Materials and Hardware
Your backpack is only as good as what it's made of. And you demand the best, highest-performance materials and hardware on the market.
Our job is to keep you on the cutting edge. At Tortuga, we make high-performance gear for the most demanding travelers. Because you have to trust your bag, even on the toughest trips.
ECOPAK™ EPX Waterproof Sailcloth
Why this matters to you: Challenge Sailcloth's ECOPAK™ EPX is strong, light, and waterproof.
EPX represents the cutting edge of technical fabrics. Challenge Sailcloth, with 35 years of weaving and laminating experience, developed ECOPAK™ as the only durable and waterproof pack fabric made from 100% recycled polyester.
Real-world performance: Most bags rely on durable, water repellent (DWR) coatings for water-resistance. However, coatings will eventually wear off leaving your bag vulnerable to the weather. EPX's waterproof membrane is laminated directly into the fabric structure. Plus, the polyester fabric absorbs 80% less moisture than traditional nylon laminates. Your clothes and electronics will stay dry no matter the weather.
Why Polyester Beats Nylon
- Better water repellency
- More abrasion-resistant
- Less stretch
- Looks better for longer because of superior color retention, less fading, and less pilling
- Lies flat during manufacturing, reducing waste
Construction
Originally developed for the sails of multimillion-dollar racing yachts, EPX uses a three-layer laminated construction:
- Recycled polyester face fabric with C0 DWR treatment
- 45° recycled polyester cross-ply
- Recycled ripstop polyester backing fabric
The result is a fabric that's lighter and stronger than standard pack fabrics while being completely waterproof.
The Pro Collection uses two versions of EPX:
- EPX200 for the Travel Backpack, Travel Sling, and Tech Organizer
- EPX70RS for the Daypack Pro and Packing Cubes
EPX200 vs. EPX70RS
| EPX200 | EPX70RS | |
|---|---|---|
| Face Fabric | 200D recycled polyester | 70D recycled polyester ripstop |
| Weight (oz/yd²) | 5.9 oz/yd² | 5.05 oz/yd² |
| Weight (gsm) | 200 gsm | 171 gsm |
|
Tear Strength: Warp (ATSM D2261) |
26.7 lb | 17.8 lb |
|
Tear Strength: Fill (ATSM D2261) |
24.8 lb | 14.1 lb |
|
Abrasion Resistance (ATSM 3884) |
500 cycles | 300 cycles |
| Waterproof: PSI | 200+ PSI | 200+ PSI |
| Waterproof: Bar | 13.8+ Bar | 13.8+ Bar |
Both versions deliver the same waterproof protection and recycled polyester benefits.
Sustainability Bonuses
- Made of 100% recycled polyester certified by REPREVE®.
- No harmful TPU, PVC, DWR, or other coatings. Uses only C0 DWR with no fluorocarbons. No VOCs in the adhesive.
- Each Travel Backpack Pro recycles 25+ plastic bottles and saves 1.25 lb of CO2. CO2 emissions are 50% lower than nylon, 38% lower than virgin polyester, and comparable to organic cotton
YKK Zippers
Why this matters to you: YKK zippers are considered best-in-class. Cheap, off-brand zippers jam, break, or separate at the worst possible time. YKK's precision engineering ensures smooth operation even after years of heavy use.
Tortuga only uses best-in-class YKK zippers for durability, water resistance, and security.
The Pro Collection features PU-coated zippers for the best balance between water resistance and ease of use. Our bags also have lockable zippers on the main compartments for additional security.
A backpack is only as good as its weakest component, and zippers are often the weakest parts of a bag. Cheap, low-quality zippers can jam or break. A broken zipper will ruin the backpack you invested in and trusted to travel the world with you. That’s why we only use the best.