Fabric
Intrepid
Intrepid is a 20 denier micro rip-stop fabric that weighs 1oz per square yard. Intrepid is DWR treated with a cire
finish one side, making it very water resistant while maintaining good breathability. Intrepid is similar in weight,
breathability, and appearance to Pertex Quantum, with better water resistance.
finish one side, making it very water resistant while maintaining good breathability. Intrepid is similar in weight,
breathability, and appearance to Pertex Quantum, with better water resistance.
Reflect-Tex
We are very excited about Reflect-Tex, this 1.1oz base fabric has a silicone-uerathane coating applied to it,
with thermal/solar reflective properties. This fabric has the same weight and characteristics of sil-nylon, with
added heat and light reflectance. What this fabric can for you: We have identified three ways in which the
reflective properties of this fabric are beneficial and applicable to Titanium Goat products. First, as bottoms in
our Reflect-Tex bivys. The fabric is waterproof, just like Sil-nylon, but with the added benefit of reflecting lost
heat (infrared) from a body, back onto itself. It also has very low conductive properties, so heat is not lost into
the ground as easily. Second, as a tent and tarp shell fabric. With the reflective coating to the outside of the
shelter, it reflects solar (ultra-violet) light off of the covered area for an effective shady spot, and complete
protection from the sun. Sil-nylon might keep most of the sun off, but it does not provide effective shade, in
fact temps tend to rise with sil between you and the sun. Third, also as a tent and tarp canopy, but with the
reflective coating to the inside. With the coating to the inside, heat (infrared) is reflected back onto the interior
of the shelter, making lanterns, stoves, and body heat more effective. In an open front tarp configuration, a
small fire place just outside, becomes a very effective means of heating your shelter. Made in the USA
with thermal/solar reflective properties. This fabric has the same weight and characteristics of sil-nylon, with
added heat and light reflectance. What this fabric can for you: We have identified three ways in which the
reflective properties of this fabric are beneficial and applicable to Titanium Goat products. First, as bottoms in
our Reflect-Tex bivys. The fabric is waterproof, just like Sil-nylon, but with the added benefit of reflecting lost
heat (infrared) from a body, back onto itself. It also has very low conductive properties, so heat is not lost into
the ground as easily. Second, as a tent and tarp shell fabric. With the reflective coating to the outside of the
shelter, it reflects solar (ultra-violet) light off of the covered area for an effective shady spot, and complete
protection from the sun. Sil-nylon might keep most of the sun off, but it does not provide effective shade, in
fact temps tend to rise with sil between you and the sun. Third, also as a tent and tarp canopy, but with the
reflective coating to the inside. With the coating to the inside, heat (infrared) is reflected back onto the interior
of the shelter, making lanterns, stoves, and body heat more effective. In an open front tarp configuration, a
small fire place just outside, becomes a very effective means of heating your shelter. Made in the USA
Coatings
DWR, What is it? And how does it work
DWR is a fabric treatment, DWR stands for Durable, Water, Resistant. This durable water resistant treatment coats the fibers of the fabric
with a hydrophobic finish, that causes water to bead up and roll off of the fabric. The DWR treatment does not close off the tiny
openings between the fibers of the fabric, in turn keeping the fabric breathable. What this does in our tents, is keep the water out, while
allowing condensation to escape.
How this all plays out in the real world: The DWR treatment does have its limitations, While under about %90 of humidity conditions it
will either negate or severely reduce condensation, once you hit dew point (dependant on humidity and temperature conditions) it
wont matter what the fabric is treated with you will have condensation. When it comes to rain, there is a "breaking point" for what can
be held back also. The fabric can be overwhelmed with heavy and prolonged rains, This can be exacerbated by heavy winds that can
force water through the tent. Under extreme conditions this can lead to water dripping on you through the fabric.
So if you want a shelter to shield you from winds and moderate precipitation, and want something that doesnt have ever present
condensation issues, IE dripping on you when its nice outside, then DWR is the choice for you. DWR also excells in winter conditions.
Think of it like lite weight breathable rain gear, it works under moderate conditions, without getting you all sweaty
with a hydrophobic finish, that causes water to bead up and roll off of the fabric. The DWR treatment does not close off the tiny
openings between the fibers of the fabric, in turn keeping the fabric breathable. What this does in our tents, is keep the water out, while
allowing condensation to escape.
How this all plays out in the real world: The DWR treatment does have its limitations, While under about %90 of humidity conditions it
will either negate or severely reduce condensation, once you hit dew point (dependant on humidity and temperature conditions) it
wont matter what the fabric is treated with you will have condensation. When it comes to rain, there is a "breaking point" for what can
be held back also. The fabric can be overwhelmed with heavy and prolonged rains, This can be exacerbated by heavy winds that can
force water through the tent. Under extreme conditions this can lead to water dripping on you through the fabric.
So if you want a shelter to shield you from winds and moderate precipitation, and want something that doesnt have ever present
condensation issues, IE dripping on you when its nice outside, then DWR is the choice for you. DWR also excells in winter conditions.
