Backpack fabric

Since I was in the design stage and had limited sewing skills, I opted for cost and function. $4 a yard pack cloth vs $20 a yard specialty fabrics. Many people have mixed fabrics to account for higher wear areas…I will also on my next pack. Hiking style and location are a big factor also. If you are going to be in a remote area or on a well travelled trail…can you afford a breakdown.
I can't call any of the gear that I have made ultralight, although they are lighter than the commercially available counterparts.

I enjoy seeing all of the new pack innovations from members on this site.

Dave

My current pack is a 3# suspended mesh back panel MYOG 50L of spectra gridstop that weighs around 4 oz/yd with the coating. It has held up very well for years, so don't see the point of doing one with 5 oz Xpac. That is going in the wrong direction, weightwise, IMO.

Could cut the weight by at least half by going to either 1.5 oz cuben or sil-coated 1.9 oz nylon, and building a lighter frame out of carbon or FG rod to suspend a mesh back panel. Not sure that the cuben would be worth the greater cost, and being an old fuddy-duddy, the feel of nylon cloth appeals to me more if it is not that much heavier.

For those needing a bomb proof pack for trail work, climbing or whatever, the heavier Xpac probably makes sense. For backpacking trails, or off-trail in open country, the lighter pack will be fine, IMO, and contribute greatly to reducing overall weight.

For sake of comfort, I am willing to suffer the additional weight of a suspended mesh frame, but that is apart from the fabric issue raised by your thread.