When we were choosing a primary material, the shortlist came down to a few synthetics with very different tradeoffs: ultralight ripstop for weight, coated canvas for looks, and ballistic nylon for durability.
Ballistic nylon was originally developed for flak jackets, and while our products obviously don't need to stop shrapnel, the abrasion resistance that comes from its tight weave is exactly what a daily-carry item needs to survive years of zippers, buckles, and being set down on rough surfaces.
It costs more than the alternatives and it's not the lightest option on the shelf, but it's the one material on our shortlist that still looked new after our own worst-case wear testing.
