Best Material for a Rucksack

[Floki]

Hi all,
Ive been looking for a new rucksack for days, but cant find one that suits my needs or Its to expensive so I decided to make one myself, but Im not sure with what material to go with. Ive heard and read some stuff about Cordura Nylon, Ballistic Nylon and Dyneema Ripstop Nylon...but I practically know nothing about these materials or where to get them. Ive asked all the shops in my town and nobody has even heard of these materials, so Id need to buy them overline. If anybody knows an online shop or has any experience working with these materials or knows anything about them it would help out a lot?

Cheers Floki

PS
I should mention that i will be waxing the rucksack afterwards

 

[Nohoval_Turrets]

I bought Cordura (Olive Green of course), from ProFabrics.co.uk. The particular stuff I ordered is here.

I've used it for a few bags, and it's really durable. Now the bags I've made have been mostly of the draw-cord type, for tent storage and transport, so not as elaborate as a backpack.

I don't know about the other materials you mention, but you should make sure before you buy anything that you'll be able to sew it with the equipment that you have. Some materials might be very slick and hard to work with, or require specialist equipment.

 

[Macaroon]

You don't want to be using any kind of nylon material if you want to go with a wax finish, a good canvas is what's required for that; you should be able to get hold of a decent cotton canvas somewhere in your country without too much trouble, there's not many places that haven't made use of it for various different things.

If you buy Cordura online it'll not need anything doing to it, it's designed to be a complete finished material in itself. Not particularly difficult to sew with the right needles and a bit of patience.

 

[Quixoticgeek]

I rather like the Dyneema grid stop fabric. You an buy it from extrem textile in Germany, they ship to the UK.

J

 

[Floki]

I have an old beast thanks to Sonni, its a Singer 201, so it shouldn't have a problem sewing the materials. I was thinking about canvas as well I'm only worried that it will be to weak (for a +20kg rucksack)?

 

[Macaroon]

Just do a bit of research on the canvas - all the Frost River and Duluth etc. packs seem to last very well indeed and they're all canvas, as were seamen's duffles which are still around aftewr many years of use.

 

[bilmo-p5]

It might be worthwhile to have a chat with the BCUK member, 'Peto'. He makes very nice canvas packs and is roughly in your neck of the woods so will have a good idea what fabrics may be available more local to you. I can point you in the direction of suppliers of suitable fabric in this country, if you wish, but then there's the postage to consider.

 

[Floki]

It might be worthwhile to have a chat with the BCUK member, 'Peto'. He makes very nice canvas packs and is roughly in your neck of the woods so will have a good idea what fabrics may be available more local to you. I can point you in the direction of suppliers of suitable fabric in this country, if you wish, but then there's the postage to consider.

Yeah that sounds great, ill ask Peto for some advice. The thing is my country is pretty s~~t when it comes to things like that and practically everything else, also the postage would be pretty much the same, so i was thinking of ordering overline anyway. If you can point me to some suppliers that would be great

 

[John Fenna]

I have an old beast thanks to Sonni, its a Singer 201, so it shouldn't have a problem sewing the materials. I was thinking about canvas as well I'm only worried that it will be to weak (for a +20kg rucksack)?

My canvas packs hold that kind of weight with ease and take a real pounding without sign of wear!
When I made nylon packs I used a Cordura look alike ... it too worked well!
Point North www.profabrics.co.uk/
and
Pennine Outdoor www.pennineoutdoor.co.uk/
supplied all my needs.

 

[Janne]

Would you consider placing reinforcing strips of leather on it?

I think by making your own rucksack you will get one that suits you the best. Good luck!

 

[Floki]

Would you consider placing reinforcing strips of leather on it?

I think by making your own rucksack you will get one that suits you the best. Good luck!

Yeah I decided on a waxed canvas material and all of the outer accessories will be made out of leather. Id love to get the salt and pepper canvas, but so far i had no luck finding it.

 

[dewi]

I'd second (or third) Cordura...its widely used as a durable material and it looks good. For instance, its used by the Prop Shop and other prop companies for suits used in the film industry... they rely on it to perform not only on camera, but also for stunts etc.

Personally I love the look of waxed canvas coupled with leather... something about it... but whether that is the best build material for a rucksack is another matter.

 

[Janne]

Canvas and leather is far more high maintainance, but more traditional and beautiful.
I look forward seeing the end result!

Btw, do you plan to do some kind of frame too?

 

[Floki]

I agree that Cordura might be a batter/stronger material however i just love the look of canvas and leather together, its just something about it I dont attend on making a frame i think ill try and add some padding for batter comfort.

 

[Floki]

Ive got a question about waxing canvas, should i wax the fabric before i sew it together or should i wax the rucksack when its already made?

 

[dewi]

You'll get much better coverage of the canvas if you wax it prior to stitching, but you can always wax the stitch lines again after you've sewn it together.

Have you got a pattern in mind for your bag?

 

[Floki]

You'll get much better coverage of the canvas if you wax it prior to stitching, but you can always wax the stitch lines again after you've sewn it together.

Have you got a pattern in mind for your bag?

Well im inspired by the old WWI and II rucksacks and i love the simple design of the roll up bags, so i think ill try mixing it up a bit, but i'll definitely keep it as traditional as possible (leather and waxed canvas)

 

[dewi]

I bought some leather recently, will have to look up what it was, but a bit of water on it and it looked properly aged. Really nice leather for a bag.

Same as though, I love the old bags and the roll ups. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with... have you already got the canvas? I went to the local fabric shop recently and they recommended a sailmaker near Manchester who sells heavy duty canvas. I want some for making a tool bag... thinking a mix of canvas and leather on it.

 

[Floki]

I bought some leather recently, will have to look up what it was, but a bit of water on it and it looked properly aged. Really nice leather for a bag.

Same as though, I love the old bags and the roll ups. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with... have you already got the canvas? I went to the local fabric shop recently and they recommended a sailmaker near Manchester who sells heavy duty canvas. I want some for making a tool bag... thinking a mix of canvas and leather on it.

Do you mind me asking where did you get the leather, because i've been having trouble getting it lately? No i havent bought the canvas yet, i looked at some of the links, but it just seem that i cant find that old WWII color that im looking for :/

 

[dewi]

I've been buying leather from my local Tandy... it is fairly close to where I live, and whilst it isn't the cheapest, they have given me lots of advice on leather and tools. I've bought such a variety of leather of all different types and sizes, I'm having trouble identifying what the leather I was talking about is. I'll grab a piccy of it, its a shoulder, I know that much.

With the canvas, I doubt you'll find the colour you're after... you'll have to dye it. More than happy when I get some canvas to post you a small bit, see if its what you're looking for. I know how hard it is to find certain materials, and tools for that matter. I've been looking for a particular tool for a week now, but not knowing what is called is a pain in the backside. I've been round countless DIY stores, the leather place... even tried the local tool warehouse... either the tool only exists in the United States, or I'm useless at finding it here.