Finding the right nylon fabric

[gearhead]

Ahoi!

I'm currently struggling to find the correlation between the various yarn/fabric definitions of nylon and the fabric in windbreakers/packable rainwear. In particular Dex and Den (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_of_ ... easurement). For instance what is the classic Peter Storm 210T/210D or something else? Same with current packable cagoules which are of finer weave - what is their technical spec of the fabric?

Simply put I want to find out what the tech specs are so I can order the correct fabric and make cagoule-type fabric bedding. My pyjamas is K-Way, Regatta, Peter Storm and 1970-80s adidas ventex nylon windbreakers, and I simply must have the bedding in similar material.

I know that http://www.tianyoutextile.com/ makes great beddings, because I already have one from them, but its of the finest yarn, that of Moncler puffer jackets, so there is no rainwear "swishyness", and they are rather clueless as to specs or sending better pics for me to compare.

Here are some examples of what I think is close to cagoule rainwear:
https://www.technical-fabrics.com/nylon ... wear-bags/
https://www.quality-fabric.com/nylon-21 ... -membrane/

On ebay, there are several listings with nylon fabric, but they use a vague designation of 50oz - e.g:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WATERPROOF-5 ... 1303702792

Some describe grams per metre, but that does not help much in how coarse or fine the fabric/yarn is.

Hopefully some of you have been delving into this before and have found some ways to find the right fabric and made the perfect bedding - basically Peter Storm, Regatta, K-way all know their stuff as they have the right material in their packables, but how to find the fabric for sale?

I find many of the fetish sites selling pvc, nylon and plastic bedding are omitting so much of the amazing qualities of fabrics out there (seen in clothes), and as such I, and others too I suspect, have to resort to making my own stuff.

SwishSwish!

[reversiblepete]

I'm in the same boat at the moment. I want to make some maids outfits and circle skirts for my wife out of the same material.
I agree it's a nightmare to figure out.
I've consigned myself to never finding the right thing cause i assume they will all be special orders for specific companies that put r&d in to the coatings.

Many of the eBay sellers do offer samples which I am waiting delivery on a few to try out.

[gearhead]

I will have to buy samples as well, definitely, but for instance the two best candidates I linked above (quality-fabric and technical-fabrics.com), only seem to cater to clothing manufacturers, so what to do - it's so frustrating.

Do you sew yourself, or do you have a pro or a company sewing for you? I'm kind of not wanting to ask a regular tailor or ready-made service to do my nylon bedding. But I see so few options to get what I want, other than buying a sewing machine and make it myself.

[reversiblepete]

I'm sewing myself. It's not really that hard skill to pic up for basic items.
And we live in the future where there is almost definitely a high def tutorial of anything you want on YouTube

I've made some cool stuff with very little know how. You could wip up a load yourself if you find the right fabric and by the time you've done a few any investment in to hobby materials will have paid for itself over a seamstress.

Let me know if you have any luck on the fabric front

[gearhead]

It shouldn't be hard, and as you say - never been easier to learn with unlimited tutorials.

Ditto - please update with your findings on your samples! Btw - do you have links to what you've sampled?

[annabell-cagoule]

Alot of companies nower days use Oz per m and weave and wheft measurements, fabric came along way since the 70’s and 80’s technology and what they were using then.
Alot also had to do with the coatings it would take and the durability of the fabric at its intended end use (outdoor pursuits of walking and climbing).

It might be near impossible to find that old fabrics, the closest i can see nower days being regatta stormbreak fabric that they call hydrofort, it’s the closest and you could probably buy the fabric as mountain warehouse use the same fabric from regatta.

Their isolite fabric isnt far off either and comes in different fabrics thickness. Some googling might reveal their manufacturers. Or see if some at Size? Could help? They had the peter storms remade in similar fabric. K Way use similar in their claude cagoules, so the fabric is being produced and i can guarantee that those fabrics are bought from a material manufacturers somewhere far east and those guys will sell to anyone who wants to make a copy or their own stuff.

Another avenue is to chat to the uk fabric resellers on ebay who sell outdoor fabrics, i can’t remember who the big sellers used to be, i think they were called Outdoor Fabrics, Lancashire way i think, they may know or even have some old rolls of material kicking about as they used to sell the same fabric so you could make your own. My mum bought some from them to make us cagoules when we were younger for holidays in france and norway.

Hope that helps, if i cam remember more i will post

[annabell-cagoule]

I remembered straight after the post,

Pennine Outdoor are the folks, here is a link to some of their non breathable lightweight nylon fabrics.

I am sure if you chat to them they will know exactly what you want as they used to stock it back in the day and make cagoules for outdoor centres.

https://www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/fabric ... ium-weight

Good luck!!!

[gearhead]

Oz or gms per m/sq m is not very specific or scientific unfortunately, and making it very hard to compare products without physical samples in your hand. In many industries you have ISO standards and QA metrics that enables us to know exactly the difference or similarities, so that the comparison is not between apples and oranges. As long as the fabric is polyamid or nylon, knowing the yarn size and density of weave you'll find many produced today that are just like the old ones, but with coating as per current technology - e.g. breathable PU type. Some say the fabric is oxford nylon, others taffeta, some even polyester (!), yet there is no scientific data of the difference of the two, so two manufacturers offering taffeta will be different. All the fetish sites offering nylon are only focusing on shiny/glanz, etc, and have no additional spec, which I find strange as fetishists are very specific. I for one like shiny and smooth, but must have sound! Without swish in the specific pitch the other two senses are not enough.

The Regatta isolite 5000 is deffo just like the olden times.

Thanks for the link, which is a site I have not come across, which is exactly why sites like rainwearcentral is so important, as there is only so much you can find googling. I will definitely keep them on my to-do list, as being in the UK, they will know exactly what I mean when pointing to Regatta and Peter Storm models.

They also provide few specs of the materials though, so again samples must be ordered. So far the Chinese manufacturers (which I listed in my origonal post) have been the best at specs, but they sell minimums at 100-1000m (!)...

It's pretty hilarious or incredible, depending on the onlooker, how much knowledge we have on fabrics....

Do you know anyone able to make nylon bedding, btw?

[reversiblepete]

It might be near impossible to find that old fabrics, the closest i can see nower days being regatta stormbreak fabric that they call hydrofort, it’s the closest and you could probably buy the fabric as mountain warehouse use the same fabric from regatta.

I think another contributing factor is that many of the plasticisers that made them feel rubbery and have yummy aromas are now band from use in manufacture.

[annabell-cagoule]

Alot has changed since the 70’s

Sorry don’t know anyone who can make bedding, you might have to sew them yourself

I think Pennine are your best bet