If you start digging into ultralight gear, you’ll quickly notice that many brands constantly talk about the fabrics they use.
Ultra, Dyneema, Robic, Silnylon, Polartec… the list can be long and a bit confusing if you’re not familiar with these materials.
The reality is that a big part of how your backcountry kit performs depends on the fabric it’s made from. Weight, strength, waterproofness, and durability are directly tied to the material used.
When I started cutting down my base weight, I had to understand how these materials worked so I could choose wisely.
In this article I’ll explain the most commonly used ultralight materials in today’s outdoor gear industry, grouped by the type of equipment where they’re used.
Ultralight materials in backpacks
Ultra (Ultra 200 / Ultra 400)
Ultra is one of the newest fabrics being used in ultralight backpacks.
It was developed by Challenge Sailcloth and uses UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) fibers, the same type of fiber used in Dyneema.
Key advantages:
High abrasion resistance
Excellent tear strength
Waterproofness
Relatively low weight
Because of these characteristics, it has become one of the most commonly used fabrics in modern ultralight backpacks.
The most common versions are Ultra 200 and Ultra 400, which refer to the fabric’s weight and strength.
Robic Nylon
Robic is an upgraded version of nylon designed to offer better abrasion resistance.
It’s widely used in ultralight backpacks because it maintains a solid balance of weight, durability, and price.
Many technical packs use Robic as the main fabric thanks to its balance of low weight and toughness.
Cordura
Cordura is a family of nylon fabrics that are extremely abrasion-resistant.
It’s used in high-wear areas like backpacks, external pockets, or reinforcements.
Compared to other materials:
10 times more durable than cotton
3 times more durable than polyester
2 times more durable than standard nylon
For this reason, Cordura is very commonly found in military gear and high-durability backpacks.
Ultralight materials in shelters and tents
Silnylon
Silnylon is one of the most classic materials in ultralight tents.
It’s nylon coated with silicone to improve waterproofing.
Key features:
Very lightweight
High tear strength
Highly packable
Its main drawback is that it stretches when wet, so you may need to re-tension the shelter during rain.
Silpoly
Silpoly is a modern alternative to Silnylon.
It’s made from polyester coated with silicone.
Its main advantage is that it doesn’t stretch when wet, helping the shelter hold its pitch better in the rain.
That’s why many modern ultralight tents are adopting this material.
Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF)
Dyneema Composite Fabric is one of the most advanced materials used in ultralight shelters.
It’s made of Dyneema fibers laminated between layers of protective material.
Main advantages:
Extremely lightweight
Fully waterproof
Doesn’t absorb water
High tear strength
Its main drawback is the price, which is usually significantly higher than other fabrics.
Tyvek
Tyvek is a material made by DuPont from non-woven polyethylene fibers.
It’s mainly used as a groundsheet for tents or shelters.
Key features:
Waterproof
Lightweight
Breathable
Durable
Materials in technical clothing
Merino wool
Merino wool is one of the most widely used fabrics in technical mountain clothing.
It stands out for its ability to regulate body temperature and resist odor.
That’s why it’s commonly found in T-shirts, base layers, and hiking socks.
Polartec
Polartec is a family of technical fabrics developed specifically for mountain clothing.
Some of the best known are:
Polartec Power Grid
Polartec Alpha
Polartec Power Stretch
These fabrics are used in midlayers and thermal garments because they strike a good balance between insulation, breathability, and weight.
Technical polyester
Technical polyester is widely used in mountain clothing thanks to its quick-drying performance.
It’s commonly found in technical T-shirts and base layers.
Its main advantage is that it wicks moisture effectively and dries much faster than natural fabrics like cotton.
Choosing the right material
There isn’t one single perfect material for everything.
Each fabric has pros and cons depending on how you’ll use it.
That’s why outdoor gear brands combine different materials depending on the type of product.
Understanding how each of these fabrics works will help you choose better, and optimize both the weight and performance of your kit.
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Ultralight materials: the most commonly used fabrics in mountain gear
Discover the most used ultralight materials in mountain gear: Ultra, Dyneema, Robic, Silnylon, Polartec, and more.
If you start digging into ultralight gear, you’ll quickly notice that many brands constantly talk about the fabrics they use.
Ultra, Dyneema, Robic, Silnylon, Polartec… the list can be long and a bit confusing if you’re not familiar with these materials.
The reality is that a big part of how your backcountry kit performs depends on the fabric it’s made from. Weight, strength, waterproofness, and durability are directly tied to the material used.
When I started cutting down my base weight, I had to understand how these materials worked so I could choose wisely.
In this article I’ll explain the most commonly used ultralight materials in today’s outdoor gear industry, grouped by the type of equipment where they’re used.
Ultralight materials in backpacks
Ultra (Ultra 200 / Ultra 400)
Ultra is one of the newest fabrics being used in ultralight backpacks.
It was developed by Challenge Sailcloth and uses UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) fibers, the same type of fiber used in Dyneema.
Key advantages:
Because of these characteristics, it has become one of the most commonly used fabrics in modern ultralight backpacks.
The most common versions are Ultra 200 and Ultra 400, which refer to the fabric’s weight and strength.
Robic Nylon
Robic is an upgraded version of nylon designed to offer better abrasion resistance.
It’s widely used in ultralight backpacks because it maintains a solid balance of weight, durability, and price.
Many technical packs use Robic as the main fabric thanks to its balance of low weight and toughness.
Cordura
Cordura is a family of nylon fabrics that are extremely abrasion-resistant.
It’s used in high-wear areas like backpacks, external pockets, or reinforcements.
Compared to other materials:
For this reason, Cordura is very commonly found in military gear and high-durability backpacks.
Ultralight materials in shelters and tents
Silnylon
Silnylon is one of the most classic materials in ultralight tents.
It’s nylon coated with silicone to improve waterproofing.
Key features:
Its main drawback is that it stretches when wet, so you may need to re-tension the shelter during rain.
Silpoly
Silpoly is a modern alternative to Silnylon.
It’s made from polyester coated with silicone.
Its main advantage is that it doesn’t stretch when wet, helping the shelter hold its pitch better in the rain.
That’s why many modern ultralight tents are adopting this material.
Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF)
Dyneema Composite Fabric is one of the most advanced materials used in ultralight shelters.
It’s made of Dyneema fibers laminated between layers of protective material.
Main advantages:
Its main drawback is the price, which is usually significantly higher than other fabrics.
Tyvek
Tyvek is a material made by DuPont from non-woven polyethylene fibers.
It’s mainly used as a groundsheet for tents or shelters.
Key features:
Materials in technical clothing
Merino wool
Merino wool is one of the most widely used fabrics in technical mountain clothing.
It stands out for its ability to regulate body temperature and resist odor.
That’s why it’s commonly found in T-shirts, base layers, and hiking socks.
Polartec
Polartec is a family of technical fabrics developed specifically for mountain clothing.
Some of the best known are:
These fabrics are used in midlayers and thermal garments because they strike a good balance between insulation, breathability, and weight.
Technical polyester
Technical polyester is widely used in mountain clothing thanks to its quick-drying performance.
It’s commonly found in technical T-shirts and base layers.
Its main advantage is that it wicks moisture effectively and dries much faster than natural fabrics like cotton.
Choosing the right material
There isn’t one single perfect material for everything.
Each fabric has pros and cons depending on how you’ll use it.
That’s why outdoor gear brands combine different materials depending on the type of product.
Understanding how each of these fabrics works will help you choose better, and optimize both the weight and performance of your kit.
Would you like us to notify you when we publish another article?