our faves thanks to a soft brushed interior, light weight, and variations with zippers. And that balance of comfort and functionality is on purpose: SkyGOAT worked with a fabric mill to design their own custom fabric, so you aren’t likely to find it anywhere else. It’s even made of recycled materials.
In addition to grid fleece hoodies, SkyGOAT also offers half-zips, zip-ups, and quarter-zips with hoods in limited colors. Usually with different colored sleeves and zippers. And the leftover fabric? It gets put to use in hats, gloves and other accessories to reduce waste. The inside is a nice, soft brushed texture for extra coziness, but isn’t quite as breathable as other options (which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you’re looking for). The inside of the hood is brushed, too, but doesn’t feature a bungee for adjustability, and the inside of the kangaroo pocket is lined, which makes it feel more durable and high-quality. The hem is a bit more snug than the body of the sweater so creates a sort of tufted look (at least on the women’s).
While it may not wick sweat AS efficiently as other options, it felt slightly warmer when wearing it as a base layer or directly against our skin. That brushed softness did mean it didn’t slide over base layers quite as well, though.
As for sizing, fit is moderately athletic, but on the roomy side, so Josh wore a medium and I wore an extra small. The women’s fit is designed and cut with more room in the chest, so may fit better on those with more curves in that department. The sleeves are plenty long (with thumb holes!), but those with longer than average arms may feel just the slightest tug under the arms when reaching and utilizing the thumb holes. The sleeves have a looser fit.
On a chilly but sunny winter day when temps were near freezing, they kept us warm when layered with an insulated jacket while snowboarding. When we hiked uphill, we paired them with a base layer and found they kept us warm but not too sweaty. This was Josh’s favorite hoodie of the bunch.
Use code terradrift20 for 20% off your order!
Sizing: Women’s: XS – XXL. Men’s: XS – XXXL plus tall versions.
How it’s sustainable: Made of recycled materials by a small USA brand that’s a 1% for the Planet member. They also epicycle scraps and off-cuts into accessories like hats and gloves to reduce waste.
Pros
- Made of recycled materials
- Multiple styles available
- Soft interior
- Stretchy
- Kangaroo pockets
Cons
- Fewer colors available
Other Grid-Like Fleece
There are plenty of brands who make active fleece layers that are grid-fleece adjacent and are meant to perform similarly (in case you don’t love the grid fleece look or prefer to head to REI and buy something off the rack.
- Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover: Of course Patagonia has their own version of grid fleece. This one features a zig-zag pattern and is as cozy as it is ready for active pursuits.
- Rab Ascender Light Pullover: More technical than cozy, this layer wicks sweat and dries fast, plus looks timeless and sleek doing it.
- Otero Fleece Half-Zip Pullover: This performance fleece is meant to be fitted and functional, plus is made of recycled materials by a social responsible brand.
Bottom Line
There’s a grid fleece for everybody and every activity. Pick your favorite, wash it in a bag that reduces microplastics (fleece is notorious for shedding microplastics), and take care of it so it lasts for years to come.
Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com