Magna Fabrics 1.1 ACU Ripstop Nylon Order Review

After reading reading a couple of threads regarding Magna Fabrics, I thought I would post a review of my experience.

I recently ordered 50 yards of the 1.1 ACU Ripstop Nylon. I place my order on April 25th and received a confirmation that my order was received. Later that day I received an email that the order was shipped, the email contained a link to my order along with a tracking number. My order left Manga's Warehouse on April 25th and was at my front door the following day, talk about fast.

The fabric arrived wrapped in plastic and had 2 pieces of masking tape holding the fabric in place. FedEx is not the gentlest of carriers, but the fabric arrived without any tears. After unwrapping the plastic and tape, I began unrolling the fabric on my work table. The first 22" off the roll contained a spliced to the bulk of the remaining fabric. After removing the splice, I inspect the roll and the first yard had some writing in what looks to be a yellow grease pencil. I'm not overly concerned there, I can use most of that section to make a stuff sack. The remainder of the fabric was unblemished. Since this was a joint purchase between myself and another member I separated our agreed upon needs. It's at this point that I also discovered that folding that much cloth for shipping is a pain in the backside :laugh:

I only have 4 yards of 1.1 woodland ripstop that I can use as a comparison that I purchased from ebay, and over all I would say that the Fabric from Magna looks to be of better quality. Magna States that their fabric is made in the USA, so a bonus in my opinion. The woodland Fabric is of dubious heritage I guess.

I'm not sure if Magna Fabrics has weekend hours, I never received a response to my email inquiry and that seems to be a major concern with a few other members who have dealt with or tried to deal with Magna. Communication is key and not receiving a response to a call or an email can mean the loss of a potential sale.

The positives:
1: Price per yard
2: Fast order response
3: Fast shipping.
4: Quality product

The negatives:
1: An unexpected splice - not a deal killer
2: Some writing in grease pencil - not overly happy about it, again not a deal killer
3: Shipping cost - Definite sticker shock here, but after seeing what was delivered, understandable.
4: Email responses could be better

Will I buy from Magna Fabrics again? Yes
Am I happy with the service? Yes

Now to start planning an ACU Hammock and matching tarp

Thanks for that report, Rich. I read it with great interest. I'll check out Magna Fabrics. Good luck with the hammock and tarp! :D

P.S. For the uninitiated (like me) ACU = Army Combat Uniform.

I have not yet seen a splice in the 30yds I bought almost a year ago now. I've worked through about half of it thus far. The "greese pencil" has been used throughout for marking ink defects and does wash off in my experience. You are buying a 2nd quality fabric, know that in advance, from what have seen it's just print defects that give it this 2nd quality status however. Apparently the Army is rather anal about the pattern being perfect and consistent.

This is a "pure finish" fabric there are no coatings, treatments, or impregnations to it at all. Hence, it is not water resistant or downproof.

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Originally Posted by AaronAlso

This is a "pure finish" fabric there are no coatings, treatments, or impregnations to it at all. Hence, it is not water resistant or downproof.

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I figured I might have to water proof some of the fabric when I make my tarp. Thank goodness for the DIY section.

Pick up some from a member here and looking forward to giving it a close look. Was thinking of purchasing more from the manufacturer direct but seems they do not take Canadian payment!

I've purchased two rolls and my experience is the same. I expect the first 3'-4' to be written on. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from Magna again. I kind of have my eye on the 1.5 ACU but it comes in larger rolls.

This fabric seems awfully thin to try to waterproof if. Your results will be interesting and I'm looking forward to it. I suggest testing a small sample before going to the trouble of making a tarp.

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Originally Posted by dragon360

Pick up some from a member here and looking forward to giving it a close look. Was thinking of purchasing more from the manufacturer direct but seems they do not take Canadian payment!

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Just recieved 100 yds of this delivered to Kingston no issues with payment, the guy I spoke with on the phone was a little nutty with bad jokes but otherwise good to deal with. Recieved two paypal invoices within minutes of each other, first covered the cost of the material and the second covered the import duties. Same issues with the shipping though, thin plastic wrap and tape not what I would have expected to be used for international shipping, no issues with the first 12 yards.

If I am correct in assuming that this is the same fabric that was purchased in the group buy a few months ago, it is a nice 68" wide fabric. The actual weight is 1.0 oz/sy, not 1.1 oz/sy.

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Originally Posted by MAD777

If I am correct in assuming that this is the same fabric that was purchased in the group buy a few months ago, it is a nice 68" wide fabric. The actual weight is 1.0 oz/sy, not 1.1 oz/sy.

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Mine is 65" wide, there is some varience in the width it seems. Yes, this is the same fabric purchased in the group buy. Yes, others have weighed it at 1.0oz/yd^2; I've never bothered to weight mine. It's super light weight and thin enough you can watch TV through it, ink and all.

Got a link to this "Manga Fabric?" I can't find them anywhere. Or did you mean, MAGNUM Fabrics?
Thanks.

Here's the link to what was in the group buy. I got in on that and made a nice 11 foot double layer hammock with the Knotty Mod. It's my favorite hammock right now!
http://store.magnafabrics.com/cart.c...16&child=13765

Edit: I meant to add that they are in Denton, N.C.

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Originally Posted by LostinSpace

Got a link to this "Magna Fabric?" I can't find them anywhere. Or did you mean, MAGNUM Fabrics?
Thanks.