Think of it like lite weight breathable rain gear, it works under moderate conditions, without getting you all sweaty
Sil-nylon
Silicone impregated nylon, AKA Silny, Sil-nylon, silicone coated both sides, parachute fabric,
paraglider cloth, ripstop zero porosity, etc. Whatever you call it, it is all essentially the same thing,
ripstop nylon that has been completely coated with silicone. The complete silicone coating makes
this fabric water proof. While being completely waterproof has its advantages, it also has its down
sides, such as condensation. We us US made sil-nylon.
paraglider cloth, ripstop zero porosity, etc. Whatever you call it, it is all essentially the same thing,
ripstop nylon that has been completely coated with silicone. The complete silicone coating makes
this fabric water proof. While being completely waterproof has its advantages, it also has its down
sides, such as condensation. We us US made sil-nylon.
Fabric strength
There are many ways in which fabric is tested for strength, we will be sticking with tongue tear strength, grab tear strength, and
puncture resistance. Below is a description and explanation of what each test is, and the numbers that go with each test and fabric.
Tongue tear strength, is the measurement of force required to continue a rip through a piece of fabric. The test is performed by
dragging a small diameter pin through the fabric, causing a rip, and continuing the tear through the fabric. The tongue tear strength
of Sil-nylon is approximately 13 lbs, while the tongue tear strength for DWR treated nylon is approximately 9 lbs. So if you had a tear
in your sil-nylon tent it would require 13 lbs of force to make it longer, and 9 lbs in a DWR treated tent. These numbers are according
to industry standard testing, But in real world use may not be accurate. Here is how one person in the fabric industry explains it,
"Resistance to tearing in a woven fabric is a complex business depending on many variables. Fortunately it is usually sufficient to look
at only two variables; yarn tenacity (breaking strength), and finish firmness.
Finish firmness, either coating or impregnation, can make things complicated. A firm finish, bonded tightly to the yarns is often
desirable to decrease stretch. But, this type of finish also decreases tear strength.
An important mechanism in resisting tears in fabrics is the movement of individual yarns so as to bunch at the leading edge of the tear
and create a smoothed out reinforced area to stop the tear. This is why cheese cloth is so difficult to tear even though the yarns are
relatively weak. Flyers will also recognize the similarity with the practice of drilling a small hole at the leading edge of a crack in
aluminum aircraft skins."
Silicone impregnation would be considered a firm finish, but most of this is mute seeing as how the grids in ripstop nylon are there to
help keep small rips and tears in check.
Grab tear strength, is the measurement of force required to tear a piece of fabric into two pieces. Grab tear strength is based on the
breaking strength of the individual threads of the fabric working in conjunction with each other. In this case this is measured across a
three inch width piece of fabric. Both Sil-nylon and DWR treated nylon have the same breaking strength of approximately 145+ lbs.
puncture resistance. Below is a description and explanation of what each test is, and the numbers that go with each test and fabric.
Tongue tear strength, is the measurement of force required to continue a rip through a piece of fabric. The test is performed by
dragging a small diameter pin through the fabric, causing a rip, and continuing the tear through the fabric. The tongue tear strength
of Sil-nylon is approximately 13 lbs, while the tongue tear strength for DWR treated nylon is approximately 9 lbs. So if you had a tear
in your sil-nylon tent it would require 13 lbs of force to make it longer, and 9 lbs in a DWR treated tent. These numbers are according
to industry standard testing, But in real world use may not be accurate. Here is how one person in the fabric industry explains it,
"Resistance to tearing in a woven fabric is a complex business depending on many variables. Fortunately it is usually sufficient to look
at only two variables; yarn tenacity (breaking strength), and finish firmness.
Finish firmness, either coating or impregnation, can make things complicated. A firm finish, bonded tightly to the yarns is often
desirable to decrease stretch. But, this type of finish also decreases tear strength.
An important mechanism in resisting tears in fabrics is the movement of individual yarns so as to bunch at the leading edge of the tear
and create a smoothed out reinforced area to stop the tear. This is why cheese cloth is so difficult to tear even though the yarns are
relatively weak. Flyers will also recognize the similarity with the practice of drilling a small hole at the leading edge of a crack in
aluminum aircraft skins."
Silicone impregnation would be considered a firm finish, but most of this is mute seeing as how the grids in ripstop nylon are there to
help keep small rips and tears in check.
Grab tear strength, is the measurement of force required to tear a piece of fabric into two pieces. Grab tear strength is based on the
breaking strength of the individual threads of the fabric working in conjunction with each other. In this case this is measured across a
three inch width piece of fabric. Both Sil-nylon and DWR treated nylon have the same breaking strength of approximately 145+ lbs.
Flammability
It has been shown that silicone impregnated fabrics burn at a higher rate than untreated fabrics. Our testing has shown that the DWR
treated fabric will not hold a flame, that is continue to burn, in the absence of an ignition source. That is to say that the DWR treated
fabric will burn if there is a fame held to it, but will not continue to burn when the flame is taken away. Silicone impregnated fabrics
will continue to burn on there own, after the ignition source has been removed. Below is a photo of two samples of fabric
approximately 1' square, that were wadded up with a stick match placed on top of each of them for an ignition source. The sample
on the left is DWR treated, and the sample on the right is sil-nylon.
treated fabric will not hold a flame, that is continue to burn, in the absence of an ignition source. That is to say that the DWR treated
fabric will burn if there is a fame held to it, but will not continue to burn when the flame is taken away. Silicone impregnated fabrics
will continue to burn on there own, after the ignition source has been removed. Below is a photo of two samples of fabric
approximately 1' square, that were wadded up with a stick match placed on top of each of them for an ignition source. The sample
on the left is DWR treated, and the sample on the right is sil-nylon.
