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
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.
Hi AJ, but... how light or moderate are we talking here? My experience with a single layer G1000 jacket is that you get soaked in 20 minutes walking with the dog in the lightest drizzle. Weirdly this does not happen with a padded G1000 jacket I have. The padding soaks up the rain. Takes a long time to dry though.
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.
With the rain its ever a game between waterproofness and breathability the more you have one the less you have the second, even with GTX the problem is here : if the exterior is water saturated membran can't be efficient...
I live between Scotland and Ireland. Lots of rain and Barbour is fine so long as it's properly waxed which, as you say, takes a tin of melted wax. Not very breathable but waterproof. If I'm hiking I wear membrane based gear by Haglofs and Arcteryx but for casual walks around the countryside Barbour is excellent & lasts for years. I like Fjallraven but I think applying Greenland wax via that bar just doesn't work as well as painting on melted barbour wax. I think they use clothes irons to apply it in the Fjallraven shops.
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.
+580ex2 : that's true: the wax keeps them cleaner than no wax. But not measurably drier, at least compared to the spray. I also have a g1000 jacket. It is a nice soft shell, but pretty useless in rain longer than 10 minutes.
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.
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.
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.
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
Hey Red Martyr, Sorry for a very late reply! Actually I stopped waxing OR spraying, and guess what, there is no real downside to that... Maybe I will in the future though, but at the moment I don't feel the need. Happy camping! Papa hiker
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.
Hi Anders, sorry for a very late reply. I like Fjällräven pants, but not for durability. Try a nylon trekking pant sometimes, you will find that it is much sturdier than G1000. I have the Arc'teryx levon pant for example, indestructible. Also, yes to bringing a poncho. But, then I will not take a second jacket. No waterproof and also no breathable. Kind regards, Papa hiker
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.
+J1ss3ncy Hi! The barbour wax jackets I know are 100 % waterproof but not breathable. Effectively the same effect as a rubber coat. So yes, that would get sweaty. One of the systems i use for rain is a poncho with a full front zipper. The poncho is not breathable but airs well. The g1000 jackets should be considered soft shell jackets.
Ponchos are great as long as the weather's not too windy. But if you venture on top hills or mountain crests, they become pretty much useless and might drive you crazy. Personally, I own a pair of Fjällräven Vidda Pro Hydratic Trousers. They're crazy expensive (about 200 euros), but perfect for cold and damp conditions.
+J1ss3ncy Hey, yes that's true. I have had success using a guyline around my waist to prevent flapping, but the immediate downside is that there is no more air flow. I have now bought a gore tex active jacket by Eider. It' very light, stretchy, waterproof and does not get clammy. I personally don't need waterproof pants. I don't care that they get wet, except in the gaiter area.
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.
Hi OASM, Thanks a lot. Is pants American english? As a non-native speaker these subtleties elude me... In Holland we call it a "broek" which sounds exactly like the English word brook. :-) no, I do check my pants for critters before putting the puffy pants over top of them and later on before crawling in the sleeping bag. This has been working for my very well over the last years. It increases the warmth of the sleeping bag a lot, so saves weight. Have a nice one! Papa hiker
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.
Hey Nathaniel! Yes I also look at it like protecting your pants. But, if you overwax them they get really clammy. The test was pretty real though: I washed the pants hot before the test.
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.
Hey Andras, that sounds like a good approach. The approach where you wax double and also spray would reduce breathability too much i guess. Kind regards PH
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
Hey! Thanks for the comment. I'm also considering the no 1 gaiter trousers. Do they wet out slower than other g1000 pants, because they are thicker? I consider the material to be non-stretch soft shell. Quick drying though.
I'v actually filmed a movie respons to this video. Havnt edited it yet and Im extreamly self aware when I look at the photage... We'll see If I can gather enough balls to post it ;) Waxed, the No 1 gaiter trousers wets through if its stays wet at the same spot for to long, if the beading effect by the wax isnt enough so to speak. But it only gets through at that specific point and doesnt bleed into the rest of the fabric. Unwaxed they are like wettex, the water will soak, bleed and spread as much as it can. I would say they wet just as much (or little) as regular G-1000. Strangely though, I find that the heavy duty G-1000 dries faster then regular G-1000 and ECO.
