Magna Fabric's Hammock Fabric

[Yojimbo]

I was looking at Magna Fabric and noticed this:

Waterproof Breathable Ripstop Green $1.49 a yard

62 /63 inches wide High Technology polyester very high tensile strength Waterproof Breathable Eyerest Green Ripstop, 3.75 ounce/square yard fabric is both a fluid barrier (a much higher standard than waterproof), and very breathable. The fiber content is 99% Polyester and 1% Carbon Fiber. It is a much stronger fabric than traditional ripstops and is machine washable in hot water and very fade resistant, fire retardant and anti-static (electrostatic dissipative). $1.49 a yard


I don't recall seeing this on HF. Does anyone have any experience with this? Am I reading this as being as waterproof as Sil maybe? Cost is so much better. I realize it is much heavier. But my thoughts are for scouts hammocks and/or tarps. They are notoriously more abusive on their gear.

[gunner76]

Breathable leads me to thinks that is it not waterproof.

3.75 ounce per yard would mean you would have a heavy tarp

One way to find out......

[nuttysquirrel]

I would stay away from wpb fabrics for hammocks, I'm sure its not breathable enough.

[gmcttr]

This fabric has been asked about a few times on HF. Myself, I don't think it is a good choice at all for tarps or hammocks. I have no idea why Magna listed it (and only it) under Hammocks.

They do have many excellent choices for hammocks in the 1.1 - 1.9 oz/sy nylon and polyester ripstops and taffetas.

[hk2001]

I had a sample of it that I got off Larry, and since passed on to someone on here a few months ago..

Simply put.. Bad material for hammocks.. Bad material for tarps.

It's breathable yes.. But not enough to make it comfortable.

[ShadNuke]

Breathable leads me to thinks that is it not waterproof.

3.75 ounce per yard would mean you would have a heavy tarp

One way to find out......

Goretex is waterproof, yet breathable, is it not? Isn't it just about as heavy too? I would love to make a hammock out of the material that my Winchester hunting parka is. It's super soft, waterproof, and breathable, and appears to feel lighter than goretex.

[ntxkayakr]

Thanks for posting and the helpful comments. HF was only place i could find anything close to a review on this fabric. I agree MagnaFabric's marketing people appeared to have missed the correct target as hammock material, this would probably make one sweaty hammock. Perhaps it would work OK for Bivy sack or ground sheet under hammock if you must "go to ground" but there are better choices. Ever since the patent ran out on Gore-Tex manufactures have been chasing that niche, and the tech has improved in leaps and bounds.

IMO FAIL as Hammock or Tarp material, far too many better choices.