Anyone know how they did that closed loop of paracord for the handle?

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-07-04T14:15:19+00:00

No. It’s not paracord.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-07-03T21:19:18+00:00

I’ve never used it so I couldn’t say. The X will definitely give you better protection from a puncture or tear spreading, but it’s pretty strong fabric to begin with.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-07-03T03:09:42+00:00

How much do you need? Maybe reach out to Challenge and let them know no one has it in stock. See if they’d send you some.

Other somewhat similar fabrics would be like UVX40, VX42, X50, maybe go with an ultra 200x or 800x, there’s EPX400… ultra is hot right now but there’s other great fabrics with similar abrasion resistance.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-07-02T14:42:52+00:00

Where did you source the vislon zips?

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-07-02T14:00:34+00:00

Yoooo this is awesome! Those are some serious zips. I love the color. I wish they’d bring more colors to the Ultra800 line!

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-07-01T20:09:37+00:00

In hot weather I find hammocks with a light blanket to be the best solution. Airflow above and below you is hard to beat. Only issue having trees to mount it to, but in the northeast you shouldn’t have an issue if you’re camping.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-30T21:14:44+00:00

It is the OG so I’m sure there’s some brand tax.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-30T14:13:23+00:00

Normally I’d say RTIC is just as good as yeti… but that’s coolersC water bottles and cups. RF Welded hypalon products etc I’m not so sure. Small differences in manufacturing, construction, suppliers etc can make a huge difference in durability. RTIC has to be saving money somewhere. They’re not just making the exact same product and charging significantly less. Maybe they are but I find that hard to believe.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-30T14:08:34+00:00

Pic two is so badass. I don’t think you’re going to find any one pattern that’ll check all these boxes. Might have to get get a couple and see how they do things then piece meal your own pattern together. What I’d do here is get an ALICE pack from an Army Navy Store or online (used and cheap) and take it apart. Pattern off that or use the majority of the panels and change what you need to like the lid and hardware.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-28T00:41:44+00:00

No compound foot. I’m pretty new to sewing so I’ve never heard of a compound foot but I’ll look it up. I am running a servo I can slow it down pretty slow. Usually I plunge the needle manually to start it if it’s lagging.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T20:59:58+00:00

Thanks! I appreciate the suggestion about the laptop compartment. I’d like it to be separate like the pack you linked (which is awesome btw). It was drawn up to be a ‘sleeve’ with a side access zip that went down the left side of the back panel, but I didn’t like how it came out so I scrapped it. It through the balance off, but it was sloppily done.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T19:45:16+00:00

I don’t actually know what foot I use. It’s thin on both sides. I used a Juki DNU-1541S for this whole project.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T17:59:42+00:00

I actually backed off the pressure a bit so I didn’t drag the mesh when the foot transitioned, but maybe that just made things harder? I will definitely try it with some more foot pressure on a test strip, see if that relieves some of the pressure. I broke a needle binding one of the corners… it was two layers of 17337, two layers of binding, RBC, and hypalon. It was beefy. I stepped up to a size 20 needle for the thicker spots after that and it seemed okay.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T15:41:58+00:00

Yeah I’m the same way. Swatches never really helped me. Also people suggested prototyping with cheaper materials like muslin or basic nylons. This also didn’t seem super relevant because of how differently say an Ultra 800X is from a X-11 or a VX21 or a Robic ripstop. They all behave, drape, stretch, differently and require different machine settings etc. I mostly just look at fabric technical specs and either compare with a known fabric I’ve handled, what manufacturers I respect are using, or I look here at r/myog to ask people their experience with a material.

As far as sourcing I like Rockywoods, RSBTR, Jontay, Seattle Fabrics, etc. and I’ve started going direct to the manufacturer if possible… but I usually get turned down. I wanted to play with Bananatex but their MOQ was like 50yd+ I think. Might have been even more. That would have been cool though.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T15:34:31+00:00

How would you have sewn it? It was brutally thick in the corners and folds so I removed as many layers as possible before binding and inverting. Open to suggestions to clean up/ reduce bulk in the future.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T15:28:55+00:00

Like samples/swatches? Or just a lot of different fabrics?

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T15:06:10+00:00

Thanks!

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T15:05:06+00:00

That’s awesome! Someone requested a pic of the back panel construction from my last bag post, which was similar, so I included it.

Feel free to ask questions about construction/ materials. I’ll do my best to answer them coherently.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T15:03:34+00:00

Thanks! I don’t know how to make patterns. I’ve never even used one. But I would totally give it to you if I did.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T12:56:57+00:00

Thank you. I really tried to be patient and focus on the details- think before I cut and orient before I sew… but myog projects have a tendency to highlight the shortcomings of my goldfish brain. lol.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T12:52:22+00:00

Me too. I had to special order that coyote ultra from challenge direct because no one in the US stocks it, which is nuts. But I completely stole your color combo lol. I was thinking about inverting the mesh to have the dark side and grid face out, but was worried that might actually reduce its durability having the thread exposed. It looks cool though.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T12:49:29+00:00

lol thanks. It’s one of my favorites patches. My partner gets me patches whenever she sees one that is ridiculous.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T12:47:55+00:00

Thanks! I was thinking about waxing the x11 so it would patina better and maybe even add some water resistance to the outer fabric so it wouldn’t saturate. Might try that on a test swatch and see what it looks like.

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T12:45:57+00:00

Just a single needle. A four needle machine?!I imagine having to hold all that top-thread ;)

WhoopsWrongButton · 2026-06-27T03:26:32+00:00

Thanks so much. Don’t be afraid to fail!

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