The Science Behind Snugpak’s Paratex Fabric

At Snugpak, we use a specially designed fabric called Paratex in many of our products. Known for its lightweight, durable, and breathable qualities, it’s the perfect material for creating high-performance outdoor gear that keeps you dry and comfortable, whatever the weather. 

Paratex comes in five different types: Paratex Light, Paratex Micro, Paratex Steelplate, Paratex Paratex Dry and Paratex Antibacterial. We’ll explore this fantastic fabric in more detail and explain how we use it to create unbeatable bushcraft, military, and tactical gear. 

What is Paratex?

Paratex is typically made from polyester or nylon fibres, tightly woven to create a durable, wind-resistant, and breathable material. The fabric is also treated to improve water resistance, ensuring it dries quickly and wicks moisture effectively. The specific blend and weave style varies across the different Paratex fabrics to meet different requirements and applications. These options differ in weight, texture, and properties, ranging from lighter, softer fabrics to more rugged, waterproof, and antibacterial versions, all designed to maintain comfort and performance in challenging conditions. 

Paratex Light

Paratex Light, as the name suggests, is extremely lightweight, making it ideal for sleeping bag liners and inner clothing layers where comfort and insulation are essential. Its breathable design allows moisture to escape while effectively retaining warmth. We use Paratex Light in products like the Paratex Liner WGTE and in our SJ Range of insulated jackets. 

Paratex Micro

Paratex Micro is a heavy-duty fabric with a soft-to-the-touch feel. It’s perfect for the outer casings of sleeping bags and jackets where durability is key. It offers long-lasting quality and reliable protection from the elements. We use this robust material across our product range, including the Fortis FJ6 and Fortis Techlite sleeping bag, developed in collaboration with Fortis. 

Paratex Steelplate

Paratex Steelplate is the toughest and most durable version of Paratex, designed for outer layers that require extra protection against wear and extreme weather. Despite its ruggedness, it remains highly breathable, striking the perfect balance between aesthetics and performance. 

Paratex Steelplate serves as the outer fabric for our Tactical 2, Tactical 3 and Tactical 4 sleeping bags, providing a water-resistant and hardwearing solution for a restful night’s sleep. 

Paratex Dry

Paratex Dry is 100% waterproof and features a hydrophilic polyurethane (PU) coating that transfers vapour from the inside to the outside. With a hydrostatic head exceeding 5000m, it far exceeds the 1500mm benchmark for waterproofing. This fabric is tightly woven with a ripstop design, making it lightweight, durable, breathable, and completely windproof. Plus, it’s treated with a water repellent, which can be maintained by giving it a cool tumble dry after washing and reapplying care products like Nikwax or Grangers. 

Paratex Dry works great as a breathable bivvi bag, poncho or as shell fabric for waterproof jackets, like the Torrent WGTE and Torrent Extreme WGTE.

Please Note: Due to its solid coating, air cannot pass through Paratex Dry fabric, so care should be taken not to seal any bivvi bag system to prevent suffocation

Paratex Antibacterial

We add a specialist antibacterial and antimicrobial treatment to create Paratex Antibacterial, used in many of our sleeping bags, including the Travelpak 1, Travelpak 2, Travelpak 3, Travelpak 4 and Travelpak Traveller sleeping bags. This reduces odours and minimises the need for frequent washing, keeping your sleeping bag fresher for longer. This is ideal for prolonged tropical travel where temperatures may be high and facilities limited. Importantly, the wicking properties and high breathability of Paratex remain unaffected by these bacteria-busting treatments.