Fabrics

Enlightened Equipment offers fabrics in a variety of weights and colors. 

First off, what is “D” or “Denier”?

Denier (Den or D) is the weight of 9000 meters a single strand of a particular fiber in grams. 

Basically the higher the Denier, the higher the fiber weight used to make the fabric. Usually this is used as a reference to how thick or durable a fabric might be. For example, 10D is a heavier material than 7D. a 9000 meter strand of 10D material weighs 10 grams and a 9000 meter strand of 7D weighs 7 grams. 

DWR

All three fabrics we offer have a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment. This is not the same as waterproof, but it does help shed water.

10D

With an amazing balance of durability, breathability, and weight, 10D has become our go-to nylon for many of the products we build. This option is comfortable against skin, but also makes a great exterior fabric. 10D is a great choice for a variety of applications. 

20D

This micro ripstop nylon offers a higher durability and water resistance than the other fabric options, but with a bit of a weight penalty. However, "durability" should be understood in terms of ultralight materials. It's a heavier material, but you will still have to take care of your equipment. Our 20D material is a good choice for high abrasion and moisture areas if you understand the sacrifice in weight and breathability. 

7D

7D micro ripstop robic nylon is our lightest option yet. For those wanting to cut every gram possible we offer 7D fabric that can be used anywhere our 10D is an option. Benefits include increased breathability and decreased weight. Downsides include lower down proofness and reduced durability. Through our own testing process we’ve seen slight down loss, but no decrease in performance and we’ve been very surprised at how durable this fabric actually is. That being said, please take extra caution with this option and understand you are selecting the lightest available.  

Fabric Weights

     10D: 0.65oz per yard²

     20D: 1.10oz per yard²

     7D: 0.50oz per yard²

CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute): A fabric breathability measurement.

Examples: 0.5 = Typical rain jacket, 60 = Windpro fleece, 225 = A typical fleece.

• 20D: ~1 cfm

• 10D: ~10 cfm

• 7D: ~35 cfm

Photos

Here are some examples of each type of fabric mentioned above.