The materials used nowadays are much lighter than in years past with little compromise on strength and durability. The weight of lightweight hiking backpacks has decreased significantly since the days of 6lb / 2.5kg backpacks that were normal 20 years ago. Lightweight Dyneema (Cuban Fibre) has led the way in making modern backpacks so much lighter but not all manufacturers use this material. Other materials such as Xpac and Cordura are also used.