If you have been shopping for tactical gear recently, you have probably heard a few terms thrown around about fabric strength. Sellers all want you to think they have the best tactical gear, so they will try to convince you by using tactical lingo. Terms like 600D fabric, tactical nylon, or Oxford cloth may sound enticing, but do you understand what is being said?
600D fabric means nothing if they don’t mention fabric type, and Oxford cloth refers to a type of fabric weave, and not an actual fabric. See, sellers who use terms like these are banking on the fact that you probably won’t know what they mean. They figure that if you recognize the term, you will view their product higher.
It’s a telltale sign that their product is usually made from cheap materials and/or poor quality. That’s why we decided to write this article, so you could avoid buzzwords and find the best tactical gear. Keep reading so you can learn how to find the best tactical gear for your needs.
Three Major Factors That Affect Fabric Strength and Quality
When it comes to determining the strength and quality of fabric there are many factors to consider. However, only three of these aspects will account for 99.9% of the strength and quality of fabrics. The amount of fabric, the type of fabric, and the fabric weave. These three factors will have more impact than any other characteristics.
The Amount of Fabric Used For Tactical Equipment
When testing the strength of everything, the amount of the material used will always have an impact on the force required to break it. It may not always have a positive, negative, or even linear correlation, but it will have an effect. That is why it’s very easy to break or tear aluminum foil while it’s flat and a single sheet.
Here is a fun experiment you can try. Grab a 6-inch piece of aluminum foil. Then grab another 6-inch piece and fold it in half 6 times. Rip the unfolded piece in half, and measure how easy it is to rip, then try to pull apart the folded piece.
Not so easy to rip now, is it? That is because the amount of material being used is so important to its strength. Polyester pantyhose is super easy to tear and rip, and sometimes can be torn just by attempting to put them on. A 1000D polyester tactical bag however will be nearly impossible to tear without tools.
But what does 1000D mean? What is the difference between 600D and 900D nylon? Since a single strand of fabric is usually very small, very thin, and very light, it is very difficult to measure its density. So instead, we created a standard to measure them more effectively.
The Denier
That brings us to the Denier. Without going too much into the history of the term, denier comes from the French Denier, which is an extremely small amount of money. We’ll come back to how it relates to fabric in a bit.
A Denier is a standard of measurement that determines the density of a single strand of fabric. To calculate it, take the metric weight of a single thread and measure it out 9000 meters. So, for example, a single 9000m strand of silk that weighs 1 gram is equal to one Denier or 1D.
One gram is a super small amount, and for scale look in your pantry at the smallest parcel of food you own. You should be able to see the weight in grams somewhere on the package. Now envision just 1g stretched out over 9000 meters. See where the very small amount of money comparison comes in now?
The formula to calculate the Denier of a fabric is the mass of a 9000-meter strand of fabric, divided by the entire length of 9000 meters.
When the term 600D is used, it is saying that over 9000m (5.6 miles) that a single 9000m long thread of that fabric weighs 600 grams. In terms of a single strand of fabric, it makes sense that a fabric weighing 600 grams over 9000m is thicker and therefore stronger than a thread of the same material weighing 500 grams.
A higher rating will typically be stronger than a lower rating. However, it is important to note that amount of fabric, is only relevant when talking about the same type of fabric. For example, 600D nylon and 1100D polyester are very similar in strength, even though the polyester is nearly twice as heavy.
The Best Fabric – Nylon vs Polyester
Given all other factors being the same, the type of fabric will have the greatest impact on fabric strength. However, fabric strength is just one of several key factors. That is why tactical clothes usually come from materials that offer greater comfort but offer lower durability and strength.
When trying to find the best fabric, it’s important to remember why you need fabric. For example, it does not make sense to get athletic wear made from 1000D nylon, which is heavy, inflexible, and lacks airflow. It also doesn’t make sense to make parachute chord 1D wool, because of how brittle it is.
Fabric Strength Table
In the table below we have several different fabrics at several different thread thickness levels. The cell where the column and row intersect represents the strength that the fabric has at that thickness. So for example 600D nylon has a strength rating of 12.95.
To help compare different fabrics, we created a list of fabrics and ordered them from strongest to weakest. We also listed some of the characteristics of the fabric to help determine when they will work best. It comes down to nylon vs polyester when talking about the best fabric for tactical gear.
