Imagine a fabric so strong it can stop bullets, yet so light it floats on water. Welcome to the world of Dyneema!
For those unfamiliar with this miracle fiber, let’s dive in. When talking about dyneema I think it’s important to note the difference between a fiber and fabric. Fibers are thread-like materials that make up a piece of fabric. Dyneema formerly known as cuben fiber is a fiber and it’s 15x stronger than steel yet light as air. It is an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene but starts out as ethylene which is mostly derived from wood pulp waste.
They use these fibers in a ton of different applications like bullet proof vests, medical implants, and we use them to reinforce the thread/stitching in our Storm Castle Gaiters. The outdoor space is most familiar with Dyneema as a Fabric called Dyneema Composite Fabric or DCF for short. Unlike traditional polyester or nylon fabrics which are fibers woven or knit together, DCF is like a sandwich. Sheets of Dyneema fibers are laid out in a specific unidirectional orientation. This typically involves placing fibers in a cross-hatch pattern to maximize strength in multiple directions.
These sheets are sandwiched between thin layers of Mylar film aka polyester film. The Mylar adds structure and further strength to the fabric. They are then bonded together under heat and pressure in a laminating machine. This process fuses the Dyneema fibers with the Mylar film, creating a unified, strong, lightweight, and waterproof composite material called Dyneema Composite Fabric.
Why is Dyneema a great material for Tipi’s?
- STRENGTH - Dyneema has an incredibly high tensile strength, 15 times stronger than steel. Creating unmatched structural integrity for snow loads and or high winds.
- LIGHTWEIGHT - It’s super lightweight saving you almost a half pound compared to the SilNylon version of the Solitude 4 Tipi.
- WATERPROOF - Dyneema Composite Fabrics are highly waterproof thanks to the lamination process. This process creates an impenetrable barrier (20,000 mm) that has a super high surface tension so water always beads off and never wets out. So unlike polys or nylons, DCF will not stretch or sag in the rain and you won’t have to worry about stuffing a wet tipi in your pack again.
- ZERO STRETCH - Probably the most important benefit is how static dyneema is. It has almost no stretch so you don’t have to deal with sag due to thermal dynamics so you won’t have any wind flap once it’s pitched. This makes for a safer more secure shelter.
The worlds best tipi just got the worlds best fabric!
[SHOP SOLITUDE 4 DYNEEMA TIPI]
