A fiber optic cable includes at least one at least one bundle having a plurality of non-tight buffered optical fibers and a binder element for maintaining the integrity of the bundle. The binder element may be, for example, a binder thread. The fiber optic cable may exclude a grease or a grease-like composition being in contact with the at least one bundle for filling interstices of the cable thereby blocking water from flowing through the cable. The fiber optic cable also includes a separation layer for inhibiting adhesion between the bundles of optical fibers and the cable jacket. In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable includes a plurality of optical fibers and a binder element forming at least one bundle. The at least one bundle is surrounded by an armor layer and the fiber optic cable excludes a cable jacket within the armor layer.