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  1. #1
    Senior Member Curt's Avatar
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    Polyester Ripstop vs. Nylon Ripstop

    A couple questions about these two fabrics. Assuming they're the same weight (1.9 oz):

    - Is there a strength difference?
    - Stretch difference?
    - UV resistance difference? (polyester handles UV better, right?)
    - H20 Absorption difference? (polyester absorbs less, right?)

    I'm most interested in the strength characteristics and stretch information. Lots of posts guessing about which is which, but I couldn't find much on characteristics. Thanks for any insights!

    -Curt

  2. #2
    Senior Member headchange4u's Avatar
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    All I know about the differences between polyester and nylon I have learned from webbing, but I would assume that it would carry over into fabric.

    Polyester stretches less and has more abrasion resistance. I think is is also more resistant to UV exposure but I don't know for sure. Polyester has a softer feel to the material than nylon. My zHammock is made from polyester rip stop.

    I have only found Polyester rip stop once at WalMart. It seems to be pretty rare.
    “Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it." -Terry Pratchett



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  3. #3
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by headchange4u View Post
    I have only found Polyester rip stop once at WalMart. It seems to be pretty rare.
    That's a shame.

    A quick Googling reveals this source for ripstop poly. Note the name, Hang-em High Fabrics, is because it is a kite shop, but is amusingly appropriate for hammock use. Sadly, they only seem to carry 1/2oz and 3/4oz weights.

    Most of the other sources seem to be direct from foreign factories, where you order by the ton.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

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    Senior Member Frolicking Dino's Avatar
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    Thru-Hiker has it: Coated and uncoated at $12.95/ yd

  5. #5
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    the polyester will be weaker for the same weight and stretch less...Brandon


    Quote Originally Posted by Frolicking Dino View Post
    Thru-Hiker has it: Coated and uncoated at $12.95/ yd

  6. #6
    slowhike's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by angrysparrow View Post
    Sadly, they only seem to carry 1/2oz and 3/4oz weights.

    .:
    1/2oz??? that would be great for a quilt liner/ shell or a hammock sock wouldn't it?
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

  7. #7
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slowhike View Post
    1/2oz??? that would be great for a quilt liner/ shell or a hammock sock wouldn't it?
    Sure would. I was thinking that it would be inappropriate for a hammock body, but you're right, for other uses it's perfect.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  8. #8
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    I think the poly might be heavier. I got a piece that I think is poly ripstop from walmart. I weighed it and I think it is 2+ oz heaver than the 1.9 nylon I have.

    This is probibly only for walmart fabrics though. I did not cut it to size, but the piece I have is just larger than hammock size.
    Is that too much to ask? Girls with frikkin' lasers on their heads?
    The hanger formly known as "hammock engineer".

  9. #9
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    when i ordered ultralite fabric from a kite shop, i had to return it because it had an extremely heavy coating on it, that made it several times heavier than it's listed weight, and felt about like a magazine page when you tried to crumple it up. the guy at the kite store made it sound like all kite fabrics had that same coating, but who knows. i would make sure and ask them if it's coated before i ordered any, even if it doesn't mention that in the description...Brandon


    Quote Originally Posted by slowhike View Post
    1/2oz??? that would be great for a quilt liner/ shell or a hammock sock wouldn't it?

  10. #10
    slowhike's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by warbonnetguy View Post
    when i ordered ultralite fabric from a kite shop, i had to return it because it had an extremely heavy coating on it, that made it several times heavier than it's listed weight, and felt about like a magazine page when you tried to crumple it up. the guy at the kite store made it sound like all kite fabrics had that same coating, but who knows. i would make sure and ask them if it's coated before i ordered any, even if it doesn't mention that in the description...Brandon
    i wonder if the 1/2 oz is the weight of the fabric before treatment?
    i need to look & see what they say on that site.
    I too will something make and joy in it's making

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