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Magna Fabrics

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Originally Posted by MAD777

If I am correct in assuming that this is the same fabric that was purchased in the group buy a few months ago, it is a nice 68" wide fabric. The actual weight is 1.0 oz/sy, not 1.1 oz/sy.

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Mine was consistent at a 68" width, it is really thin, I can almost read through it. i'm going to try making a couple of Ridge line organizers from the 22" scrap that came off the roll.

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Originally Posted by L.D. Cakes

Here's the link to what was in the group buy. I got in on that and made a nice 11 foot double layer hammock with the Knotty Mod. It's my favorite hammock right now!
http://store.magnafabrics.com/cart.c...16&child=13765

Edit: I meant to add that they are in Denton, N.C.

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Well that will explain why I never received an answer about being able to stop by the warehouse, Manga moved out of Bergen, NJ and headed South :crying

Thanks much for the link!
It's the simple things that get me. Like just typing in www.magnafabrics.com Huh? Nope! First thing to do is google, then bing, then yahoo, then come back here and see how stupid I am. :D

Exactly what I was thinking about though, making myself a double layer with it.
What color goes good with camo? Orange or Red?

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Originally Posted by LostinSpace

Exactly what I was thinking about though, making myself a double layer with it.
What color goes good with camo? Orange or Red?

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Green :lol:

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Originally Posted by LostinSpace

Exactly what I was thinking about though, making myself a double layer with it.
What color goes good with camo? Orange or Red?

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I made, or rather had Yukon make, my inner layer black with the outer layer this ACU. It is so crazy thin that if you used a bright color like red it would show through the camo. It also has 0 (read ZERO) wind resistance, so I chose to use a calendered inner layer with the shiney side out.

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Originally Posted by LostinSpace

What color goes good with camo? Orange or Red?

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I have 4 Yds of Woodland that I was thinking of using for the inner. My son wants a dbl layer, so one more item on the list. Foliage Green or maybe OD Green would work well too.

I used this fabric to make a top cover for my WBBB a couple of years ago and it's performance has been excellent in that function due to its breathability. I was in on the group buy and I'm making a full hammock sock with some of my material as well as a double layer hammock.

I'm also using it to add Hangnout's foot boxes to some of my other hammocks.

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Originally Posted by MAD777

I used this fabric to make a top. Over for my WBBB a couple of years ago and it's performance has been excellent in that function due to its breathability. I was in on the group buy and I'm making a full hammock sock with some of my material as well as a double layer hammock.

I'm also using it to add Hangnout's foot boxes to some of my other hammocks.

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That's a good idea! I have a lot left over from the group buy and may do a sock as well.

Let us know how it breathes.

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Originally Posted by hppyfngy

That's a good idea! I have a lot left over from the group buy and may do a sock as well.

Let us know how it breathes.

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I finished a sock some months ago with the material I got from the first small group-buy and was able to give it a try outside. Here's a shot (yes, it is a widow-maker):
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...0147_thumb.jpg

It does wonders! I had no breathing issues at all and it absolutely helps raising up the surrounding temperature. I had no thermometer with me but after a good night's sleep at around 0°C (frost in the morning) it was definitely much warmer within the sock than outside.

That's a nice looking sock, Trinni!
I hope mine comes out looking like that :)

I was going to order some of this to make my first hammock, is it to thin for a single layer? And would it be ok if I used it as both layers if I make a double layer?

I would like to know about what weight a single layer of the material would support as a hammock if anyone knows?

I've had 250 lbs in a single layer hammock made out of it. It did not fail or even show signs of stress afterward, but with the weight in it it looked strung pretty tight and did stretch some. Evidently the DL made out of it was much more comfortable at 250 lbs. This is coming from my dad who tried it out for me, since I don't weight that much myself.

How much it would support as a single layer comfortably I'm not sure. Possibly up to 200 lbs.

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Originally Posted by lymphocytosis

How much it would support as a single layer comfortably I'm not sure. Possibly up to 200 lbs.

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I think that's about right. I'm 180 and it holds me fine but I find it a little less comfortable than my 1.5 sl. Not much though. If I were a gram weenie I'd use it.

Many upwards of 200 use a sl 1.1 . ymmv

Keep in mind that there is a difference between enough "support" to keep you from falling to the ground through a rip in the fabric, and enough "support" to not sag so much that you can't get a flat lay.

As long as you don't get into the hammock with a knife in your pocket, you'll be amazed how these thin fabrics can keep you airborne. However, that doesn't mean you will be comfortable.

The reason that there isn't a consensus on this is because of "The 3 Bears" principle. Like Goldilocks, we all have our preference for comfort. Even at home, some of us like a very firm mattress while others like a soft mattress.

I weigh 200# and I draw the line for comfort at 1.5 oz/sy single layer. But that's just me. I have friends of the same weight that prefer 2.5 oz/sy polyester fabrics that feel hard as a rock to me.

At 175 lbs, I find my single layer made out of this fabric to be comfortable even though it has some stretch. The dbl layer hammocks I've made out of it are more comfortable to me and I really like this fabric as such.

FWIW...keep on mind that this fabric is closer to 1.0 oz/sq yd than it is to 1.1 oz.

thanks for all the input. I may order some. I have a couple of DIY hammocks and am interested in how a lighter one would work for me. I tend to be one of those gram weenies, can't help it. I do have to be comfortable though.

just got 50 yards, realized the shipping was pretty much the same price, + or - a few dollars, even if i had gotten a smaller roll.

One can never have too much fabric!
Hammocks, hammock socks, bear burrito ovens, gear lofts, etc, etc. :)