Hey guys, i've been searching for a sweet deal on an r1 to no avail. However the other day I was snowboarding and dipped into the resorts ski shop and saw that they had under armour grid products that looked very very similar to a patty r1, for much cheaper. As far as i can tell, patagonia r1 is just polartec grid fleece (Power Dry), with the fuzzy side against your body. I think underarmour has their own house version of the same fabric which they are using in this pullover

http://www.rei.com/product/770736

Click on the 3rd or 4th image, and zoom in on the neckline, you'll see its a similar grid fleece.

Anyone have any experience with UA's grid material?

Also, curious to know about their "armour stretch" material...looks like powerstretch
http://www.rei.com/product/754468

Anyone know?
thanks!

Edited by Konrad1013 on 02/06/2010 23:31:32 MST.

I am such a cheapskate. Still Starter from Wallyworld.

Or you could buy an American made product, save 9 bucks and get a hood.

http://melanzana.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/24_31/products_id/34

Cabela's has also started using the gridded R1-type fabric in their tops. I saw it on a couple of scouts a few weeks ago at winter camp. Nothing tops the R1, though.

Hey Aaron! Thanks for that link. Looks like an interesting little company. I'll be ordering something from them!

Indeed! Great tip Aaron; thank you.

Nice company, but out of my budget, if anyone lives in Leadville would you check their in-store bargain bin for me?

The cut/fit of the Melanzana looks kinda baggy and not form fitting. I think this would damper the effects of the the grid fabric (i.e. moisture wicking), does anyone know otherwise?

Konrad,
Your guesses are right.

While I've absolutely LOVED my Melanzana hoodie, and took it around the world with me, and its durability and light weight and warmth have all been impressive through that time . . . I just don't think it's cut optimally for outdoor performance.

For me it's mostly been a streetwear item. Can be used outdoors -- don't get me wrong -- but I think something like the R1, though more expensive, is still a much better option for optimal trail utility. And in this crowd, we're all about optimal utility.

I have both a loose fitting 100 wt grid mock and a tight "cold gear" mock neck top. The close fitting cold gear with the brushed/fuzzy inside and the "hard" flat exterior is great at moving moisture and VERY warm UNDER A LAYER of any sort.

The cold gear actually feels colder than the grid 100 wt ( which also feels colder than a "regular" 100 wt and offers no weight savings) with NO outer layer....I think because the fabric is so breatheable and also because the moisture transport leads to so much evaporative cooling. I've never seen a close fitting next to skin type grid base layer.
( that wasn't a net )

To summarize the Cold Gear seems warmer under a shell than 100 or grid 100 but is much cooler uncovered but moves moisture much better. The regular 100 is warmer than grid 100 and the grid doesn't offer any weight savings. Now if there were a tight stretchy base layer grid maybe it would work like net but I haven't seen such a product.

Mec in Canada has a line of really inexpensive R1 and Cap1&4 knockoffs that are really very good.
A case in point is their hoodded expadition baselayer - 62CAD vs the R1 hoody @150USD.

Thanks Robert, the MEC knockoffs seem to be great given their relatively inexpensive pricing. Might have to give the R1 Hoody imitation a try. Made in Canada to boot. And with the exchange rate, a bit cheaper than US dollars.

Is this something you can get shipped to the U.S.?

think so, its just some of the non-mec brand gear like BD (which may work out a bit cheaper then buying fullprice in the states) that mec is not allowed to ship to the US.
- you do have to put up with their international rates though.

Edited by nanookofthenorth on 02/07/2010 20:19:32 MST.

man, those look very nice. I read the reviews, and a guy also described them as very similar to a patty r1. same fabric at least. Only differences i can tell are 1) a bit shorter 2) no napoleon pocket 3) no fabric to keep the zipper off your skin

I dont care for a napoleon pocket since this is a base layer, and im sure i could sew my own flap to cover the zipper, but the thing that i cant fix, is the ridiculous shipping rates

MEC will ship items up to $200 for $50.00 CAD and it'll only take 1-4 weeks to get here, and thats before i pay duties and taxes.

I guess it's about time I feel the pain that our Canadian gearwhore brethren have already been feeling this whole time

ya, we find the same in reverse. Postal service is not that bad.

only fair you guys pay 50CAD for shipping when I just paid 20USD plus 57CAD Duty on a $160 Mont-bell liner(customs loves it when I buy gear). The MEC one is recycled Polartec to boot but fits funny in the shoulders.

well thats thing, its 50 CAD before duties on our part, haha itll cost about the same to ship it here as the actual item. fun times. I use to have a hobby that would have me order parts and items from Hong Kong...its always a blast to pay 70 dollars in shipping and then have UPS come to your door demanding another $60 to release your package.

What did you find about the shoulders? Is the shirt better suited for those with broad shoulders, etc?

Edited by Konrad1013 on 02/07/2010 21:19:25 MST.

I have wider shoulders and it kinda tight under the arms. The Patagonia R1's fit is awesome.