What Is Ripstop Fabric?
Ripstop fabric is a durable material that is difficult to tear or "rip." Made with a nylon thread woven into other threads, ripstop is commonly used for outdoor gear such as tents, hot air balloons, sleeping bags and banners.
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Materials
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Ripstop fabric is made by weaving nylon threads into a fabric to create an interlocking pattern. The base fabric can be made from nylon, cotton, silk and polyester.
Identification
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Because of the way the nylon threads are interwoven into the material, ripstop fabric always has a box or diamond pattern visible. You may not notice it at first glance, but take a close look and the pattern is visible.
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Uses
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Ripstop fabric is commonly used in camping gear, such as tents and sleeping bags. Frequently, ripstop fabric is waterproof, which makes it ideal for outdoor uses. And, because of it's durability, it is used in many applications where it is vital that the material not fail, such as parachutes and hang glider wings. Common uses for ripstop fabric include tents and sleeping bags, sails and hot air balloons, backpacks and sports uniforms.
Benefits
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If a hole is made in ripstop fabric, the unique interwoven threads will stop that hole from ripping any further. That makes durability the greatest benefit of ripstop fabric. In addition, it can be extremely lightweight, making it ideal for uses such as packs and camping gear that are carried into a remote location.
Fun Fact
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Most people refer to ripstop fabric as "nylon ripstop fabric." While nylon is used in making ripstop fabrics, most ripstops are made from a different base fabric.
History
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Ripstop originated during World War II, in an attempt to replace silk with a less expensive material in parachutes.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Jason Miller
