Video summary

I Tested 142 Filaments. These 5 Are Actually Worth Buying.

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product being reviewed

This video is not a single product review. It’s a roundup of five “underrated” 3D printing filament types the creator recommends after testing 100+ filaments.

Key product/filament picks & features (5)

1) Polyamide / Nylon (PLA) — “plain nylon”

Main features / why it’s underrated

  • Described as very rugged, durable, and versatile (used in real-world durable applications like parachute fabric, leggings/string trimmer line/paracord).
  • The creator argues nylon has a “stigma” from past issues that is now outdated.

How to print / practical requirements

  • Common complaints: warping, moisture absorption, and needing high print temperatures.
  • Claims nylon can be printed without a heated chamber, because bed heat can be sufficient (especially on modern enclosed printers).
  • Support/build-plate tech mentioned:
    • Magigoo PA to help build plates grip nylon
    • PA-specific build plates for easier printing (even on open printers)
  • Strong emphasis on ventilation/air filtration due to fumes/VOCs.
  • Drying guidance: needs a high-temp filament dryer, ideally 80–100°C.

Use cases

  • For parts meant to survive abuse (examples: bike lock mount, bump gate smashed daily).

Pros

  • High strength and durability
  • Works with newer support/accessory ecosystem
  • Possible open-printer printing with proper plate and ventilation

Cons

  • Moisture sensitivity (needs drying)
  • Warping risk (mitigated with better printers/formulations)
  • Requires hot printing + ventilation

Comparisons made

  • The creator pushes back against the tendency to buy more expensive fiber-reinforced nylons instead of plain nylon.

2) TPU reinforced with fibers: TPU-GF and TPU-CF (glass fiber / carbon fiber TPU)

Main features

  • Framed as a solution to TPU’s weakness: TPU is impact-resistant but not rigid enough.
  • Fiber-filled TPU adds enough rigidity while keeping TPU benefits:
    • Unbreakable layer adhesion
    • Unparalleled impact resistance
  • Finishing/weight:
    • Semi-matte finish
    • Some weight savings

Printing requirements / tradeoffs

  • Needs a hardened steel nozzle (common with abrasive fiber filaments).
  • No other special requirements emphasized.

Availability

  • Not widely available from “big names” yet.
  • Named smaller brands: 3DO, Extruder, Fiberlogy, Siraya Tech.
  • Not currently from large manufacturers like Polymaker or Sunlu (per the creator).

Pros

  • Better rigidity than standard TPU
  • Strong impact resistance
  • Good layer adhesion
  • Matte finish + lighter weight

Cons

  • Limited supplier availability (under-marketed/under-produced)
  • Still not as rigid as the creator’s “next” super-rigid materials

Comparisons made

  • Compared to:
    • Standard TPU (more flex, texture issues)
    • The next list item’s very high rigidity polymers (TPU-GF/CF sits between normal TPU and nylon).

3) PC-CF (fiber-reinforced polycarbonate)

Main features

  • Positioned as “extreme rigidity and heat resistance” at a fraction of the cost of top-tier super polymers (like PPA-CF / PPS-CF).
  • Claimed benefits:
    • Heat deflection temp up to ~130°C
    • Less warping
    • Lighter weight
    • Satin-smooth finish
    • Easier printability than plain PC

Printing performance anecdotes

  • The creator notes Prusa’s factory prints PC-CF parts on open format bed slingers with industrial ventilation/air purification.
  • Mentions that screw inserts/threads in prior attempts failed due to layer adhesion, and polycarbonate resolved that issue.

Availability

  • Under-produced/under-marketed; only a few brands found:
    • Prusament
    • Spectrum Filaments
    • YXPOLYER
  • Recommended strongly if you can find it locally at a reasonable price.

Pros

  • High rigidity + heat resistance
  • Reduced warping vs plain PC
  • Easier to print than plain polycarbonate
  • Good for strength-critical parts (e.g., screw threads)

Cons

  • Not widely available (limited brands)
  • Still only accessible “if you can find it” at reasonable pricing
  • Requires the hardened nozzle mentioned in the sponsor/printer context

Comparisons made

  • Against:
    • PPA-CF / PPS-CF: similar performance but prohibitively expensive, require higher temperatures, and can be brittle/painful on some extruders/paths
    • Plain PC: far more difficult and “best with an actively heated chamber”

4) Air flexibles (foaming “Air” variants of TPU/PEBA/TPE)

Main features

  • A new class of flexibles the creator found surprisingly not just a novelty.
  • Claimed advantages:
    1. Great skin feel (soft/touchable)
    2. Versatility: foams up to act as a stand-in for EVA foam (not just seals/gaskets; also cushioning/insulation)
    3. Long-lasting spool life: roughly printed at ~40% air, so a spool lasts much longer than dense TPU
  • Linked to broader usefulness in multi-material printing (e.g., tool changers).

Printing requirements / user experience

  • Requires tuning on printers without “fancy auto PA calibration.”
  • The creator personally prints on Snapmaker U1 due to its auto-calibration, but manual tuning is possible.