Nylon
In our studies, we found that nylon is by far the strongest fabric. Being a synthetic material, nylon has the unique characteristics of being very light and durable. That is why it is the fabric of choice for climbing ropes and parachute cords.
Not many other fabrics can stand up to the reputation that nylon has. It offers native water resistance due to being non-porous at a microscopic level. High-quality nylon can be woven into ballistic nylon, which has bullet-stopping properties.
That’s why nylon is the fabric of choice for most tactical bags, vests, and gear in general. It offers nearly double the strength per gram as polyester while remaining somewhat easy to produce. It is flexible enough to form into wearable fabrics without compromising ruggedness.
Polyester
Polyester is a reasonable alternative to nylon for tactical gear. While it doesn’t offer the same level of durability per gram, it offers similar levels of water resistance to nylon. This is because it’s also a non-porous synthetic material. Polyester also tends to be more widely in use and therefore cheaper for assembling tactical clothing and bags.
Polyester is often mixed with other natural materials such as cotton and/or rayon to make fabrics blends. This allows the polyester to take advantage of the cotton’s best qualities in terms of comfort and printability. In other cases, polyester is blended with acrylic or nylon making more comfortable fabrics. Unfortunately, these fabric blends are rarely in tactical gear due to the loss of durability.
Silk
Silk is known for its comfort and fine quality. It is often used to make bright and colorful garments because it dyes well. Silk is also a very breathable material and offers moisture-wicking properties making it more comfortable and luxurious.
Additionally, Silk is the strongest naturally occurring fiber in tensile strength. Silk also is a very flexible material offering greater maneuverability. Its fabrics are usually smoother since they are made from finer threads.
Silk also has inherent reflective properties which add beauty. However, reflective materials are harder to camouflage. Silk is typically not used in tactical gear due to high production costs and lack of application.
Cotton
Cotton is not as strong and durable as synthetic fabrics and therefore is used mostly for clothing. It is not water-resistant and instead absorbs water. This moisture-wicking property is why most towels are made with 100% cotton.
What cotton lacks in durability and strength, it makes up for in comfort and versatility. Cotton shirts made from blended fibers tend to be more pleasant to wear. Additionally, these blends can help add strength to the fabric.
Also, Cotton is one of the better surfaces to print on due to its natural porousness. Prints done on cotton tend to maintain color better, last longer, and print clearer. That makes cotton and cotton blends a great candidate for light tactical clothing or clothing in general.
Acrylic Yarn
Acrylic yarn is what you would typically find in your grandma’s crochet basket. It’s a fully synthetic material that comes from coal and petroleum-based chemicals making it highly flammable. It’s also why moths and other insects will not try to consume them.
Acrylic yarn is relatively weak in strength but has the advantage of being non-allergenic. Acrylic yarn also cleans and is easy to wash. In addition, acrylic yarn holds in heat well and makes garments that keep warm in colder climates.
Lastly, it is a very comfortable fabric and absorbs dyes well. It is available in a range of color options and tends to be very affordable. That means that the fabric is perfect for crochet and knitting, but not the best for tactical gear.
Rayon
Rayon has the unique potential to mimic several other types of fabrics. It can be soft and shiny like silk, or dull and rough like wool. Rayon is derived from wood pulp which is mixed with a chemical cocktail to give it specific characteristics. That means rayon is semi-synthetic and takes on properties from both synthetic and natural fabrics.
In terms of strength, rayon is generally difficult to measure because it varies in form. For our test, we used 40 wt. rayon, which is the best fabric for embroidery and has similar characteristics to silk. We found that rayon breaks easily compared to the other fabrics, therefore would not be a good candidate for tactical gear.
What it lacks in strength it makes up in comfort. Rayon has the potential to be as soft as silk. When blended with stronger textiles, rayon can make clothing ultra-breathable, comfortable, and durable.
That is why we recommend rayon tri-blend for shooting range shirts. The cotton and rayon make the shirt lightweight, soft like silk, and highly breathable. The polyester adds strength to the blend giving it the durability needed for a typical range day or outdoor activity.
Wool
As the first fabric harvested by man, wool is one of the easiest fabrics to obtain. People harvest it from animals on nearly every major continent. While wool is at the bottom of our list in terms of strength, it has plenty of positive characteristics
Firstly, wool is an amazing insulator, making it a great fabric for cold climates. It has very low heat conductivity and tends to keep heat in. It can also handle direct heat well making it good for oven mitts.
