Our heavy duty fabric

What is 600D polyester?

600D woven polyester is a tough, tightly woven fabric used for backpacks, tents, outdoor gear and our dog beds and covers. It’s strong, handles outdoor use, wipes clean and dries quickly.

What “600D” means

The “D” stands for denier, a measure of how thick the yarn is. It’s the weight, in grams, of 9,000 metres of yarn. A higher number means thicker, stronger yarn, so 600D is much heavier-duty than the thin fabric in a typical shirt or lining.

What “600 × 600” means

That describes the weave. Fabric is made of threads running lengthways and crossways. 600 × 600 means both directions use 600D yarn, so the fabric is equally strong whichever way it’s pulled or snagged. Woven this way, it resists tearing and stretching better than thin or knitted fabric.

Why we use it

• Strong: it stands up to claws, rough play and daily wear.
• Water-resistant: polyester doesn’t soak up water the way cotton does. [Confirm: the fabric has a PU coating that adds water resistance.]
• Quick to dry: a damp bed or cover dries faster than most fabrics.
• Holds its colour: polyester generally resists sun fading better than nylon.
• Easy to clean: hair and mud shake off, and most marks wipe away.

Where you’ll find it

Each is cut, sewn and finished in our factory in Roodepoort.

Straight talk

• Water-resistant doesn’t mean waterproof. Seams and stuffing can still let water in if a product is soaked for long.
• Tough isn’t chew-proof. No fabric is. We don’t promise that any bed will survive a determined chewer.
• Denier isn’t everything. Weave density, coating and stitching matter as much. That’s why we sew everything ourselves.
• It isn’t a branded nylon. Some outdoor fabrics are heavier-denier nylon sold under brand names. 600D polyester is a different material that’s lighter, resists UV well and costs less to make, so we can offer it at a fair price.

Caring for it

Shake out or vacuum the hair, then wipe clean with a damp cloth and mild soap. Let it dry fully before use, and keep it out of constant sun and standing water.

Questions

Is it the same as the fabric some brands call cardura or cordura? No. Those names are used for various heavy-duty fabrics, and Cordura is a registered brand. Ours is 600D woven polyester, and we describe it by what it is.

Is it waterproof? No, it’s water-resistant. It handles splashes, damp grass and rain, but it isn’t designed to be submerged.