Ripstop is a reinforced weave in which thicker threads are woven in at regular intervals, forming a visible grid. If the fabric takes a puncture or a cut, the tear runs into the nearest cell and stops there. A small piece of damage stays small.
What the problem looks like without ripstop
Catching the fabric on barbed wire, a branch or a concrete edge is routine on any task. In a plain weave the cut thread pulls its neighbours with it: a small hole becomes a split trouser leg within an hour of movement. The garment effectively fails mid-task, and there is nothing to replace it with in the field.
The other side of the same problem is trying to solve it with thickness. To make a plain weave equally tear-resistant you have to make it heavier, which adds weight to every element of the kit and costs breathability.
How the grid works
In ripstop a thicker thread runs every few millimetres in both directions. It forms the cell you can see against the light and acts as a limiter: the energy of a tear is absorbed at the cell boundary. The fabric stays relatively light, because strength comes from structure rather than mass.
| Parameter | Plain weave | Ripstop |
|---|---|---|
| Behaviour when snagged | Tear runs along the thread | Stops at the cell |
| Weight at equal strength | Higher | Lower |
| Field repair | Often not worth it | Local patch or stitch |
| Breathability | Depends on density | Better thanks to a thinner base |
Where UATAC uses ripstop
Ripstop is the main fabric of our assault pants, the sleeves of combat shirts and demi-season jackets. In the trousers it is 65% cotton and 35% polyester with a Teflon finish; in high-wear zones a CORDURA® 500d reinforcement is added on top of the base.
In other words, ripstop handles tear resistance and CORDURA handles abrasion resistance. Those are two different jobs, and one fabric does not cover both.
Ripstop and field repair
Local damage can be stitched or patched without replacing the whole garment, precisely because the tear did not spread. For a unit that is the difference between a ten-minute repair and writing off a pair of trousers.
Common mistakes
- Treating ripstop as puncture protection: it limits a tear, it does not prevent one.
- Expecting waterproofing from the weave — water is handled by a finish or a membrane.
- Confusing ripstop with CORDURA: the first is a weave, the second is a reinforcement fabric.
- Washing hot, which strips the finish applied to the fabric.
- Ignoring small damage: the grid holds the tear, but a patch is still needed.
What ripstop does not do
Ripstop is not flame resistant and it is not ballistic protection. It will not stop a fragment or a knife cut — it is a technology against tear propagation, not a piece of personal protective equipment.
It also does not insulate: warmth comes from insulation and the layering system, not from the weave of the outer fabric.
How to check the fabric
- Hold it against the light: the grid of reinforced threads should be visible.
- Check the composition in the model specifications, not in the category name.
- Ask which zones are reinforced and whether there is a water-repellent finish.
- Check the thread in the seams: field clothing needs reinforced thread.
- Follow the washing instructions so you do not strip the finish.
Frequently asked questions
What is ripstop in simple terms?
A weave in which reinforced threads form a grid. When the fabric is punctured or cut, the tear stops at the edge of a cell instead of spreading.
Is ripstop stronger than ordinary fabric?
It is more resistant to tear propagation at the same or lower weight. Abrasion resistance is a separate property, handled by reinforcements such as CORDURA.
Does ripstop make a garment waterproof?
No. Water resistance comes from a finish on the fabric or from a membrane; the weave itself does not affect it.
How is ripstop different from CORDURA?
Ripstop is a weave of the main fabric that resists tearing. CORDURA is a reinforcement fabric with high abrasion resistance, used on knees and elbows.
Can a hole in ripstop be repaired in the field?
Yes, and that is one of its advantages: since the tear does not spread, a local stitch or patch solves the problem without replacing the garment.
Author: Serhii Vynnyk, founder and CEO of UATAC. Updated: 16 September 2026.