I recently had a custom piece made by Chris Zimmer and forgot to ask him about the water resistance of Dyneema D40. I've bothered him enough with relentless e-mails. Anyone here have a quick answer for me? Google was no help.

If it is waterproof, anyone know the hydrostatic head? If it isn't, anyone know if it can be treated with DWR/Nikwax?

Thanks, BPL.

I am assuming you mean DX40 (the dyneema-polyester blend from dimension polyant). It is laminated and is completely waterproof. I don't know the hh, but you don't have to worry about it. It's waterproof.

Also, for future reference, dwr is not a waterproofing. It will keep the fabric from wetting out for a while, but it eventually relents.

Edited by mpd1690 on 01/28/2013 21:22:56 MST.

Yep. DWR is better than nothing, but it's irrelevant if it's waterproof material. Awesome to know my new gear is waterproof, since this wasn't a requirement from inception. I am thrilled.

Does the laminate wear out like DWR, or is it pretty durable? Sorry, I know nothing about the fabric, I just took the expert's advice on it being the toughest.

Chris referred to it as D40, not DX40, and he's the packmaker. Don't know if it's an abbreviation or a separate fabric, because I have no experience.

From Chris Zimmer:

"I do not have any pure 100% Dyneema material, but I do have some D40, (also known as DX40, but without the black X ply yarn) it has a good amount of dyneema on the face fabric and is a very burly material."

If it is what I'm assuming, then you are fine. The material is really tough. I actually put together a pack bottom today with it. It is strong face fabric with a black diamond pattern underneath. The laminate is sandwiched between the face fabric and an inner material. Even if the laminate were the inner most layer, you wouldn't have to worry about elimination with dp materials. I use a light material called Tx07 often that is set up that way. Aside from abrasion ripping the laminate, you'd be fine. I , and I think most here would agree, find laminates significantly better than coatings.

When Chris made my pack, he made the zippered pockets out of X-Pac because he said it was waterproof whereas the Dyneema DX was only water resistant (open side pockets and front shovel pocket are Dyneema)...FWIW.



-Mark in St. Louis

Hmmm. I have never seen that one. It is basically the same material though.

On a related note, does anyone know if dimension polyant has come back to allowing small orders?

The fabric Chris Zimmer used on my hip pack was D40 and should be White on White, no black or grey to be found. That's what it looks like here:

http://www.zimmerbuilt.com/gear-deals.html

Second pack down.




Awesome. One last question- if I get some McNett seam sealer, will it take? I only ask because I know some fabrics resist certain treatments and adhesives.

Edited by mdilthey on 01/28/2013 21:43:10 MST.

Unless they have significantly changed the composition of the material since I ordered some, it is fully waterproof.

Yes that is the same stuff max. Only difference is that it lacks the black diamond pattern. You'll be happy with it I think.

Just to clarify, mark, what you are referencing is dyneema gridstop. It is a 210 denier nylon with a dyneema ripstop. All of that material that I have encountered has a waterproof poly-urethane (I believe)coating.

Edited by mpd1690 on 01/28/2013 21:49:56 MST.

D40 is the same material as DX40 but without the X ply yarn. Hale at DP said they had a customer that wanted the DX40 material, but they did not like the black X ply yarn so they made a batch without it.

Hey Chris, are they selling small batches again?

When I last ordered in December they had a 50yd minimum.

Hey Michael if you're looking for DX40 I have some for sale in gear swap here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=72633&skip_to_post=619596

Thanks Chris. Still a little high for my needs.

Brendan, pm sent.

Too much "dyneema" thrown around.

My mistake...sorry for that.

-Mark

Haha no worries! Fabrics get very confusing