Can’t Get a Melanzana? Try These Instead: Sambob Fleece Apparel Review

The snow and wind whipped my face as the lift whisked me up the Wasatch crest. But my close-cropped Sambob Microgrid hoodie kept my neck and skin covered despite the cold and windy conditions. 

I’ve spent the better part of my life in microgrid hoodies. Despite being a relatively young brand, Sambob seems to be one of the leading players offering iconic — if familiar — designs.

I found the colorful, niche brand through word-of-mouth while hiking on the PCT circuit. On several occasions, I asked current thru-hikers (during downtime off-trail) about their microgrid choice. They started raving about Sambob, especially the company’s thru-hike-friendly alpha fabric designs.

Put simply, I was intrigued. I’ve sworn by Melanzana fleeces since 2004, so I’ve come to love microgrid hoodies. But I also have very high expectations. This new kid on the block, Sambob, would have long sleeves to fill to earn a permanent spot in my pack or duffel. Could it live up to its inspiration — the OG? I had to find out.

In short: Sambob has carved out a unique niche by offering microgrid hoodie and pant customization options that you can order online. If you’re taking a casual walk, chilling around town, or driving your rig cross-country, Sambob’s hoodies are incredibly cozy and ready to be a fundamental base/secondary layer in your apparel kit. However, in order to meet the demands of truly technical applications, they still need some refinement.

Check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Fleece Jackets.

Sambob Custom Microgrid Hoodie Review

Founded by Sam Roberts (Sam-Bob), Sambob emerged four(ish) years ago from a simple desire to create custom outdoor gear. Originally a wildlife ecologist with a passion for backpacking, Roberts’ journey from bird conservation to apparel design might seem unexpected. But his extensive time in the field provided the perfect testing ground for understanding what works — and what doesn’t — in technical apparel.

“I just wanted to spend time outdoors,” Roberts explained of his early career choices. “That’s where I really fell in love with having that sort of fully immersed experience of nature. But beginning in grad school, I started getting the itch to make my own gear.” 

For this review, Sambob provided two different concepts to test: a pair of hoodies and pants made from Polartec’s classic Microgrid fleece material and the emerging Alpha fleece material (popular with thru-hikers).

After extensive testing of the Microgrid and Alpha collections across varied terrains, I found their offerings to be thoughtfully designed and versatile, if a bit pricey after customization. While some sizing quirks need refinement, Sambob’s combination of quality materials and customization options makes them a compelling choice for outdoor enthusiasts who want gear that’s truly their own.

Big Shoes to Fill (An Editor’s Note)

No microgrid hoodie review would be complete without acknowledging the 1,000-pound OG gorilla in the space, Melanzana. A big fan of the Leadville-based company, Sam Roberts openly acknowledges that he loves a good Melanzana and drew initial inspiration from the company. 

However, beyond the similar design and microgrid aesthetic, Sambob is aspiring to break into new materials, color schemes, and direct-to-consumer options that truly differentiate it from its forbear. If Melanzana is the patriarch of the space, Sambob is the bright-eyed rebellious offspring looking to step out of its parents’ microgrid shadow.  

That said, reviewing Sambob’s offerings is innately tough without drawing comparisons. 

Customization: Advantages & Disadvantages

The real value of Sambob at this stage of its evolution is the massive level of customization. If you can dream it, you can design it. It’s not just about choosing colors — it’s about creating gear that perfectly matches your needs and style preferences.

Sambob’s customization tool lets you choose the color of each piece of your hoodie’s pattern — over 15 separate panels of microgrid material! So whether you want something subtle and understated or full-on loud, the tool makes it easy to design and experiment.

Roberts acknowledges the challenges of offering such extensive customization. They have to cut one hoodie at a time, which is unheard of in the product manufacturing world.

It’s also a big reason why the brand’s custom hoodies cost so much. A custom hoodie starts at $120. If you want multicolors, the price increases by $25. If you want two colors per sleeve, the price increases by $15 per sleeve. And if you rush the order, it’s another $45. One custom microgrid from Sambob can cost up to $255 — which is very steep for any microgrid piece of apparel.

The Alpha Collection: In the Field

Alpha fleece apparel isn’t your average outdoor gear. Developed through rigorous research and collaboration with elite military and outdoor professionals, the material represents a big leap in technical textile engineering. It excels in extreme conditions and combines cutting-edge synthetic fibers with innovative weaving techniques. The material prioritizes adaptability, thermal regulation, and minimal weight.