Next, wool is the most reusable and recyclable fabric in the world. It can be used several times in multiple different textiles. After its textile life, people can still turn wool into thermal and acoustic insulation and can use it clean oil spills.
Wool also has a ton of other useful characteristics that make it a valuable resource. It has natural acid and fire resistance and self-extinguishes. Wool has anti-static and anti-wrinkle properties, is somewhat elastic when dry, and more so when wet. It can hold 50% of its weight in water and carry 20% without feeling soaked.
While wool is not the strongest fabric for tactical gear and clothing, it does have enough useful properties to make it valuable to the tactical world.
Synthetic vs Natural for Tactical Gear
Generally, synthetic materials will offer more strength than natural textiles. They are man-made and designed to be strong. Therefore, synthetic materials are more durable than natural materials.
When considering only strength, it makes sense that synthetic materials would be better to use for tactical gear. Natural materials tend to lack the strength required for tactical applications. Additionally, the water-resistant properties make synthetic fabrics excellent candidates for tactical bags and clothes.
However, when considering other factors such as comfort and breathability, it’s hard to compete with natural fabrics. Silk and cotton are the most comfortable options in clothing. Also, when considering wearable tactical gear, moisture-wicking is an important characteristic. Natural materials tend to capture moisture better than synthetic fabrics.
Both natural and synthetic fabrics have pros and cons that apply to specific needs. Tactical shirts and pants should be strong, but still comfortable. EDC (everyday carry) bags should be durable and tough.
The Best Fabric Weave for Tactical Gear
The fabrics weave technique will directly affect its breaking point and therefore fabric strength. A piece of cloth with a poor weave will unravel easily. A strong weave will be hard to break.
There are several different types of weaves, and many are commonly used. For tactical gear, there are three main weaves: Oxford, Ripstop, and Twill. These are the three weaves you will commonly see in a tactical item description.
Oxford Weave
The Oxford weave originates from Oxford University and is common in dress shirts. It’s a very distinct weave that has the benefit of creating added durability. The Oxford weave has a two-tone appearance due to its basket-like intertwine.
The Oxford weave creates a fabric that is typically very rough, and therefore, somewhat less comfortable versus other techniques. The weave also makes the fabric less breathable, and therefore more resistant to elements such as cold temperatures, wind, and water.
Twill Weave
The twill weave is very popular in t-shirt manufacturing. It is easily distinguishable due to its diagonal-like design. The diagonal pattern creates a relatively smooth surface that helps make the fabric more flexible.
Twill woven fabrics will not inhibit movement as much as Oxford or ripstop weaves. The twill weave also has the benefit of minimizing the appearance of stains and soils. Additionally, twill fabrics tend to have a high thread count making them more comfortable.
Ripstop Weave
The ripstop weave takes on a very distinct look with square patches and a checkerboard weave. Ripstop fabrics have the highest fabric strength of the three. The additional threading that makes the checkerboard pattern helps stop rips that form from spreading.
Ripstop fabrics restrict movement more and are heavier than twill and Oxford woven fabrics. That means added durability, which is great for bags and pouches, but additional weight and lack of breathability for wearable gear.
To Knot or Not to knot?
An interesting thing to consider is the impact that a knot has on fabric strength. Knots put a lot more fabric in one space and therefore would appear to make the fabric stronger. After all more fabric means greater strength, right?
In practice, however, knots weaken the material near the base of the knot. Violent kinks in the fabric create a weak point that will break before any other point of the fabric. So even if the knot adds a strong point to the fabric, it also creates a weak point. And let’s not forget (pun intended) that a rope is only as strong as its weakest point.
How It Ties Together
Coming around full circle let’s reiterate why all this is important. Sellers will use terms like Oxford cloth, 600D fabric, 1000D Polyester, Tactical Nylon, etc. Some of these are just buzz words to help get higher search results and don’t make sense.
If a product description only lists Oxford cloth as its material, then you don’t know the material. Remember, Oxford refers to a weaving technique and not a type of material. 600D fabric doesn’t tell you much if they don’t tell you what fabric they used. Tactical nylon could use the same thread as sheer tights.
The table above makes it easy to quickly compare different types of fabrics and their strength. We can easily see that 600D nylon is much stronger than 900D polyester. Certain blends will add certain properties to the fabric.
An Oxford 600D nylon should be a good fabric for a bag or backpack. 1000D polyester with a twill weave should offer good water-resistant properties. A rayon shirt can be as soft as silk. So on and so forth.
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