They're definitely fragile. I've got two on my new day hike pack, and I use them but treat them with kid gloves. They're great places to store a garbage bag or two, and I often slide the tip of my Mora sheath into after I clip it to a strap, ditto my Thermarest Z-seat etc... but I don't let them become high traffic areas or they're going to rip for sure, and because of that, I don't store anything important there.