App Gear Co v Melanzana v Smartwool
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ส.ค. 2024
- If you have been backpacking awhile, you have probably heard of the alpaca hoodie from Appalachian Gear Company, the Melanzana (Melly), and Smartwool merino wool. They have a lot of hype and aren't cheap. Do they live up to the hype? Are they worth the money? Which one is the best hoodie? In this video, I explore all of those questions.
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Appalachian Gear Company
appalachiangearcompany.com
Melanzana
melanzana.com
Smartwool
www.smartwool.com
Gear I frequently Use:
Backpack - Waymark Ultra 38L EVLV and Waymark Framed Thru 40L
waymarkgearco.com
Hammock - Warbonnet Ridgerunner -
www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Rain Fly - 13' Warbonnet Thunder Fly and Mountain Fly-
www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Tent - Zpacks Duplex -
zpacks.com/products/duplex-tent
Top Quilts-
UGQ Outdoors 20 Degree Bandit -
ugqoutdoor.com/top-quilts/ban...
Hammock Gear O, 20, and 40 Degree Burrows-
hammockgear.com
Under Quilts-
Warbonnet Outdoors 40 Degree Lynx Underquilt
www.warbonnetoutdoors.com
Loco Libre 20 and -20 Degree Ridge Reapers with 900 - fill power goose down - www.locolibregear.com
Garmin In-Reach Mini Communicator
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MSR Mini Groundhog Stakes -
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Underwood Graphics Maps-
www.ugeographics.com/
Brooks Cascadia 15 Trail Runners -
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Anker Power Banks -
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Nitecore NU25 Headlamp -
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Hilltop Packs Custom Printed Food Bag and Custom Printed Dual Pocket Gadget Bag -
www.hilltoppacks.com/#/
REI Magma 850 Hooded Down Jacket (seasonal) -
www.rei.com
Sea to Summit Compression Dry Sack
www.rei.com/product/867058/se...
Cascade Mountain Tech Hiking Poles-
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Toaks 550ML Cook Pot-
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Fancy Feast Stove-
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Toaks Long Handle Spoon
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REI Rainpants -
www.rei.com/product/137186/re...
Enlightened Equiptment Visp Rain Jacket -
enlightenedequipment.com/mens...
Sealskinz Waterproof Socks -
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CNOC 2 Liter Water Bag -
currently unavailable
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter -
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Sit Pad -
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Camera- iphone 12 Pro Max
External Microphone - Shure AMV88-
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Ultrapod Lightweight Camera Tripod-
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Noxgear39g Bluetooth Speaker -
www.noxgear.com/39g
Pump-
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Peak Refuel Freeze Dried Meals (Used BCE15 Discount Code for 15% off)
peakrefuel.com/
Down Socks-
www.garagegrowngear.com/produ...
Water Proof Gloves-
www.go2marine.com/showa-282-t...
Lite AF Fanny Pack-
liteaf.com/product/fanny-pack/
Permethrin-
www.thetickterminator.com
#AppGearCo #melanzana #merinowool
Love a good hoody. My favorite winter time one is by Lightheart Gear (very similar to the Melly but actually available online to order) - mine is her fleece dress hoody. It's probably my favorite winter piece of gear. For 3 season use ... I recently picked up a FarPointe Alpha hoody ... I'm trying it for the first time this weekend (it's the 90gsm one). But I've used their Alpha camp pants the last two trips - they're 4oz and absolutely warm & cozy (if it's windy - throw on a pair of rain pants over them though as wind cuts through it pretty easily). I'd tried wool in the past and besides finding it itchy ... it also just didn't feel warm to me. The Lightheart fleece hoody (not the dress) is great but at 10oz is on the heavier side (but it is very warm!). There's alot of other companies now doing fleeces ... SkyGoat, Senchi Designs, FarPointe, Fayettechill, etc. and alot of them can be found on Garage Grown Gear as well. I may end up ordering a Senchi for summer ... because it's a half zip hoody so I think for me it'd be great to start out with and be able to vent using the zipper. Lightheart Gear also started doing Alpha hoodies as well and hers has the thumbholes on the sleeves.
