Well remember that it is called "Ripstop" so it's not completely fragile. When you hold it up to the light you can see a grid of reinforcing fibers that is woven in to stop rips (hence the name). I have not found branches and bushes to be a real problem really unless you are talking about thorns. My pack is a gossamer gear pack and it is made of that stuff. I'm not super careful with it and I haven't had any problems. However I'm more careful than when I was a kid. As a scout I would just throw my pack on the ground, heedless of rocks, when I was done hiking.