Best fabric for lumbar pad

[in_idaho]

I’m an amateur pack builder working on a new design. I’ve built several bags for a Seek Outside frame but have been prototyping a more traditional lumbar pad design. I’ve been using the Exo K4 system for inspiration.

I’ve made a number of hip belts but am new to making lumbar pads. Many packs (EXO, Kifaru, SG, etc) use some sort of gripper fabric and I’m wondering how important/beneficial this is? Since many of the big players use it, I’m guessing it probably works. The devils advocate in me worries that it will rub my back, and once sweaty, the rubberized fabric will actually become slippery. Would spacer mesh or plain cordura actually be better?

Would love to hear any feedback one way or the other…

 

[TandKHunting]

The material they are using is a slip not type fabric. It's supposed to be more grippy and stop the pack from shifting/moving when sweating. It doesn't get slippery when wet due to the textured finish. It's specifically designed for wet conditions. On another note, many pack manufacturers still utilize spacer mesh on lumbar pads and hip belts.