I also have a hoodie addiction and have these three. The melly is always in my pack but for actively hiking I find myself wearing the Far Point Alfa cruiser. At 4 ounces you can almost see through it, but it’s ridiculously warm for the weight. Works awesome under a raincoat.
I use the Montbell Cool hoodie for spring and summer trips. Dries quickly and the hood is nice when you stop for a break on cool days.
I'm a fan of hoodies too. I have a few Melly's and one AppGearCo long sleeved shirt without the hood. I'll say the reviews you gave are pretty on point. Layering based on the conditions is key.
A good local option in the Upper Midwest is Superior fleece (in my opinion of course). Keep up the great videos.
Icebreaker merino wool hoodie (80/20) with full zip. Super soft, love the fit, and the zip really allows you to effectively vent.
I just won an Appalacia Gear hoodie and can't wait to try it out. I remember Rob saying to size up but they didn't have the size bigger so I hope my size will work.
Mine was bigger than expected.
The only one I have is the Outdoor Vitals Ventus. I got it during the pre-sale starter thingy. I do like it, as long as I am wearing a long sleeve shirt. If not and it is cool, the Ventus arm pit lets too much cool air in, for me. I also wished it had pockets. The newer style now has those, but it is too expensive. Being an old retired guy, I don't get too crazy about gear unless it is a good deal on sale or something used.
Agree with melanzana is not an option unless you can visit the store and be lucky enough to score an appointment. I have been happy with OutdoorVitals ventus hoodie through the cold months on the AT
Outdoor Research Radiant Hybrid, my favourite!
I’m a hoodie addict myself. Would love a Melly and waiting on AGC to get my preferred color. I have the exact Smartwool 250 version you have. I use it as a winter base.
Did you see my video on the mesh base for winter? Legit.
I love hoodies! I am currently testing a Farpointe Alpha Direct hoodie. A question that I have is how natural fiber materials hold up in the long run? I've read that Alpaca can sometimes stretch out over time and wool can shrink.
If taken care of properly, just as long lasting. Look at all the old military wool that is still around.
You can never have enough hoodies!
Exactly! 😂
Jeremy - let me give you some more options...(LOL) For Melly-like hoodies both Burgeon and Fayetteville Chill make more than suitable replacements for the Melly. Likewise, Senchi Designs makes an Alpha Fleece which literally weights nothing but still provides a surprising amount of warmth & though I was fearful due to the very loose weave, I've never so much as snagged it. Those and the others I mentioned are all in the Melly price range.
For a sun hoody I use a Free Fly - these are made of bamboo, they dry quick and are also anti-smell. (Sun hoodies are probably another video)
My AppGearCo is my favorite but it really doesn't get cold here so much, so all my hoodies get put into rotation.
Love my fayettechill hoodie
I really wanted to get a FayetteChill. Until I bought an AGC sun hoodie. I think I'm an alpaca guy now.
I have both the Fayettechill and Burgeon hoodies. Both are great hoodies and would recommend either.
Farm to feet socks will change your life forever if you backpack as much as I do 😊
Do these hoodies hold up well in wear points, like strap and hipbelt contact areas?
I have wore the Melly more than the others and other than holes from sparks, it has been very durable.
melanzana color realy great
I have that same problem but with jackets, and shoes, aaaand knives... Good problems to have 😂
How big are you and what size are you wearing in the Smartwool Hoodie? Thanks!
I am 6’, 160lbs. It’s a large. I’d say they run slightly big.
I prefer my light heart gear over my Melly.
I've used a synthetic fleece from Decathlon that worked really well. I was gonna tell you all about it, but then I realized it doesn't have a hood. So it doesn't count. Ignore this post. No really. Stop reading it. 🎶One of these things... is not like the others!🎶 THIS POST
So which one is the best? Come on Almost, just pick one!
Kind of like the shoe video, it depends. 😜