A note about fabric selection
All of our fabrics have been used with great success in the manufacture of backpacks for many years - with love and care any pack can be made to do what you want it to do, but only provided the limitations of the fabric are known and understood.
Choosing the correct fabric for your application is important. In many cases, a marginal increase in fabric weight will drastically improve the strength of a pack and reduce the amount of care it requires. The heavier you anticipate your load and the rougher you expect the conditions to be, the higher spec’d fabric you should choose. Every fabric has its limitations and weaknesses but with care they can all be made to last many thousands of miles. Your pack is right there with you, directly experiencing every moment on trail. Above all, treat it right and please, oh please, use the haul loop!
Xpac fabrics
These fabrics are made out of 4 layers permanently bonded together. A white 50D backing, a 0.25mm PET film, a polyester X grid and a ripstop nylon face.
Xpac VX07
Weight: 162g per m2 / 4.8 oz per yd2
Face fabric: 70 denier double ripstop nylon
Waterproof and strong enough to be used in almost all applications. VX07 will survive an open trail like the PCT no problem, although if you are regularly going off trail or expect to be bush-wacking or abrading the pack, consider upgrading to VX21. VX07 is a great option if low weight is important and you know how to look after your gear!
Colours: Black, White, Red and Navy Blue
XPAC VX21
Weight: 203.4 g per m2 / 6 oz per yd2
Face fabric: 210 denier woven nylon
Hard wearing, waterproof and available across the range for a marginal weight gain and hugely increased strength, abrasion and tear resistance. This is the fabric to choose if you will be regularly bush-wacking or abrading your bag. Great for travel, climbing, general abuse. Quite stiff at first but softens with use.
Colours: White, Black, Slate Grey, Coyote Brown
Plum, Purple, Bahama Blue Spanish Teal,
Federal Yellow, Blaze Orange, Red
Other fabrics
Whether you want your entire pack made out of these or just a pocket or panel, Robic, and Nylon are incredible materials for outdoor applications.
210D Robic Extreema®
Weight: 180g per m2 / 5.31 oz per yd2
Face fabric: None, this is a completely woven fabric.
One of the most time tested and toughest fabrics on the market. Side pockets built with this are much more supple and less stiff than a VX pocket. Choose to have a whole pack made out of it if you wish!
Colours: Olive Green and Black
500D Nylon
Weight: 230g per m2 / 7oz per yd2
Used as standard on all back panels. Using this fabric here gives great strength to all critical seams on the sack. It is highly waterproof and much more comfortable against the skin than X-pac
Colours: Black
Fitting
If you want a custom-sized pack please take the time to measure yourself to make sure you order the correct torso length. The torso length will have no bearing on total weight or volume of the pack.
Custom-sized packs are non-refundable.
HOW TO MEASURE?
How to measure? First find a willing helper to assist you, then take a flexible tape measure or bit of string and place it on your C7 vertebrae (this is the one that sticks out when you bend your neck forward), now place your hands on the top of your hips and point your thumbs horizontally towards your spine, this is your iliac crest. Measure from the C7, following the curve of the back, to the iliac crest.
Once you have your measurement, select the correct size. If you are right on the gap between two sizes, pick the larger of the two - i.e. a 19 inch torso should choose a Large
Small 15-17 inches
Medium 17-19 inches
Large 19-21 inches
Get in touch
LET'S TALK
Please get in touch if you have any questions about materials or want us to work with you on a custom project.
Email: hello@atompacks.co.uk