Melanzana Micro Grid Dress V2
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Member Gear Review Summary (1 rating)
Women's hooded micro grid fleece dress made from Polartec Micro Grid V2 100% recycled polyester, with long sleeves, front kangaroo pocket, and a very fitted mid- to upper-thigh hem, offered in sizes XS–XL and with women’s M averaging 11.3 oz (320 g).
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Although mostly known for their beloved (and highly coveted, in some cases) Micro Grid Hoodies, the Melanzana Micro Grid Dress V2 takes all of the great aspects of the hoodie and converts it into dress form.
Just like the hoodie, the Dress has a large front pocket, is made out of the same materials, and also has a full hood with a cinch drawstring cord. It also has a very fitted cut, so as a petite hiker (5’3″ 105 lbs) with a slim build to begin with, I was surprised when trying on the dress in the Leadville store that I needed a medium, if I wanted it to be large enough to be used as a fleece midlayer.
I have used this fleece on backpacking trips on the North Kaibab Plateau, where lows were in the mid twenties, as well as in the Sky Islands around Tucson, Arizona, where temperatures were near freezing. In both of these situations I have brought a three season, not a winter, backpacking kit, and ran into some snow, including one storm which brought about half an inch overnight. That being said, this dress kept me very warm as I began my hike each day. I loved the fact that the dress cut meant that the fleece went fully over my shorts and leggings. I also got several compliments from other hikers, including some people who exclaimed “Melly makes dresses?”
This being said, I found that I quickly overheated in the fleece when temperatures got above 45 degrees, but when it wasn’t warm enough to just opt for my regular trekking clothes, as someone who has never hiked in just a thermal base layer. Even though Melanzana claims the V2 is more breathable than the V1 (which I have not used), I didn’t find the dress breathable at all. The main drawback to the dress is that it is quite heavy compared to every other piece of clothing in my kit, and also very bulky.
That being said, I’ve mostly taken to using the dress on very cold winter dayhikes, as I have not yet ventured into the world of winter backpacking. I do think that the dress would also be fun to ski or snowshoe in. But overall as someone who is mostly interested in three season backpacking, and may give winter backpacking a chance in the future, I think there are lighter and more versatile options on the market today, that are just as warm as this dress. Even though it is certainly fun to hike in and very gender affirming.
DisclosuresObtained independently: I paid for this product or received it as a personal gift from someone not affiliated with the brand.Backpacking Light affiliation: I work for Backpacking Light in a paid or official capacity (owner/shareholder, employee, contractor, or paid contributor), but I am posting this review as an independent user and its content was not reviewed or directed by others at Backpacking Light.
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