Materials
and Construction
Why
cotton duck canvas?
Canvas keeps
on performing after years of use. There's no coating to wear
off. Abrasion resistance is high compared to synthetics; it's
natural fibers are more forgiving and pliable. If damaged, it's
easily repaired with needle and thread.
Please note
that cotton canvas is a natural product. Slight weaving imperfections
and color variations are part of it's character and beauty.
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Aren't
leather straps and buckles old-fashioned?
Leather
has a long history. It's tactile, strong and forgiving. It'll
age gracefully, developing a nice patina. And If it's good enough
for Indiana Jones...
Admittedly,
Fastex closures are more efficient and save a couple extra seconds.
However, plastic cracks and tends to get brittle over time.
Give "old-fashioned" leather straps and buckles a
chance...you'll be transported to a simpler, less harried time!
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Are
Acorn Bags waterproof?
There's
two schools of thought: to use waxed or unwaxed canvas. A popular
British bag maker uses waxed canvas. A respected French and
Japanese bag maker uses unwaxed canvas.
We decided
to opt for the unwaxed duck canvas...but our bags are still
water resistant. Why? Our canvas comes with a water repellant finish applied at the mill. Also, natural canvas duck has fibers that swell
and self-seal when exposed to water. A moisture barrier is created,
but still allows the fabric to breathe. Waxed canvas bags will
still need to be "re-proofed" every few years and
you have to careful about mildew. We'll let you decide if and
when you want to "proof" your bag. (Carradice and
Nikwax make good cotton canvas re-proofers.)
A healthy
dose of skepticism is needed when listening to claims of 100%
waterproof bags. Often overlooked points of water entry include
zippers, gaps between flap pockets, mounting strap pass-through
holes and seams. Unless a floating waterproof liner is used,
it's almost impossible to avoid some water entering your bag
during a downpour. A good compromise is to keep a waterproof
stuff sack in your bag.
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Will
your bag unravel?
Canvas tends
to unravel if the edges are left raw. We take extra care to
finish all edges, inside and out, including hidden areas.
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Can
you customize a bag?
Well...yes
and no. If you would like us to add a small feature, such as
lengthening a strap, adding D-rings or sewing on a patch, we're
happy to oblige for a minimal charge. However, we cannot easily
change dimensions of the bag, because that would require drawing
up new patterns.
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Color
Notes
Will
the canvas color fade over time?
Of course!
This just adds to the character of the bag. Think of your
favorite pair of Levi's, Army surplus rucksack or Converse
hi-tops. Truth is, all dyed cotton canvas fades faster than
synthetic fabrics, especially the darker colors. If you don't
care for that "lived in" look, then canvas bags
are probably not for you.
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Do
you offer any other color choices?
We currently
offer tan or black canvas with naturally tanned leather. (Olive
green canvas and black leather is NOT available.)
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The
color is a little different than what I expected. What gives?
Fabric
and leather colors shown in the photos are a close representation
only. Actual colors may vary for many reasons:
