Do-it-yourself gear -- Bicycle Bags

• Best bike bag fabrics

If you want to reduce weight, go for Dyneema composites or "Venom UHMWPE TPU".

I you are after variety, they offer "Melange with Dyneema", "Moto Denim with Dyneema" and suggest you could consider Litskin LS07 or 210HDPE Gridstop.

My analysis

The XPAC is $13.25 per half yard, whereas 1000D cordura is $12.50 per yard.

The XPAC VX07 is 4.8 ounces per yard, which is not that much heavier than the ultra-light options below, and this is going on a bike don't forget. On the other hand, the "bargain option" (the 1000D cordura) weighs 11 ounces per yard. The stuff they sell is PU coated. They say glowing things about the MIL-SPEC cordura they sell: "This particular fabric is also one of the finest textiles we have ever seen. It's incredibly tough, yet still soft and pliable for relatively easy sewing."

The Venom UHMWPE is $32 per half yard (which puts things in perspective). It is all about ultimate durability at 3.9 ounces per square yard. The say it was built to be the ultimate pack fabric.

Dyneema composite is available in various weights. The 2.92 ounce stuff is (surprisingly) 2.92 ounces per yard and goes for $22 per half yard.

I think the XPAC falls into the sweet spot for me. But I am interested in the MIL_SPEC 1000D cordura after the nice things they say about it.