What is the longest lasting American Flag fabric?

Question

What fabric is the best for an outdoor American Flag? I've seen Cotton, Cotton/Polyester, and Nylon -- I'm sure there are other fabric/fabric blends available too. I bought one from Meijer last year -- and I can't for the life of me remember what type of fabric it was -- but within in a month the flag was tattered and split at the stripes. I'd like to buy one that will be long lasting.

Answer 1

depends what the conditions are like where u live. i take it that having heard about your flag you gotlast year you either live in a windy area or it was a very poorly stitched flag.

1st choose your flag manufacturor. there are plenty of different flag makers in the USA but the top 3 are ANNIN AND CO, VALLEY FORGE FLAG COMPANY and CF FLAG COMPANY. These 3 flag companies are the ONLY flag companies chosen to make flags for the US government and armed services. the flags that fly over the Capitol are Annin or Valley Forge.

dont buy the cheapest flag you can buy. if you ARE strapped for cash, go to your nearest Wal-mart as these stores have a contract with Annin and co and quite regularly sell their flags i picked up a 6x4 ft nylon flag from wal-mart last year for $24.99- or have a look on ebay.

now for the type of flag.
both Annin and Valley forge have a range of heavy duty flags. these are good for high winds. valley forge have DuraTex and Annin have ToughTex. the valley forge one is made from 2 spun polyester and the annin one i think is a mix of polyester and nylon and s a 'double flag' basiclaly 2 layers of material throughout the flag. be warned though- these will just lay against the pole if its not windy enough

in a regular or low wind nylon is the best lasting flag but make sure you have at least 4 rows of stitching at the fly end which all these 3 companies do provide

for the best visual effect however a .cotton flagwill win every time in regular wind. it will flow gently and be wonderful to look at. however these flags come with a higher maintainance and they do not like the rain!! you can get colour fast cotton flags but still if it rains they fill with water and become very heavy and then have to be COMPLETELY dried out before folding otherwise it can become mouldy... yuck!

Answer 2

American Flag Fabric

Answer 3

I live in Georgia, where the Confederate flag is waved around, and yes I do find it offensive. The people that I do see sporting the symbol are doing it to express hatred and intolerance. I am not generalizing every white southerner, merely those that I have encountered. When I was attending a predominantly white college in a rural part of the state, I would actually see some students making racial slurs and using the symbol as a means to offend. I feel that what makes the flag such a divisive issue is basically what it stands for, at least where I live. In fact, just the other day, our local news reported that the symbol was to be banned from a local middle school because the students that were wearing the shirts were saying epithets and slurs and would walk around the school antagonizing black students. I am a southern girl, (a proud G.R.I.T.S.) and I know the difference between southern pride and racial intolerance. I hope that this matter can be rectified by showing a new South, a tolerant South, and above all, a South that has left its ugly, racial inequities behind.

Answer 4

Flag Material

Answer 5

Jaz: write to your Congressman or Senator. He can send you an American flag free that's flow over the United States Capitol. This is a once a year thing. I do it every year, that's about how long they last, I bring my old one to the American Legion or the Vets.

Answer 6

Best American Flag

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure that rip-stop nylon is the material you're looking for. In a project I did on parachutes, Nylon was the best suited, due to its durability and its tightly woven fibers. Why would the U.S. military use it if this material wasn't the best?