Abstract: A triple layer fabric, useful in the forming section of a papermakers' machine, is provided. The fabric has a top fabric layer having at least one set of warp yarns interwoven with at least one set of weft yarns; a bottom fabric layer having at least two sets of weft yarns forming a top and bottom layer of the bottom fabric layer, and at least one set of warp yarns; and at least one binder yarn interweaving and joining the top fabric layer and the bottom fabric layer. The top fabric layer is preferably a plain weave fabric while the bottom fabric layer is preferably a semi-duplex weave. Also, in one preferred embodiment, the weft yarns in the bottom fabric layer are generally stacked, as are the warp and weft yarns of the top and bottom fabric layers. The binder yarns are preferably a binder warp yarns, but may be a binder wefts. In interweaving the top and bottom fabric layers, the binder yarns engage only the upper weft yarns or the warp yarns of the bottom fabric layer.