Fjällräven pants: Clear result on wax vs impregnation 

if you still dont know, the wax is not to keep water off you, what it does is melts into the cotton and forms a barrier to keep the cotton dry, so when you get wet it dries extremely fast, unlike unwaxed cotton. the reason it beads on the surface for a short period and eventually seeps through is because its still porus between the waxed material. so basically it just stops the fabric from absorbing like a sponge and staying wet

The wax is still a clear winner as no chemicals leaching off the pants and into your skins and the environment. ❤️

G1000 is great for 2 conditions. Warm with a chance of intermittent rain that’s light to moderate (late spring to early fall). Then, brutally cold and windy and it’s used as your wind blocking layer. Also good for beater camp gear/firewood work/and general day trips based from a car.

Nice channel papa! Wires that I missed it out before. But You have a new subscriber now 😁. This was interesting and I will try this out on my Keb Jacket. I read a good point of the wax being more environment friendly. Will check out your tarp videos as well today.

In the U.K., were pretty good with rain. Buffalo jackets are just wind proof, and breathable, they get wet, buy dry a lot quicker than a boil in the bag.

Just my two cents about the spray you used, Nikwax seems to be better than other due to the fact it doesn't include toxic component into the formula.

I like it. As well as a nearly 30 year old Ventile (fine woven cotton) jacket, I have 20+ year old Fjallraven G1000 jacket and pants. I've used Nikwax Cotton Proof and Nikwax TX-Direct on the Ventile for many years and Greenland wax on the G1000 fabric, and this year I used Greenland Wax on the Ventile as I was waxing my other jacket and pants, and I'm quite happy with the results. Good for an hour or two of heavy rain before they get damp inside. You can achieve full waterproofing if you just keep applying wax, but you lose breathability if you do as the wax blocks up the weave as well as impregnating the threads. Barbour jackets are fully waxed, keep you dry all day long in heavy rain, but do anything physical which warms you up, and you get wet from condensation. To rewax a Barbour, you melt a tin of wax in a pan of water heated on a stove, then paint it on with a brush. I don't have a stove, so I use a hair dryer and work over the clothing in sections. I also use a military surplus poncho for if the rain becomes extended longer than an hour or two to throw over me and my backpack (and for a minimal shelter for a meal break or emergency worse case scenario). I also wear cotton canvas duck gaiters (35+ years old) which I proof. If you wear gaiters that come up to just below your knees, and your poncho comes down to your knees or just below, then the worst that can get wet is your knees. The gaiters will also help avoiding saturated boots in very wet conditions.

thanks for reply and great videos by the way.....yeah im in USA and I know u Nordic mountain been using wax cotton for a very,very long time.... im willing to give it a go with this blend of fabric...

Cool video. I was wondering about this myself. Thank you.

Really cool video thanks.does the synthetic spay also waterproof jackets please?

the plain truth. I have the same experience ,if the material is not waterproof no wax or spray will change that. However I notice some increased resistance to dirt with the wax.

Silicone water proofer is fine on tents, but its too fragile for outer clothing that will take a beating. If you wash you hands and dont fully rinse off the soap... wipe your hands on your clothes and you might destroy the water seal. Also mechanical action will break the water proofing. Personally I would rather trade some breathability for a wax water barrier. I can always open a few buttons for some fresh air.

Very cool video thanks. What brand Silicone coating is it please?

What is the name of the synthetic spray please?

Your video is so honest and helpful. Thank you! What do you recommend for a good waterproof material? Everything I see talks about the Gore-Tex “guaranteed to keep you dry“ which is claimed to be both waterproof and breathable and is extremely expensive. It seems like the most waterproof materials are the rain coats of old (picture fishermen in yellow suits) which I think are made of polyurethane (?) but are perhaps not as breathable. Does “breathability” really make a difference?

5:13 to get the shocking answer

Definitely cool hat like a sheriff!

I read somewhere that Barbour's wax works the best in soaking wet conditions, but it's not breathable at all and you may sweat a lot inside.

each has its own advantages. wax is more natural and probably lasts longer and also can enhance the appearance of a garment. whereas the stuff in the can is probably horrible for the environment in every way- it probably stinks, is flammable and just horrible. i hope youre still using the Greenland wax brother

Maby you can test spray wax

Interesting and empirical experiment, good stuff. I am surprised on two points however, (a) that you call them pants instead of trousers, and (b) that you sleep in them. When you wear them inside your sleeping bag, do you not consider that ticks and suchlike are taken to your bed as well? Kind regards.

I would love to hear Fjallraven comment on this... Personally I use (for the most part) Fjallraven Gaiter trousers No.1 and I have about the same experience. I do find waxed G-1000 to be sort of more water resistant so In very light rain or moist the wax does help but thats about it. G-1000 Isn't a GoreTex, waterproof material and If its wet, you'll be wet aswell. It's a grate fabrik, very sturdy and durable and fairly comfortable, but It's not a shell material. imo

i love your hat

I recall ca. 10 years back or so we had a lot of public discussions how badly and poor silicons decay in nature and rather last there forever. Although almost impossible, I try to avoid as much silicones as possible. I also use only canvas tents of 100% cotton. It is a pity there is e.g. hardly any alternative to the rubber soles of boots. All this microscopic polyester/ruber/silicones tear and wear we leave in nature is rather depressing. I also wish the poly cotton mix of Fjällräven would go more toward 50/50%. I'm not even sure when Fjällräven once started that they had anything besides 100% true cotton.

