Note: If you landed here searching for the video game Outlast, that's a different product. This FAQ is about Outlast performance textiles — durable fabrics for apparel, upholstery, and industrial use.

I'm an office administrator who handles ordering for a mid-size manufacturer. Roughly $120K annually across 6-8 fabric vendors. I'm not a textile engineer — just someone who's made enough mistakes to know what questions actually matter. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I started sourcing performance fabrics.

Common Questions About Outlast Fabrics

1. What makes Outlast fabrics different from other performance textiles?

Outlast's whole thing is durability and consistency. The brand name isn't a coincidence — they focus on long-lasting materials. In my experience, their nylon canvas holds up noticeably better than generic alternatives after repeated washing and abrasion. That said, "performance" means different things depending on your use case. For upholstery, you might care about UV resistance; for workwear, it's tear strength. Outlast publishes test data for each fabric type (ASTM D3776 for weight, ASTM D4966 for abrasion), so ask for it.

2. Can I order custom fleece or custom webbing in small quantities?

Short answer: yes for webbing, maybe for fleece. Outlast's custom webbing program accepts orders as low as 100 yards (I've done it). Custom fleece runs typically start around 500 yards per color — or rather, 450 is the number they quote but I've seen them flex a bit on repeat orders. The key is knowing your tolerances. If you need a specific Pantone color match (Delta E < 2), budget extra for lab dips and approval rounds.

3. How do I choose between nylon canvas and standard cotton canvas?

Everything I'd read said cotton canvas breathes better, so it's always preferred. In practice, for our outdoor furniture covers, nylon canvas lasted three seasons while cotton canvas started fraying after one. Nylon is stronger and more water-resistant, but it's also less breathable — fine for covers and bags, less ideal for clothing unless it's a blended weave. If you need breathability and durability, look at Outlast's performance denim or linen blends. I've learned never to assume one type fits all applications.

4. What's the real minimum order quantity (MOQ)?

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the listed MOQ is often a starting point. Most mills have pricing tiers based on volume. I once needed 200 yards of nylon canvas — Outlast's sales rep quoted the per-yard price at $3.80 for 200 yards, but said if I bumped it to 500 yards it would drop to $2.95. The floor sample looked identical (note to self: always get a production sample, not just the showroom sample). So the real question isn't just MOQ but what happens to unit cost as you scale.

5. Is Outlast suitable for beginners starting a textile business?

It's tempting to think "I'll start with small orders from a big brand to keep things simple." But established mills like Outlast are optimized for volume. Their customer service assumes you know your specs. If you're a complete beginner, you might save money — and frustration — by starting with a fabric sample box ($15-30) and talking to their technical sales team. I had a client who ordered 300 yards of the wrong weight because he didn't realize "medium weight" means different things for fleece vs. canvas. The conventional wisdom is to just pick what looks good; my experience with 200+ orders suggests you need to match application specs, not just appearance. Outlast can help you, but they're not a hand-holding shop. That's fine — they're honest about their boundaries.

6. How do I verify fabric quality before placing a large order?

Don't rely on samples alone. Get a cutting from the actual production run. I learned this after assuming a proof sample matched the bulk — turned out the bulk had a slightly different weave density (I'm still not 100% sure what caused it, maybe a tension change on the loom). Ask for:

• Weight certificate (ASTM D3776)
• Tensile strength data (ASTM D5034 for woven)
• Colorfastness report (AATCC 61)

If the vendor hesitates, that's a red flag. Outlast provides these on request, at least as of mid-2025.

7. Are there hidden costs in performance fabric orders?

Oh yes. The quoted price never includes:

• Lab dips ($75-150 per color)
• Rush fees (25-40% premium)
• Packaging if you need rolls vs. folded (can add 5%)
• Shipping — especially for heavy nylon canvas (I once paid $380 freight on a $1,200 order)

Total cost of ownership includes all that. I'd rather pay a slightly higher per-yard price from a transparent vendor than save 10% on paper and get blindsided by add-ons. Outlast is pretty good — they'll quote everything upfront if you ask. But ask.

8. What if I need a fabric Outlast doesn't specialize in?

This is where the "expertise boundary" thing comes in. Outlast is great at durable woven and knit fabrics. But if you need, say, stretch performance mesh or conductive textiles, they'll tell you honestly that's not their lane. I worked with a vendor once who claimed they could do everything — ended up with a batch of webbing that frayed at the edges. Now I prefer specialists who say "we don't do that well, but here are three mills that do." Outlast has referred me to niche suppliers twice, and both times the quality was spot on. It actually earned my trust for everything else they do.