New X-Pac RX Fabrics – 100% Recycled Face Fabric & Climate Neutral

[Taylor_At_DP]

Hi All,

It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to post here, but figured it was time for an update!

We’ve recently had some exciting new fabric launches primarily with our new RX Fabrics. The RX Fabrics are the first 100% domestically sourced post consumer recycled polyester and climate neutral pack fabrics.

The RX fabrics are made from 100% post consumer recycled polyester sourced form plastic bottles in North America. The recycled fiber is spun and woven into fabric on the east coast of the US and then laminated here at DP in Putnam, Connecticut. The Dimension-Polyant production facilities are 100% climate neutral and powered by renewable electricity. The X-PLY fiber comes from the same supply chain as the face fabric. Films are sourced in New England. The RX fabrics are just about as close to a “locally sourced” textile as there can be. The backing film of the RX fabric is not yet recycled, though we are working on developing a true post-consumer recycled backing film; this quality of film simply does not exist yet with the recycled content and performance we require for X-Pac.

Avail able in three weights RX15(150d face), RX30(300d face) and RX36(300x600d) face. The RX15 is very similar to the X21 in terms or weight and hand feel.  We are really excited about these. If anyone would like some letter sized samples just give me a shout!

Cheers,
Taylor

[Roger Caffin]

Hi

I found that the way the X-Ply threads made the inside face bulge over the thread caused local wear spots, which broke through the waterproofness.
Any chance of some of these materials being available withOUT the X-Ply threads?

Cheers

[Taylor_At_DP]

Hi Roger,

We can certainly do this, it’s only a matter of demand. While this is potential failure mode, in reality very little X-Pac fails in this manner.  Certainly I could see this happening after thousands of miles thru hiking. We have modified the finishing process of X-Pac(actually a few years ago now) to reduce any chance of this failure mode actually occurring.

Cheers,

Taylor

[California Packrafting]

Hi Taylor,

I’ve been confused by the published stats from Challenge suggesting their ecopac is as durable in terms of abrasion as compatible weight nylon.

 

Will you be publishing abrasion comparisons with your normal X-Pac?

 

Also, what was the change you made to keep the x fibers from a raiding through the face fabric. There’s certainly demand for this, for backpacking I think we all agree it would be a superior fabric without the x ply. (If not as cool looking!)

 

[Taylor_At_DP]

Hello!

I can certainly understand how it is difficult to compare apples to apples. IT does not look like the Challenge tech sheet has the test parameters for the ASTM3884 test. Namely the wheel used in the test and the wheel weight. These are important parameters for the test. I have not had a chance send all of the Challenge samples to have tested independantly under the same test parameters.

However, this maybe besides the point. Which the ASTM test is an industry standard, it does not provide a very good indicator of ultimate durability. The ASTM abrasion test tend to punish rougher fabrics and reward smoother fabrics. This can be seen with rip-stop fabrics for example where the “abrasion number” is lower but the ultimate durability is very likely higher.

We added a finishing process to smooth the face fabric and limit the “peaks” in the fabric where the X-PLY yarns intersect. I do know the X-PLY adds quite a lot of stability(read: performance) to the fabric and there are certainly benefits there AND it’s cool looking. Performance technology you can see, what’s better!?

Cheers,

Taylor

[Author]

Posts