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Rockgeist recently added X10 Cotton Duck to their extensive line of fabrics, providing a technical material with a classic look. We got a custom frame bag made from X10 and really like it. Here are the details…
It sometimes seems like there are two schools of taste in the bikepacking world: those who prefer more ultralight and technical bags, and those who appreciate the more traditional aesthetic of waxed canvas and lugged steel bikes. Fortunately, for those with eclectic sensibilities, there is a middle ground. Asheville-based bag maker Rockgeist recently started constructing custom frame packs and other bags using X10 Cotton Duck, a technical fabric with a classic look. Read on for details.
X10 Cotton Duck is a blended fabric consisting of a 10oz natural cotton duck outer face, with black polyester X-Ply inner (also known as Dacron) sandwiched by a 0.5 mil shiny polyester film backing. It’s a little heavier than X-Pac, weighing 10.5 oz/yard compared to VX-21 (the standard X-Pac used by most brands) which weighs 6.0 0z/yd. However, it’s much lighter than thick, waxed canvas, and is also waterproof, or water-resistant when used on a non-sealed, stitched bag.
Similar to the VX21 Smartrepel, which Rockgeisst introduced last year, X10 Cotton Duck has a fluorocarbon free DWR (Durable Water Repellant) finish, which offers a water-resistant finish in a more eco-friendly package. It’s also stiffer than typical X-pac, and has a really nice feel. It’s quickly become my favorite fabric for a stitched frame bag.
Rockgeist offers custom frame bags, as well as many of their other bags, in X20 Cotton Duck with four colors to choose from: Red Rocks, Eclipse Grey, Truffle Brown, Craggy Mist. Find a wealth of information on fabrics, including a detailed weight comparison chart, over at Rockgeist.com.
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