210 denier Robic Diamond Ripstop framebag in “golden yellow” and “potent purple”

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Our purchasing team often makes decisions with quite some self-interest when it comes to new fabrics or colors for our product range. What could be better than having a project planned for every new addition? That's exactly how it was with our new Diamond Ripstop Nylon made from 210den Robic. For a planned tour in the French Alps, we needed a small, lightweight framebag for an XS frame—preferably in colors that match the bike's paint job. It's no coincidence that "golden yellow" and "potent purple" are a perfect match! The trim and zipper garages, made from X-Pac® RX30 in plum, provide a subtle contrast. So right after delivery, the fabrics went straight to the sewing machine. And the result not only looks great but has already proven itself on the trail!

More details:

Water-repellent Riri AQUAzip® 8 zippers
Zipper cover with reflective strips
Reflective zipper pulls
All-around frame attachment made of Hypalon 210den. Lightweight, easy to work with, and simple to use with Velcro
The edges are padded with Soft & Stable . This protects the frame and prevents rattling—in case the bag isn't packed quite perfectly.
The top is reinforced with a 1mm-thick PE strip to help it retain its shape.
Lining made of light-colored 20den ripstop nylon with a silicone/UTS coating in the color sharkskin
It attaches using 25mm-wide One-Wrap® Velcro tape

Total weight (without Velcro tape): 222g

Information on material selection

Before strarting to sew, there were a lot of decisions to make. The outer material was set, but the other materials also had to be a good fit and meet the requirements for a bikepacking frame bag. Here's some more information about the materials and why they were chosen:

210 denier Diamond Ripstop Robic Nylon for the side panels

The 210 denier Robic nylon used for the side panels is at the lower end of the weight range we consider suitable for bikepacking bags. However, since this nylon is particularly abrasion-resistant thanks to the Robic yarn and the Diamond Ripstop weave, and since this is a bag designed for a small frame, it's a good choice here. The PU coating gives the fabric good structure and makes it highly water-repellent, though not waterproof. Since the seams aren't sealed, a water column rating of 1000mm is sufficient.

X-Pac® RX30 Backpack Laminate for the edges and the zipper cover

Especially in the areas that come into contact with the bike frame and the Velcro, the fabric should be slightly sturdier. With its 300-denier recycled polyester outer fabric, the X-Pac® RX30 is ideal. Its stiffer texture gives the bag a bit more structure and also works great for the zippers.

20den Ripstop nylon tent fabric with silicone/UTS-coating as lining

The 20-denier nylon tent fabric used for the lining of the side pocket and the edges might be too light and thin for this job. But for us, it's a great way to test the material. The fabric has already proven itself as tent material—but how will it hold up on a bikepacking bag? If you want to play it safe, choose a heavier fabric starting at 70 denier or 100g/qm.

S-Hypalon for frame attachment

For us, Hypalon—available in either 210 denier or 420 denier—is the most popular material when the bag is to be attached to the frame with Velcro straps. It can be cut to the desired width, does not fray, and is significantly less susceptible to damage from Velcro straps than webbing or fabric.

Water-repellent zipper for the main compartment and side pocket

Riri AQUAzip® 8 vislon zipper have become our go-to solution for zippers and bikepacking bags. The coating protects the zipper and the bag's contents from dirt and water. The matte yet technical look complements most fabrics. And the zipper glides much more smoothly when opening and closing than many other coated profile zippers. We recommend size 8 for all applications on bikepacking bags, as it is significantly stronger than size 6.

Soft and Stable® foam padding as edge padding

Edge padding isn't strictly necessary, but to protect the frame or outer fabric from abrasion caused by poorly packed, hard objects, this bag features 4mm-thick foam padding between the outer fabric and the lining.

Polyethylene (PE-HD) sheet for reinforcement

To ensure the bag is strong and tightly attached to the top tube, it is reinforced along the top edge with a strip of 1 mm thick polyethylene. An opening is left for the strip when sewing the edge piece. The PE strip is inserted as soon as the bag is finished sewing.

Polyester-Webbing with silver reflective print on the zipper garages

For a little extra visibility in the dark, a piece of webbing with reflective print is sewn onto the zippers. The webbing also increases the stiffness of the garage, which slightly improves the zipper's operation.

Reflective Zipper pull tabs for easier zipper operation

To ensure easy access to the pockets while on the go and even while riding, they are equipped with large, reflective zipper pulls. The fact that they're also reflective is a nice added bonus.

Back to Back One-Wrap® Velcro for attaching to the frame

The One-Wrap® hook-and-loop tape has the loop side on one side and the hook side on the other. This makes it easy to attach the bag to the frame. The hook side faces the Hypalon, since Hypalon is not as sensitive to the rough hooks.

Polyester sewing thread for all seams

For sewing thread, we rely on our standard choice for lightweight bags, Backpacks, and bikepacking bags. Alterfil S 80 sewing thread is easy to sew with and very durable. And thanks to the wide range of colors available, even the seams match the colors of the fabrics!

You can find all the materials used below or directly as a materials list in the project planner. You can either order directly from the list or use it as your own materials list.