Side by side
Cordura vs Ripstop
Cordura and ripstop are both tough technical nylons, but they solve durability in different ways. Cordura uses thick, high-tenacity, texturized yarns woven densely so the whole cloth resists abrasion and scuffing. Ripstop weaves a grid of thicker reinforcing threads at intervals into a lighter ground, so a tear that starts is stopped at the next grid line. One is heavy and abrasion-proof; the other is light and tear-stopping.
Cordura
No. 144high-tenacity nylon, often a heavy ripstop · first documented 1929
Ripstop
No. 095plain weave with reinforcing grid · first documented 1940s
The differences
| Aspect | Cordura | Ripstop |
|---|---|---|
| Durability strategy | Dense, thick high-tenacity yarn throughout resists abrasion and scuffing. | A grid of reinforcing threads in a lighter ground halts tears. |
| Weight | Heavier, built to take punishment. | Light, built to stay light while resisting tear propagation. |
| Look | Solid, slightly coarse texturized surface. | Visible squared grid of heavier threads across a finer ground. |
| Best for | Packs, luggage, boots, motorcycle and field gear that abrades. | Parachutes, tents, sails, ultralight packs, jackets that must stay light. |
Which to choose
Choose Cordura when the fabric will be dragged, scuffed, and abraded and weight is no object. Choose ripstop when weight matters and the main risk is a tear spreading. Many technical items use both, Cordura at the high-wear base and ripstop on the lighter panels.
Common questions
- Is Cordura the same as ripstop?
- No. Both are tough nylons, but Cordura is a brand of heavy, densely woven, abrasion-resistant fabric, while ripstop is a weave structure, a grid of reinforcing threads that stops tears. A fabric can even be a Cordura ripstop, combining both.
- Which is more abrasion-resistant?
- Cordura, by design. Its thick, high-tenacity, texturized yarns are woven densely specifically to resist scuffing and abrasion, which is why it is used on the bases of packs and on motorcycle gear.
- Why do parachutes use ripstop and not Cordura?
- Because parachutes must be as light as possible while resisting tears, which is exactly what ripstop's reinforcing grid achieves. Cordura's heavy abrasion resistance would add weight a canopy does not need.