Pros

  • Better skin feel than standard TPU
  • Acts like EVA foam for many applications
  • Much longer-lasting than typical TPU due to foaming
  • Flexible enough for wearables/shapes and cushioning

Cons

  • Requires tuning/manual calibration on some machines
  • Not described as plug-and-play for every printer setup

Comparisons made

  • Against:
    • Standard TPU (creator disliked its plasticky texture and gasket/seal behavior—stays squished)
  • Mentions existing alternatives (PEBAs/TPEs/ultrasoft TPUs) but implies the “Air” approach is smoother/easier.

5) PETG-CF (carbon fiber reinforced PETG) — “redemption of PETG”

Main features

  • The creator previously “hates” PETG; now loves PETG-CF.
  • Claimed fixes for common PETG problems from carbon fiber addition:
    • Reduces nozzle booger effect
    • Improves rigidity
    • Removes glossy finish (satin/matte result)
    • Improves hygroscopy (water absorption)
    • Reduces bubbly prints
  • Mentions an online claim that adding carbon fiber to PLA may weaken it, but says PETG strength is largely unaffected for their purposes.

Printing requirements / user experience

  • Compared to other picks, it’s easy:
    • Needs only a hardened steel nozzle
    • No special equipment/conditions emphasized

Availability / pricing

  • Said to be widely available and affordable.
  • Pricing mentioned:
    • $19.99/kg at SUNLU
    • Under $30/kg from brands like Polymaker and Bambu Lab

Pros

  • Fixes major PETG issues
  • Satin surface + better rigidity
  • Broad availability + low cost
  • Easy setup (aside from hardened nozzle)

Cons

  • Creator wishes for more colors and more manufacturers offering it

Comparisons made

  • Suggests ABS/ASA is still often preferable if you have an enclosed/filtered chamber, though PETG-CF is positioned as a worthwhile upgrade from standard PETG.

Notable sponsor/printer mention (context for compatibility)

  • Sponsor: Snapmaker U1
  • Claim: Snapmaker U1 price lowered to $849 (creator previously liked it at $999).
  • Compatibility claim: all five filaments can be printed on the U1, including nylons/PC-CFs if you use a top hat and a hardened steel upgraded nozzle.
  • The creator says the U1 calibrates difficult filaments well.

Note: This is not framed as the “reviewed product,” but it influences the usability takeaway for the filament list.

Overall unique points mentioned (consolidated)

  • Nylon/PA: rugged/durable/versatile; stigma outdated; may print without a heated chamber using bed heat; support aids like Magigoo PA and PA build plates enable open-printer nylon; must ventilate; must dry at 80–100°C.
  • TPU-GF/TPU-CF: balances TPU impact resistance + layer adhesion with improved rigidity; needs hardened nozzle; semi-matte finish; weight savings; limited supplier availability.
  • PC-CF: high heat/rigidity (HD temp up to ~130°C), less warping, satin smooth finish, easier than plain PC; Prusa prints PC-CF on open bed slingers with industrial ventilation; limited brands; worth trying if reasonably priced.
  • Air flexibles (Air TPU/PEBA/TPE): great skin-touch flex; EVA-foam-like versatility from foaming; long spool life from ~40% air; needs tuning unless on strong auto-calibration setups (e.g., Snapmaker U1).
  • PETG-CF: “redemption of PETG”; improves nozzle cleanliness, rigidity, glossiness, hygroscopy, and bubbly prints; strength largely unaffected; widely available and affordable ($19.99/kg and < $30/kg noted); needs hardened nozzle; wants more colors.

Pros/cons recap (overall)

Main pros across the list

  • Practical, shop/home-use oriented materials that the creator believes outperform “pretty desk” filaments
  • Address common filament pain points (warping, gloss, brittleness, rigidity/impact tradeoffs)
  • Some are framed as more achievable with modern accessories/printers (drying, grip additives, auto-calibration, ventilation)

Main cons across the list

  • Some require extra preparation (nylon drying; tuning Air flex; fiber abrasion needing hardened nozzles)
  • Some are harder to source (PC-CF and TPU-CF/TPU-GF under-produced/limited brands)
  • Ventilation is repeatedly emphasized (especially for nylon/PC-CF contexts)

Overall verdict / recommendation

The creator’s “best picks” strongly recommend:

  • PC-CF for high rigidity + heat resistance without paying for the most expensive super-polymers.
  • PETG-CF as the easiest upgrade path from PETG, solving many PETG pain points cheaply and widely available ($19.99/kg–<$30/kg).
  • Nylon (plain PA) for durable real-world parts, with proper drying and fumes/ventilation management.
  • TPU-GF/TPU-CF for impact resistance with more stiffness, but expect limited availability.
  • Air flexibles for comfortable skin-touch flex applications and EVA-like cushioning, but expect some tuning.

Best starting points for most users: PETG-CF (lowest friction) and PC-CF (best performance for challenging parts).

Speaker/list viewpoint notes

  • Single main speaker (the creator) delivers both the narrative and technical guidance.
  • No distinct separate speakers are clearly introduced; references come from others (e.g., Prusa factory, and manufacturers like Sunlu/PolyMaker/Siraya Tech) rather than different reviewer voices.

Original video