fabric for making outdoor trousers?

K

Kaylee

Joined
May 12, 2001
Messages
54
And another thing.... *heh*

After spending entirely too many times wrestling with trousers in the field, I decided I'd make an updated version of old-timey leggings. Buckskin appeals to me, I admit, but I'd like to at least sort of fit in with the local SAR team as well. Besides.. all those pocketses look helpful.

I've worked up a good pattern, but I'm not certain of fabric. Any ideas, both as to type of fabric and where to get it? Usage is 3-season, I expect to get wet and icky at times, climb through prickly brush, whathaveyou. Has to breathe, softer is better, and I'd prefer to use a subdued grey or camo pattern.

(and I promise pictures if it works out)

Thanks all!

-K


 
Supplex nylon could be a good cboice. Go to an outdoor store and fondle the outdoor clothes to figure out what suits you. Then look at the labels to see what they're made out of.

I have ordered lots of such fabrics, zippers, etc, from Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics, in Idaho. I forget their contact information, but I can tell you that I found them through the classified section in the back of backpacker magazine.

If you only need a small amount (as it sound like, if you are only making one pair of pants), you can probably get the fabric for free by calling up the manufacturers and requesting samples. They even pay shipping. It's worked for me.
 
Nothing wrong with a good denim. Personally I'd go (for pants) with real cotton and none of this artificial stuff. If you can find some relatively thick brushed cotton give it a look.

Best outdoor pants I ever had were made in East Germany of cotton imported from Egypt. Maybe grown irrigated with water from the Nile! Wear forever. I still have a pair since the early 90's and they're in great shape.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by matthew rapaport:
Nothing wrong with a good denim. Personally I'd go (for pants) with real cotton and none of this artificial stuff. </font>
Click to expand...
But the conditions stated that it'd've to be suitable for wet conditions.
If you don't want artificial, then it's wool you want in that case.
OK: Ventile might be useful too, but I'd not recommend it, as it doesn't wear well.

 
Hi Kaylee,

I would keep away from Supplex or anything that is 100% "plastics" while the modern all nylon/plastics cloths work fine with anti prespiration coatings etc. the moment they get hit by a shower of sparks or a flying piece of coal you got extra air holes in your pants.
Besides that it doesn't look nice, it's also dangerous as the manmade fibers tend to melt and can cause nasty skin burns.

I have a Noth face zipoff "supplex" pant and also one of their nice "supplex" shirts with armpi-zips etc. that look like they have been hit by a meteor shower.
frown.gif


Kaylee, try to get hold of some Fjallraven G1000 fabric which is a special blend of tightly woven cotton with 20-30% man made fibers. Using a special wax that you rub on the cloth it gets almost 100% waterproof and still breathes. It's also extremely durable and does not tear easily. In the summer you "remove" the wax by washing the pants in the washing machine and it wear better in the heat.

Best scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera

[This message has been edited by Bagheera (edited 05-15-2001).]
 
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