Cordura or Duck?

[buck91]

Is anybody particularly familiar with textiles? I have two work style heavy coats, both with the same level of insulation. One uses heavy cotton duck and one uses 1000d Cordura. The Cordura one is, naturally, lighter and less hydrophilic (not to say its waterproof in the least though). Which would you expect to wear harder/longer? Which would offer greatest resistance to flame? I have no need of special fire retardant gear but I was thinking.. Now, Nylon burns/melts easily but they are using cordura in multiple "flight approved" boots these days. Just curious.

 

[zorobabel]

I would expect the Cordura to last longer.

 

[maxdustington]

It depends what work you do. I have duck work pants that are extremely abrasion resistant and duck will be much more flexible than Cordura. I also don't have to worry about them melting to my skin should something happen. They are 12 oz duck and I'm not sure you could go much thicker than that.

There's a reason why Cordura is primarily used in backpacks and limited to patches in clothing: it's too stiff. A Cordura shirt would be like wearing a sheet of cardboard, a coat would be like wearing a cardboard box to work.

 

[spk2000]

I have a Cordura motorcycle racing coat. Also had a pair of cordura waders after the rubber ones kept developing leaks. Those cordura waders never leaked and could be worn through thorn patches when rabbit hunting. It is very abrasion resistant and under most conditions will outlast the duck which is cotton. Both are great and for different purposes though.