How important is ripstop?

[rjcress]

My blackbird is taffeta. Ripstop isn't needed at all, and I think it flexes/stretches different than broadcloth and taffeta.

I'm far to new at this to make it sound like I know what I'm talking about. However, My taffeta WBBB clone body failed on the first attempt to sleep in it.
LOTS of potential root causes, but poor fabric choice can't be ruled out.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=24000

More likely that the main cause was improper hanging of the hammock... but I'm thinking I'll steer towards proven, ripstop fabrics from now on, and NOT pillage the bargain bin for any Nylon or polyester that looks like it would work.

[Ramblinrev]

LOTS of potential root causes, but poor fabric choice can't be ruled out.
http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=24000

More likely that the main cause was improper hanging of the hammock... but I'm thinking I'll steer towards proven, ripstop fabrics from now on, and NOT pillage the bargain bin for any Nylon or polyester that looks like it would work.

Rather than write off the taffeta, I would search for other causes for failure. If taffeta is a poor fabric choice then every hammock I have been in except one, should have failed. There is the possibility of a flawed piece of fabric. Particularly from Wally World type bargain bins. But too many commercial hammocks are made of taffeta for it to be discarded as an unsuitable fabric.