Fabrics

Enlightened Equipment offers multiple customized fabrics, that are unique to our company, perform great, and feel even better.

First off, what is “D” or “Denier”?

Denier (Den or D): A measurement in terms of linear mass density, weight of a given fiber, defined as the mass in grams per 9000 meters.

Basically the higher the Denier, the higher the fiber weight used to make the fabric in question. Usually this is used as a reference to how thick or durable a fabric might be.

DWR

All three fabrics below have a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment. This is not the same as waterproof, but it does help shed water, instead of just absorbing it like a Tshirt.

10D

With a amazing balance of durability, breathability, and low weight, this has become our go-to nylon for most of the products we build. This option is very comfortable against skin, and also makes a great exterior fabric. If you’re not sure what to go with, this is a fantastic place to start.

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. We offer this as an exterior option on many of our products. This fabric can be used as a complete exterior, or in some cases used for only higher-abrasion / high moisture areas. The extra durability and moisture resistance can be a benefit (although not a requirement), if you don’t mind the extra weight.

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 a decreased weight. Downsides include lower down proofness and lower 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.

     10D: ~10 cfm

     20D: ~1 cfm

     7D: ~35 cfm

Photos

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