You mentioned in video description that "The only downside is that they wear pretty fast". What do you mean? that the pants are not long-lasting?

You dont wat 100% waterproof jacket. That means it some what syntetic and therefore it will wear after prolonged wearing of backpacks. G-1000 wont`t and you `ll have a jacket for life. For those rainy days, have a poncho also - but super quality underneath. Same theory goes for pants. Durability is great. Buy pants you`ll have a lifetime. I cheaped out on hiking pants before and they ran in the seam before I could even enter the canoe. Did not have spare pants so spent the entire weekend with my balls hanging out of my pants.

Great review,but I feel the same,wax no wax,spray,resistant,water proof etc. It get exhausting. I wax mine and that's it but they repeal water not proof of course. Greetings from Germany

What shoes are those? I have a pair of Teva pull on boots I use in rainy weather that look just like what you have on.

I just use an iron to do the waxing. Several layers to keep the wind out.

What about how long they take to dry? Did the waxed items shed their water faster? Maybe that would be good for your future comparison waxed versus unwaxed. It's always nice if you're things dry more quickly. Only rubber and plastic don't get wet and no-one wants to hike in that.

Both methods don't last very long that's why I prefer 100% polyester pants no treatment for late season wet and cold. It dries faster and does not cling to my skin.

I go light and never bring my Fjällräven gear on longer hikes anymore. But i still use them in the city or day trips and they are perfect. I think the wax makes some difference, only a couple of minutes but that´s enough for my use. I always thought the wax saturates the fabric making it absorb less water and dry more quickly. You didn't notice any difference on that?

This test is possibly not relevant because the pants already have had the green land wax applied many times. I would imagine that the spray wouldn’t even soak into the material do to the wax that is already there. Also I don’t think the pants are meant to be water proof but only water resistant. I like the wax more for its ability to make the paints more abrasion and dust resistant.

What happens if you put waxed pants in the washer machine? How does it affect other clothes washed together with it?

Please do show the insulated shorts you talk about.

What about rubbing alot of wax and skipping the melting part

Try filsons oil wax it works better for water proofing

Bonjour which one is the best ?

Dorky sheriff hat. I'd wear it.

My idea is to put a lot of wax on the pants, then apply iron, then apply wax, then apply a light spray on it Then it could last longest. However, I heard Scotchguard is the best. But after X hours of rain the only thing that counts is what dries faster. Therefore get some polar pants underneath to separate cloth from skin, and use that system... Once I hiked for 3-4 hours in rain in 100% wet conditions in a PVC material with big cutouts. I almost suffocated. I had my gore-tex jacket on, got wet inside out, but felt like breathing. The sweat got me wet in the end. But it was way better. So get an umbrella and a light thin layer that dries fast over a thick polar. That is my system.

Which one cost more? Did one last a lot longer than the other?

Wax might help with weak rain, some wind and maybe add durability but it will not keep heavy rain out. You need a good waterproof membrane for that -or rubber.

The green land wax is to hard and breaks up it seems in the fabric. The filsons is more oily and just coats everything better

nice iv just wasted £150 ..any decent pants that are waterproof without the sweatyness of goretex

no bullshit. plain talk. thumbs up.

I just wear canvas gaiters which come up to me knee.

Cool like a sherriff

Wax makes the pants more quiet, I'd like to think.

Thanks for the video! If one is less harmfull to the environment than the other one, then it makes all the difference for me.

never rated fjallraven for wet weather and iv had 4 pairs of kebs . 3 pairs of vidda pro's . the wax is a gimmick . pretty annoying when you spend £600 on a parka thats useless in rain , buy gore tex if you want to stay dry , fjallraven are hyped up theyre ok summer pants , but theyre missleadingly sold as water resistant , people get into trouble these days being more adventurous .. buy waterproof over trousers to keep hyperthermia at bay

I have to test mine I just bought...I dont care about water resistance...I care how fast they dry after being wet!.....so after your week long trip, u think they will dry as fast as nylon?....per your 7 days of rain and cold?....

👀Very good video. Tak.✅ I got 3🍓questions:#1 Prices. #2 Working time for putting on the products. #3 How long time do it waterproof the fabric? Wear off time? Durable time? I, me, & myself, use the Greenland Wax (and/or some local Beeswax). But it take time and effort, with the heat, from an air dryer/ heat gun/ fire, to melt the wax into the fabric. 🔥

Fjallraven arent waterproof for longer than a few moments . Buy waterproof jackets that ARE waterproof .gore tex similar price to fjallraven . But DRY .the amount of peoples complaints of fjallravens waterproof pants and jackets have landed them in trouble, theyre not ,

So is not big difference wax and spray what about price? I can say wax is natural material and spray is chemical.

Took my Barents out for a soaking straight out the box. Have to say NOT impressed hopefully the willl fair better with either a coating of Greenland Wax or a Silicone based spray. its got to be better than nothing surely.

Are you from norway? your accent seems quite unusual for norway. but maybe im just dumb.

Sad hat dude bin it 4 sure 👯

I disagree, Fjällräven G1000 is super durable. I’ve had pants that I’ve bush crafted in fir 15 years with no issues. G1000 is not meant to be waterproof; so many people make that mistake. Buy a Keb-Eco Shell if you want that or Gore-Tex pro. Wax increases the water and wind resistance and durability but it does not make the garnet waterproof. It was never designed for that! But for durability and function, the products are the best on the market!

I think you need more wax. I wax pants until they just about stand up by themselves.

A ;)

"...and waxshing your bants...."

Rubber baby bubby bumpers'