600D Polyester or 500D Nylon what is the best fabric for your Backpack
600D Polyester is a logical choice when you search for the best fabric for your new outdoor bag projects, like a backpack. The 500D Nylon is less used in the industry, this post will help you to understand why by comparing the 600D polyester and 500D Nylon fabric on seven characteristics.
First let’s explain more about the fabric, Nylon or Polyester that we recommend for outdoor or heavy sports bags.
What is 600D polyester exactly?
600D polyester fabrics are offered in several thicknesses which include 600D, 300D, 400D, 500D, 210D and more. Several of the deniers, such as the 210D, 300D are light-weight fabric. Denier is the unit of measuring that is utilized to define the fibre thickness of individual threads utilized in the formation of the fabrics. Fabrics with a higher denier count tend to be thicker, sturdy, and durable. Fabrics with a lower denier count tend to be less sheer, soft, and silky. 600D polyester fabric means single strand of 9000 meters silk its weight 600 gram.
What about 500D Nylon
500D Nylon is a popular choice for outdoor and military tactical gear. This fabric is tested and meets the high military standards for like strength and colorfastness. Nylon is used for in many different end products.
Nylon is an artificial polymer, also known as thermoplastic, and typically comes from petrol. Travelers commonly use nylon as a fabric due to its smoothness, minimal weight, and very durable nature. Moreover, being a flexible fibre, it can be modified into any shape or design by merely adding a decluttering agent to it during the molten stage of manufacturing.
- 1. Strength
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Nylon is typically a stronger fiber than polyester and the 500D Nylon confirms this. Nylon is very stretchable compared to other materials, meaning it can comfortably accommodate large amounts of luggage without breaking apart. Additionally, due to its excellent flexibility, the material can comfortably return to its original form after being stretched without any wrinkles or creases. Generally, when this material is stretched out, the fibres become thin and soft but still retain their strength.
However, the 600D Polyester fabric is a very versatile as well. This polyester fabric weighs nearly the same as the 500D Nylon and is used for rugged, durable products. With proper care and maintenance, polyester can last anywhere from 5 to 15 years without wearing away. Moreover, once matted down, it won’t spring back and cause inconvenience like other materials often do. Apart from being long-lasting, polyester is also recyclable and thus safe for the environment. And even after use, it can still be broken down into a fabric and applied to create new material for another backpack.
When fabric strength is important, 500D Nylon is stronger than the 600D Polyester. However they are both good choices for a strong solution.
- Colorfastness
- The 500D Nylon scores better here due to the fact it is pigment printed instead of transfer printed. It might not look as nice, but it will do better against the sun’s UV rays than the transfer printed poly will. 600D Polyester is transfer printed and tends to fade faster in direct sunlight
- Water repellence
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Both the 500D Nylon and 600D Polyester fabrics come equipped with Durable Water Repellency or DWR and PU coating on the back. This is the industry standard for waterproofing outdoor fabrics.
Nylon is impermeable by nature, so if water or any other liquid falls onto it, you can expect it to quickly roll off the surface and for the nylon to dry promptly. This property makes nylon backpacks the ideal choice if you’re traveling to a tropical area, where other bags made from absorbent materials may easily get soaked and destroy the possessions you’ve stored inside.
In places that experience high humidity levels and frequent rain, polyester is an ideal material to use for a travel backpack since it offers a much faster drying time. You don’t have to wait long hours for your bag to dry to continue with your journey. It is also resistant to mildew that often grows in other materials when they are kept in one place for an extended period. Additionally, unlike other fabrics such as nylon, polyester is highly resistant to stains and is therefore safe to use in any environment, even those that typically experience a lot of wind and dust. Washing is also very easy, and you only need to dry clean the surface with a piece of cloth to have the material looking fresh again.
- Print Quality
- The 600D polyester fabric utilizes transfer printing that achieves stunning detail and image quality. Together with the smooth print surface of the polyester, it produces an almost photographic image. This earns it an advantage over the 500D nylon. The pigment printed nylon looks great, but the textured surface of the nylon fabric along with the pigment printing tend to give it more rugged and less defined print lines.
- Cleanability
- Nylon and Polyester fabrics are 100% synthetic and have, as mentioned, DWR treatment. This makes them both resistant to mould and mildew, while allowing them to shed any water-based mess. However, the polyester has a slicker surface than the textured, rugged feel of the nylon. The 600D Polyester is easier to clean.
- Affordability
- The 500D Nylon, with the extra strength characteristics, costs more than the 600D polyester. Both are at the higher end of the fabric pricing range, but they will last longer and perform outdoors brilliantly. Your clients will never get disappointed.
So, what fabric to choose?
Nylon is typically considered the most durable backpack material. It’s waterproof and able to withstand rugged terrains without getting damaged. For this reason, nylon is a wonderful material for outdoor use, especially when it comes to camping and hiking.
Polyester is more stain-resistant and easy to clean, further polyester is more water-resistant and dries faster than nylon after washing.
When comparing nylon vs. polyester backpack fabrics, it’s important to remember that each of these materials has its own unique properties that make them ideal travel backpacks for certain individuals.
For instance, nylon is naturally stronger than polyester when measured on a weight-for-weight scale. However, since polyester is a finer thread of fabric, it can easily be stitched at a higher thread count to achieve an equal level of strength.
Additionally, nylon is much more flexible than polyester because it absorbs a minimal amount of water during use, while polyester doesn’t absorb any liquids at all.
Nevertheless, this slight water-absorption means that nylon doesn’t retain its color well, so it can fade if one exposes it to the sunlight too often. On the other hand, polyester has stronger dye bonds that don’t get easily affected by UV radiation from the sun.
We can help to make the right choice of fabric
Contact our sales team to discuss the fabric needs of your new backpack project, and they can share all benefits for you and your clients of 600D Polyester!