Fabric guide

I work with premium fabrics from X-Pac®, ECOPAK™ and Dyneema®. These fabrics share three essential qualities: durability, water resistance and light weight. Combined with exceptional workmanship and attention to details, these materials help delivering the best gear possible.

All these fabrics all laminates and offer better protection, lighter weight and they last longer than traditional coated fabrics.

X-Pac

High-performance fabric. Lightweight, durable, and 100% waterproof. Eco-friendly and carbon neutral.

VX21 and VX42 are the most versatile, depending whether you want to keep the weight low or you seek extra abrasion resistance. X50 is more rugged, has more classic look, it's heavier, and UVX40 offers the best performance.

Ecopak

Waterproof, durable and lightweight fabric with 100% recycled polyester and non-toxic DWR coating. Every yard of ECOPAK™ uses about 20 plastic bottles and saves one pound of carbon emissions compared to standard fabric. If you care about the environment, Ecopak is the way to go.

Choose EPX200 if you want lightweight backpack. Heavier denier and weight mean increased durability at the expense of weight. EPX400 is therefore heavier, but more abrasion resistant.

Choose Ultra fabric if you’re looking for an ultralight backpack solution with the ultimate, most high-end fabric.

Ultra line vs. UltraTX line

Ultra consists of 67% U-PE and 33% polyester woven together and laminated to waterproof film. UltraTX is a result of combining Ultra with Ecopak - 67% U-PE and 33% polyester with waterproof fabric, CrossPly and white 70D ripstop protective backing. UltraTX brings the best of the two worlds together - outstanding abrasion resistance thanks to the U-PE face fabric, better stitch holding, longevity and good visibility thanks to the white backing, better strength and technical look thanks to the square x-ply.

Choose Ultra if you want truly ultralight solution, or UltraTX for the best performing fabric available.

For 2023, there's a new style available: Ultra200X and Ultra400X, which stands right between Ultra and UltraTX. It has black Ultra fiber crossply but doesn't have the white ripstop backing. It makes the fabric little stronger and more stable (especially in bias direction) and gives it the more technical look that UltraTX has.

X-Pac vs Ecopak

In terms of performance, Ecopak manages to have slightly better abrasion resistance while being about 10% lighter compared to its X-Pac counterparts at the same weight. In real life, you most likely won’t be able to tell the difference though.

In terms of touch and feel, Ecopak feels a little softer, similar to slightly broken in X-Pac. If you want more technical look and feel, choose X-Pac.

If using recycled fabric and using non-toxic coating is import to you, choose Ecopak.

If you want to read more about Ecopak and X-Pac, you can find a good article at thetrek.co.

UHMWPE

UHMWPE (also U-PE) stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and translates into high end fabrics made with the strongest and lightest fabrics in the textile industry. These fabrics a go to when you want the best fabric – the strongest and the lightest possible.

In this category you can choose from Ultra100, 200, 400 and 800, Ultra100X, Ultra200X and Ultra400X, Ultra200TX and 400TX, and UVX40. I might also have some Dyneema in 2.92 oz or 5.0 oz variant but I don't stock these regularly.

Technical specs

If you want to know what’s the weight of the fabrics, composition, abrasion resistance, keep reading.

VX21

Provides an ideal balance of weight and durability.

Composition: 60% Nylon, 40% Polyester
Weight: 210.0 g/m², 6.2 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 500 cycles
Construction:

210D Nylon face
polyester X-PLY® at 22°
25 mil polyester film
50D polyester taffeta backing

VX42

VX42 is the best choice for applications requiring exceptional strength and durability.

Composition: 70% Nylon, 30% Polyester
Weight: 297.0 g/m², 8.8 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 1700 cycles
Construction:

420D nylon face
polyester X-PLY® at 22°
25 mil polyester film
50D polyester taffeta backing

UVX40

Designed to create the ultimate tear-resistant, abrasion-resistant, waterproof fabric for applications where top performance is essential and structural failure is not an option.

Composition: 40% U-PE, 60% Polyester
Weight: 242.0 g/m², 7.1 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 1000 cycles
Construction:

400D Ultra-PE/polyester ripstop face
polyester X-PLY® at 22°
25 mil polyester film
50D polyester taffeta backing

X50

Utilizes a Rugged 500D Cordura® face fabric for a highly abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, waterproof material.

Composition: 81% Nylon, 19% Polyester
Weight: 315.0 g/m², 9.3 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 2000 cycles
Construction:

500D Cordura® Nylon face
black polyester X-PLY® at 22°
5 mil shiny polyester film backing

X51

Uses the heaviest 500x1000d Cordura® face fabric for a highly abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, waterproof material.

Composition: 80% Nylon, 20% Polyester
Weight: 325.0 g/m², 9.6 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 3000 cycles
Construction:

500x1000D Cordura® Nylon face
black polyester X-PLY® at 22°
5 mil shiny polyester film backing

EPX200

All-around performance, good choice for small to mid-size packs or as an interior fabric.

Composition: 100% recycled polyester
Weight: 200.0 g/m², 5.9 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 500 cycles
Construction:

200D face
45° Blue CrossPly
70D ripstop backing

EPX400

The 400d recycled polyester has almost twice the abrasion resistance compared to 420d nylon. Well suited for highest overall durability.

Composition: 100% recycled polyester
Weight: 304.0 g/m², 8.95 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 3000 cycles
Construction:

400D face
45° Blue CrossPly
70D ripstop backing

Ultra100

The Ultimate in Ultralight pack fabric – at less than 3oz, it has double the tear strength and almost double the abrasion resistance of 500d 8oz Cordura®!

Composition: 67% U-PE, 33% polyester
Weight: 99.0 g/m², 2.92 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 3600 cycles
Construction:

100D face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester
5 mil RUV™ film backing

Ultra200

Ultra™ 200 far exceeds the technical properties of any similar weight fabric available on Planet Earth!

Composition: 67% U-PE, 33% polyester
Weight: 119.0 g/m², 3.5 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 4400 cycles
Construction:

200D face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester
5 mil RUV™ film backing

Ultra400

ULTRA™ 400 is about 20% lighter, with four times the abrasion resistance of other 400d U-PE fabrics. A great all-purpose high modulus pack fabric.

Composition: 67% U-PE, 33% polyester
Weight: 158.0 g/m², 4.65 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 8800 cycles
Construction:

400D face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester
5 mil RUV™ film backing

Ultra800

Doubling the denier of 400D gives ULTRA™ 800 the strength to go the distance in the most demanding packs and duffels.

Composition: 67% U-PE, 33% polyester
Weight: 288.0 g/m², 8.5 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 16,000+ cycles
Construction:

800D face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester
5 mil RUV™ film backing

Ultra200TX

Composition: unknown
Weight: 200.0 g/m², 5.9 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 4400 cycles
Construction:

200D face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester
5 mil RUV™ film backing
45° Blue CrossPly
70D ripstop backing

Ultra400TX

Composition: unknown
Weight: 244 g/m², 7.2 oz/yd²
Abrasion resistance: 8800 cycles
Construction:

400D face Ultra-PE blended with high-tenacity polyester
5 mil RUV™ film backing
45° Blue CrossPly
70D ripstop backing

Other materials

I don't make compromises, it's simply not worth it. I work with the best materials possible and pay attention to the smallest detail. Metal hardware, YKK zippers, Fidlock magnetic buckles, Cobra buckles, YKK, Duraflex, ITW Nexus, Wetool, Woojin.