While sourcing fabrics for our products, we consider properties such as woven vs. non-woven, coated vs. uncoated, and textile strength. There are many units of measurement attributed to textiles and soft sided goods manufacturing. However, the most common unit is the Denier.
Denier measures many mil-spec textiles, (especially Cordura). The higher the Denier, the more durable your textile will be, denoted as “#D”. Denier is the measure of the linear mass density of fibers per 9000 meters of the fiber. In simpler terms, Denier defines fiber thickness and weight (in grams). While it may seem like a strange and specific way to calculate the measurement, it’s actually based off the qualities of silk. A strand of silk is 1 Denier, meaning a single 9000 meter long strand of silk weighs 1 gram.
While the Denier’s measurement was based on silk, a natural fabric, it is still usable for synthetic woven fabrics, such as nylon and polyester.
Materials and Deniers We hold in stock
Fieldtex offers 400D Nylon, 600D Polyester, 1000D Cordura, and 1050D Ballistic Nylon. 1050D Ballistic Nylon is the top choice for military applications where durability, textile weight, and tear/abrasion resistance are the most important aspects. 1050D Ballistic Nylon is ideal for equipment transport carrying cases, EMS and first responder cases, and body armor plate carrier vests.
Check out our guest post on High Performance EMS’s blog: The Anatomy of A First Responder Kit. This blog discusses how the material of a professional first aid kit affects its efficacy and reliability.
While the scale for Denier may seem excessive, with some material being anywhere from 400 to 1050 times the weight of silk, the final products are still lightweight. For instance, our tactical backpacks made of 1000D Cordura, weigh less than 2 pounds while empty. This makes them extremely durable and reliable while being lightweight and comfortable.
Fieldtex has proudly supplied the United States Military and multiple military primes with high-quality bags, cases, and plate carriers. We handle orders anywhere from 100 to over 10,000 pieces.