I tested the Alpha 90 and 120 pieces. They accompanied my mom and me on a series of adventures along the Sonoma coastline and through the towering redwoods.

The Hoodie

During a particularly humid afternoon hike through the Armstrong Redwoods, the Alpha hoodie’s breathability proved its worth. The material’s incredibly light and airy nature allowed excess heat to escape effortlessly during steep climbs. During rest stops in the shade of the ancient trees, it still provided adequate warmth.

Some Room for Improvement

I wasn’t a huge fan of the Alpha hoodie’s elastic waist and wrist cuffs. The waist, in particular, would ride up my lower back when worn with a pack — literally my worst nightmare on an extended hike. And personally, the wrist cuffs just didn’t hit right.

The increased breathability of the Alpha fleece fabric also comes at a cost. The material’s sheerness cannot be overstated — especially the Alpha 90. On a performance level, during a blustery afternoon along the Sonoma Coast, the wind cut straight through the Alpha 90 fabric, reminding me that this is decidedly a layering piece rather than standalone wear.

On an aesthetic level, be prepared for anyone and everyone to see right through your Alpha gear, especially the 60 and 90 thicknesses. I love the Sambob Alpha 90 pants and hoodie (they’re so comfy). But I can really only wear them without layers underneath if I’m alone or around my girlfriend. You can see straight through them.

The Microgrid Collection: In the Field

The Microgrid pieces truly found their element in Utah’s Wasatch range. Composed of Polartec’s legendary microgrid fleece material, the waffled pattern is tried and tested to be a go-to for everything from hiking to boating to climbing — literally anything outdoors (as long as it’s not too hot outside).

The Hoodie

During multiple dawn patrol tours, the hoodie’s close-cropped hood fit perfectly under my helmet on the descent. The material’s balance of warmth and breathability kept me comfortable during redline cardio and also once I’d stopped to assemble my kit and ride. 

However, Sambob’s Microgrid top had some inherent design flaws. The large size seemed a bit floppy and had a lot of excess room in the midsection. Which, to be fair, would be great for layering on extra cold days.

Similarly, the wrist cuffs felt unnecessary. I’m sure they’re nice to have for some folks, but I personally wish they weren’t included. Although, they been growing on me in casual contexts. So the jury’s still out on those.

And while the hood is nice for fitting under a helmet, it’s way too small for everyday wear. I often have to pull it over ball caps and other headgear that it gets caught on.

The hood’s lash cord is also strangely short. It leaves very little room for adjustment, making complete loosening impossible. If there’s one surefire design fix, this would be it.

So, the Sambob Microgrid hoodie is a mixed bag. Certain features shine in specific contexts while they act as hindrances in others. To be clear, I love the Sambob microgrid for casual walks, road-tripping, around-town chilling, or campfire exploits. But some features — namely the hood — just aren’t up to snuff for extended technical use. Not yet, anyway.

The Pants

The true revelation came in the form of the Microgrid pants. During a particularly long day that started with a morning snowboard session at Brighton, transitioned to afternoon dog walks in Salt Lake City, and ended with a casual dinner meetup, I never felt compelled to change. 

The pants somehow thread the needle between technical performance and casual comfort in a way I’ve rarely experienced.

During a particularly warm shred sesh at Beaver Mountain recently, they refused to take on water or get damp under my bibs. The rest of my kit was soaked. Yet the Sambob Microgrid Pants kept me snugly comfortable — neither too hot/overheating nor too cold/becoming saturated — from the wet and warm snow conditions. Not to mention, the colors look sick!

Sambob Custom Fleece Garments: Who Are They For?

Whether you’re looking for a technical midlayer for backcountry missions or comfortable pants for everything from climbing approaches to coffee shop sessions, Sambob’s customizable offerings deserve a serious look. While the design still needs some refinements, Sambob offers a compelling choice for outdoor enthusiasts by combining quality materials, thoughtful design, and customization options.

For those willing to invest in customized fleece apparel, Sambob offers something unique in the outdoor industry: the ability to create exactly what you want and have it delivered straight to your door.

The prices are a fair bit higher than off-the-rack alternatives. However, the ability to design your perfect piece could make the premium worthwhile for many outdoor enthusiasts. Be sure to check the sizing charts carefully, and remember that the Alpha pieces work best as part of a layering system rather than as standalone wear.