Man, I'd love to buy this piece, but at $135, it's just a bit too steep for me.

Is there a reasonable alternative out there that is a close match? or am I doomed to wait until late this year for a sale, or some sort of closeout?

I too wish I knew of a cheaper alternative. I looked around and could not find one. I finally pulled the trigger and just bought the R1. It is a great piece. I recommend it.

There was a recent thread about a similar hoodie from EMS- at the time they had some "seconds" for $50. When I checked they were sold out.

Here's the thread:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=18751

Jim

Edited by jimqpublic on 02/28/2009 18:30:28 MST.

It is made out of R1®: 6.5-oz Polartec® Power Dry® so just find a 100wt jacket made out of this and you are done.

MEC has a few similar pieces-

Example: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442624758&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302698749&bmUID=1235919604735

Prices are Canadian so check the currency converter they have

No direct experience, but you might look at this reasonably priced US made polartec grid hoody:

http://melanzana.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/34?osCsid=ffa330629d3f294531ecdfa635705184

Patagonia R1 and the other PowerDry pieces available from other brands are quite a bit different than the traditional Polartec 100 weight fleece. Also, note that Malden Mills PowerStretch is also different from PowerDry.

Edited by kidcobalt on 03/03/2009 15:45:22 MST.

Appreciate the suggestions everyone.

I'm not looking for a hoody (sorry, should have said that), but knowing I should seek a powerstretch full zip jacket helps a lot. I sort of forgot that's what r1 was.

Powerstretch is a little different to powerdry, it has more elastic.

so I can get this year's r1 pullover at 20% off; I haven't seen the hoody in person but it seems to be made differently--the thin "skirt" etc. I don't think that I need a hoody--have hats--but for snowshoeing and nordic skiing, will I regret not getting the hoody? And any comparable pieces that are less pricy?

Eddie Bauer carries some of the micro-grid fleece. I think it may be slightly thinner than the similar fabric in Patagonia's lineup. I have their mid-weight bottoms rather than the R1 bottoms and I like mine so far.

They have a hoodie too called the Bat Hang.

It's not on sale currently though so you may be better off with the R1.

Edited by cobberman on 10/03/2011 13:50:33 MDT.

here's another thread with some grid power dry alternatives
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=51304

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/product.jsp?ensembleId=37539&&categoryId=28476&categoryName=MENS-FIRST-ASCENT&pCategoryId=28475&pCategoryName=FIRST-ASCENT&gpCategoryId=1&gpCategoryName=EB&catPath=~~categoryId=28476~~categoryName=MENS-FIRST-ASCENT~~pCategoryId=28475~~pCategoryName=FIRST-ASCENT~~gpCategoryId=1~~gpCategoryName=EB&viewAll=y&pg=1

This has a similar build I believe.

I've been pondering the same dilemma recently. There is another contender I noticed recently that could be something to consider. Maybe someone with some more gear knowledge than I could clarify this but Mountain Hardwear released a Micro Grid fleece that is similar to the Patagonia piece. I don't know if this is a new piece or just new to REI but it seems comparable. It may not be powerdry, it doesn't say. I would love to know how this might compare. I'm also looking into that Hangfire hoody from Eddie Bauer but I have a good bit of credit at REI so would love to find a product there. If anyone has experience with this Mountain Hardwear piece let us know how it stacks up!

Forgot Link:

http://www.rei.com/product/785675/mountain-hardwear-micro-grid-quarter-zip-top-mens