Rockywood Outdoor Fabrics

**headchange4u** · 06-25-2008, 10:24

TeeDee mentioned this website in another thread, and as not to steal his thunder, I thought I would post the relevant info in it's own thread. This was the first time I had heard this site mentioned here on HF.

You can visit the website here:
Rockywood Outdoor Fabrics

Besides the polyester ripstop that TeeDee mentions I also noticed they sell Cuben Fiber, waterproof Cordura fabric (I think it's silnylon. JRB uses WP Cordura), a nice selection of zippers, as well as webbing and hardware.

I also noticed they have silicone coated ripstop in a variety of colors in both the 1.3oz and 1.9oz weights. It does say coated nylon so I don't know if this would qualify as sil. Maybe ordering some samples is in order.

I cursory glance at the site has turned up many useful materials at reasonable prices.

**Narwhalin** · 06-25-2008, 10:38

It is in the links section:

http://www.hammockforums.net/links/browselinks.php?c=9

**Narwhalin** · 06-25-2008, 10:44

I just called them. The microfiber poly is 3-4oz/yd., unfortunately...

Does anyone know what the weight of "nylon taffeta" and "supplex nylon"would be? They have some good selection of camo in that...

**te-wa** · 06-25-2008, 11:20

the "coated" nylon is sil. I got some in green, and they are the only place that carries green sil that I know of. Brian Mcmillan also told me about them. I suppose that might be his supplier. Not positive, just a guess.

**BurningCedar** · 06-25-2008, 15:37

I also just got off the phone with Rockywoods -- and here's what I was told.

The Black Ripstop Micro-fiber Polyester (product 6824-3) weighs 1.1oz/yd and is approx 60" wide. The other colors of polyester in that category are NOT ripstop (which would worry me for use in a hammock).

What Rockywoods wouldn't know is if 1.1oz offers sufficient strength for a single- or double-layer hammock. The person I spoke with seemed skeptical.

By the way, the black ripstop is currently on backorder.

I've already experienced my "fall down, go boom in the middle-of-the-night" episode and would rather avoid it again. By the same token, the light weight and low stretch do sound seductive.

I've been thinking about making one of the single-layer HH clones, and I may just have to try it with the polyester.

**Narwhalin** · 06-25-2008, 15:46

You know, they didn't mention the black ripstop. I didn't even notice the black was listed that way! There is a good chance we are talking about two different weight fabrics that are listed in the same section because they are similar.

**TeeDee** · 06-25-2008, 16:22

There seems to be a LOT of confusion on the Rockywoods Micro-fiber polyester fabric.

The micro-fiber polyester ripstop I purchased is listed here as stock number 6824-3

When I emailed them a long time back, the person who got the email took several days and then replied that he had gone and got about 20 yds of the fabric and weighed it. His calculations came out to 1.84xx oz/sq yd.

I ordered 10 yards. Laid it out on the basement floor and accurately measured length and width and then weighed it. I computed the weight at 1.84xx oz/sq yd.

Now I cannot guarantee that the fabric they list under that stock number is the same fabric they listed when I ordered and they shipped. But I ordered another 10 yards when I returned and received that shipment last week. Same fabric. I again measured and weighed. Same weight per sq yard.

So, I don't know who you are talking to at Rockywoods, but the person there who answered my email very definitely knew what he was doing. I didn't keep the email I received or I would be able to tell you the name of the individual at Rockywoods that I dealt with. Sorry about that.

Also, I would not pay any attention to vendors replies about using fabrics in a hammock application (or maybe any or most applications, but very definitely hammocks) since they know very little to nothing about hammocks and they are most certainly not going to give out advise that may get them sued at a later date - such as advising that a certain fabric is okay to use in a hammock when they haven't a clue. Just my opinion.

**BurningCedar** · 06-25-2008, 19:13

Originally Posted by TeeDee

When I emailed them a long time back, the person who got the email took several days and then replied that he had gone and got about 20 yds of the fabric and weighed it. His calculations came out to 1.84xx oz/sq yd.

I ordered 10 yards. Laid it out on the basement floor and accurately measured length and width and then weighed it. I computed the weight at 1.84xx oz/sq yd.

Sounds like 1.84 is the most definitive answer -- reported AND verified. Thanks

Originally Posted by TeeDee

Also, I would not pay any attention to vendors replies about using fabrics in a hammock application (or maybe any or most applications, but very definitely hammocks) since they know very little to nothing about hammocks and they are most certainly not going to give out advise that may get them sued at a later date - such as advising that a certain fabric is okay to use in a hammock when they haven't a clue. Just my opinion.

Absolutely agree on this.

TeeDee: Did you do a single-layer or double-layer hammock with this material? I'm personally partial to single-layer as I use my JRB quilts for warmth and don't want the extra weight of a second layer that I won't use for a pad.

Sounds like I'm ordering some poly as soon as its back in stock. Thanks for the GREAT research and finding a source

**TeeDee** · 06-25-2008, 20:02

Originally Posted by BurningCedar

...
TeeDee: Did you do a single-layer or double-layer hammock with this material? I'm personally partial to single-layer as I use my JRB quilts for warmth and don't want the extra weight of a second layer that I won't use for a pad....

I do only single layer.

In this thread I detail how I get a second layer for pads. Much better for my use.

**bry961** · 06-26-2008, 11:04

Originally Posted by TeeDee

There seems to be a LOT of confusion on the Rockywoods Micro-fiber polyester fabric.

The micro-fiber polyester ripstop I purchased is listed here as stock number 6824-3

When I emailed them a long time back, the person who got the email took several days and then replied that he had gone and got about 20 yds of the fabric and weighed it. His calculations came out to 1.84xx oz/sq yd.

I ordered 10 yards. Laid it out on the basement floor and accurately measured length and width and then weighed it. I computed the weight at 1.84xx oz/sq yd.

Now I cannot guarantee that the fabric they list under that stock number is the same fabric they listed when I ordered and they shipped. But I ordered another 10 yards when I returned and received that shipment last week. Same fabric. I again measured and weighed. Same weight per sq yard.

So, I don't know who you are talking to at Rockywoods, but the person there who answered my email very definitely knew what he was doing. I didn't keep the email I received or I would be able to tell you the name of the individual at Rockywoods that I dealt with. Sorry about that.

Also, I would not pay any attention to vendors replies about using fabrics in a hammock application (or maybe any or most applications, but very definitely hammocks) since they know very little to nothing about hammocks and they are most certainly not going to give out advise that may get them sued at a later date - such as advising that a certain fabric is okay to use in a hammock when they haven't a clue. Just my opinion.

Thanks for doing all the dirty work TeeDee, now I can afford poly and know it will actually support me!