What Is Your Tent or Rain Jacket Made From? (2025): Dyneema, Silpoly, X-Pac
Scott Gilbertson
created: Sept. 26, 2025, 3 p.m. | updated: Sept. 30, 2025, 12:31 p.m.
Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) used to be called cuben fiber (and also sometimes “non-woven Dyneema”).
This versatile fabric is widely used in tents, some (nonbreathable) rain gear, stuff sacks, and many other pieces of gear.
PolyesterThis is another very versatile, widely used fabric with one huge advantage over nylon: It doesn't absorb nearly as much water.
You'll see this fabric under brand names like EPL Ultra, Ultra 100, Ultra 200, and Ecopak Ultra, among others.
Courtesy of DyneemaDyneema Woven CompositeDyneema recently introduced a new fabric, Dyneema Woven Composite (DWC), which marries a fully woven Dyneema face fabric to DCF.
2 months, 2 weeks ago: WIRED