DCF backpacks - how durable? Repairable?

[u/BusGlass5751]

As I need a bigger backpack one of my options has been Bonfus backpacks which are made from DCF.

My only real concern is that how durable DCF actually is for a backpack? Does it get puncture holes easily? Rips or tears?

And if so, can it be repaired in a tailor shop?

Also I've seen people showing their backpacks after thruhikes and those backpacks are done for basically. They are so worn-out that they are basically garbage. Does this happen to all DCF fabrics eventually or just to some?

[u/W__O__I]

There are different type of DCF with different levels of durability. Some have polyester face fabrics and some have woven uhmwpe face fabrics, which are more durable. If you're hiking on trail I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you do get puncture in the pack you can tape it from the inside. Rips and tears shouldn't happen if the bag is well made. DCF packs have shorter life expectancies than nylon or xpac bags in general.

[u/BusGlass5751 → u/W__O__I]

Thanks. I think I need to consider this still as the backpack would come in use for an off-trail hike. That's why I'm kind of worrying about the durability.

[u/W__O__I → u/BusGlass5751]

Try and find the exact fabric the pack you're looking at is made from and think about how you plan to use it. A little bushwhacking is going to be different than dragging the pack across sandstone. Dyneema Composite Hybrids with polyester are largely being replaced but that doesn't mean they aren't fine for a lot of uses.

[u/justinsimoni]

Are they anymore? I'm seeing them being made of Ultra, which is pretty durable.

By and large, most DCF backpacks made these days in large quantities have a tough face material to deal with the limitations of durability of DCF (which also makes it heavier) and would be called, "DCH". One of the only manufacturers of this would be Hyperlite.

[u/BusGlass5751 → u/justinsimoni]

Yes the Bonfus model I'm looking at is made from Ultra with varying strength depending on the backpack area.

I've kind of understood that Ultra is very different from DCF which was used years ago. But I just don't know anything about DCF as I've never owned anything made out of it.

My current backpack is Gossamer Gear made from nylon and that has been easy to repair and modify in normal tailor shop. Even that starts to show signs of wearing out after 3 years of heavy use.

Just wondering how DCF fabric would compare.

[u/justinsimoni → u/BusGlass5751]

Ultra would be totally different than DCF. Ulta is going to be a whole lot stronger and has far fewer of the weaknesses of old DCF packs. The downside is being marginally heavier.

Compared to nylon -- there is no comparison. Much like comparing Ultra to DCF, Ultra is much, much, stronger, it just may weigh slightly more than a 100D or 200D nylon. Repairing Ultra packs is mostly about adding patches to pinholes, but it's not something you're going to have to worry much about.

In other words, Ultra packs are reasonably good investments for the high price. You'll be happy. My Bonfus Framus shows impeccable sewing quality (helps that it's white fabric with black thread). It's a pricey pack for me in the States, but I never looked at it and thought it wasn't worth the price. We just have a lot more options for Ultra packs that really deliver even better value.

[u/W__O__I → u/justinsimoni]

Sometimes packs wear out from the inside first too. Nylon packs last longer under a lot of circumstances than many packs with laminates.

[u/tangonovember42]

Depending on how long a thru-hike is packs can be quite stinky and worn. Atompacks did say on their website at one point that they expect a pack to survive at least US one triple crown thruhike E.g. PCT/CDT/AT.

I’ve found that my packs are usually pretty worn after 5-6months of continuous use but are still functional with some ad-hoc repairs. Some folks definitely get multiple long thruhikes out of some bags like the hyperlight mountain gear ones.

On DCF, normal DCF is not very abrasion resistant and will develop holes from repeated abrasion. I’ve had pack liners and ditty bags wear through just from various bits in my bag rubbing on them. Woven dyneema or UHMWPE is much more abrasion resistant so if longevity is a concern maybe look at woven alternatives. Common types of damage on DCF are abrasion where the laminate wears through to the fibres and then the fibres separate out/fray, cuts or tears between the fibres where the laminate has insufficient reinforcing effect and sometime delamination (but less common).

Ad hoc repairs can be done on the outside of normal DCF with Adhesive DCF patches, these are usually permanently bonding so are a permanent on trail fix.

A conventional tailor will likely not know how to handle DCF and will likely puncture or damage it in an attempt to repair it, it requires specialist materials and techniques and is difficult to cut or repair with conventional sewing tools.

My two cents would be to really consider is a DCF pack is worth the money, consider getting a cheaper pack made from Xpac or similar less expensive but still light and hard wearing materials.

[u/Jolly-Slow1164]

I've long disagreed with the term "Dyneema Composite Fabric". Maybe it does fit industry standards on a way that isn't clear to a layman like me, but in most industries they would call it a laminate. "Laminated Dyneema Fabric" LDF (I doubt anyone would confuse it with low density fiber board the most popular LDF acronym I know) it to be move generic LUHMWPEF (we could call it "Lump F" or just "lump fabric"

[u/Panda-Maximus]

My zpacks arcblast is over ten years old and doing fine. I do around 26 trips year on average and at least one 2 week trip a year.

I think it has more to do with how you treat your gear.