can spectra be dyed to change pack color?

Spectra is VERY difficult to dye. The KISKIL was available with a “stealth gray” dye job but even then, it was just kind of smokey.

Im an “OD” kinda guy as well… all the bright colors that backpacking gear comes in makes my head hurt. Blue, Red, Yellow, Orange… Oh, I mean Sea, Fire, Sun, and Carrot *rolls eyes*

What about olive, brown, gray??? It aint a fashion show out there…

At least GoLite is using some drab “Moss” where they used to use that obnoxious “forest” green.

I think the only part of the gust fabric that is spectra is the white ripstop grid reinforcing thread. I think the bulk of the fabric is nylon. You could probably darken it up with black dye. Personally I like a nice light gray pack, unobtrusive, but still light enought to find things deep in the interior.

“Personally I like a nice light gray pack, unobtrusive, but still light enought to find things deep in the interior.”

Light to mid-tone gray is great as a color for outdoor gear.

Coyote brown is a FANTASTIC color for shelters. It blends wonderfully for “stealth camping”, and if the shelter is made with silnylon, it still allows a REMARKABLE amount of light so it never feels dreery if your stuck inside all day.

Olives, tans, khakis, sages, dusky blue, etc… all make for wonderful clothing choices. Many are light enough in color to be useful on hot sunny days, and others are dark enough to suck up every bit of sun precious sun on a cold day, and either way, you dont look like a big blob of articial color bouncing across the landscape.

I can understand bright colors of visibility during hunting season or when going on dangerous trails/ascents/etc… but a 5 day hike on the PCT doesnt really require you look like a traffic cone does it?

getting back to the original question, the nylon should dye with a hit of brown or black and “olive up” the green. It probably wont effect the spectra, but your talking about like 5% of the overall color factor. Rit doesnt hold super well, even in cotton, but you can give the pack a good soak in a 5gal bucket full of dye, then wash it 3-4-5 times in the washing machine with a soap like Dr Bronners. That should get rid of any excess dye and leave you with a slightly duller finish overall to the pack body.

nt