That's just so cool. Don't worry about the self awareness, it wears off. I'm not too thrilled about my dutch accent either. Would be cool to see your results, please do post it! But hey, it would be great if G1000 HD does actually dry faster. The material has a less smooth exterior, so that could explain it?
Papa hiker I'm guessing that the more rough texture of the HD material offers more surface area for the water to evaporate. On the other hand, that fact also ought to allow more water to actually get trapped in it so it should cancel it self out... I don't know but it seems to me that it does dry quicker. It would be interesting to do some sort of controlled comparison. I will most likely have some time on my hands next week. I'll edit the footage and try to gather some guts. Maybe I'll be able to swallow my pride and post the video by the end of next week. With Swedish accent and all :P
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!
Hum G1000 super durable ? For light trekking condition of course ! But, for heavy duty its not the great deal : in wine growing work i torn badly a barent pro in only some months and seeing the price of this pants (140euros !) its hard to digest !
@@charlyapkarian1511 but it’s a hiking pant, not a work pant. What pants can handle that without ripping or being damaged? Police officers, forest rangers, hikers, bush-crafters all use Fjällräven pants! If they didn’t work, they wouldn’t have lasted so long on the market. I’ve thru-hiked in Abisko Midsummer Trs and they last 2000miles.. just in my experience.
@@moist_potato2837 Its possible to find better product alternatives in terms of resistance about abrasion, i think polycoton pant with ripstop (why fjallraven don’t use this ! 😭) or if its for heavy duty job without consideration for the weight : Filson double tin pant !
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?
Hi Jon, Sorry, I do not answer very quickly usually. Don't take the time all that often. If you really want to go gore tex, the ultralight Goretex Active is very good and stays dry. However, I have to say that if you control your temperature well (more important than moisture control) a non-breathable jacket also works very well. I have great experiences with a 30€ poncho in 40 denier PU coated polyester. And I mean hundreds of kilometers in really bad conditions, where the poncho also doubles as a ground sheet.
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
+NeoHeo : hey NeoHeo, according to Fjällraven you can wash your garment three times at 40 degr C before you need to wax again, and there is no effect on the machine or other clothes. According to Mama hiker this is true.
Hi there! They are Lundhags boots, a shell boot from Sweden. I have a video on them: ruclips.net/video/qlK54UhtfhI/видео.html The ones you see are Forest, that I hiked 1500 km on without visible deterioration. They did not fit my feet all that well, so mr. Lundhag has now had me made a custom (!) pair of Vandra boots that I adore. The Teva's you mention also look like a good option for very wet weather, but maybe less sturdy.
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.
Hello Jm, that's definately a consideration. It does depend on the spray brand. The wax is natural, but not sure if that means it is environmentally friendly. For example gasoline is also natural :-)
Gasoline is not natural. But lets stick to the crude oil which is. However, oil is forming in an isolated area for ages, while wax "grows" on the trees where we hike. Wild bees will produce quite some wax in one year, once they die out the wax stays. Natural and usual. Pure wax is also perfectly edible. So I would vote wax is more environment friendly then any silicon spray. But I doubt the spray is any harmful either - not sure there though.
All the environmental concerns date back to when aerosols used fluorocarbon propellants that were destroying the ozone layer. Modern aerosols are legally required to use ozone friendly propellants.
Hey Bostjan, Completely missed your comment, sorry. Hey, my wife has a beehive these days, so if it is at all possible I will use the natural beewax next season, isn’t that awesome! Kind regards, papa hiker
Hey Wilsjane, Not sure really, but I guess the spray itself is also considered harmful, as it is full of silicone. But this is not my area of expertise! Kind regards, Papa hiker
My experience is that the wax doesn’t make difference. It works for a short time then wears off. Still, I really like the fjallraven trousers because they are so hard wearing and they dry pretty quick
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...
Hey diskutera mera, No it does not work. The way needs to turn to liquid form, by heating up, for the strands of fabric to absorb it. Otherwise you will just have a polycotton fabric that absorbs moisture, with tiny crumbs of wax clinging to it. Also if you have rubbed in the wax, but have not yet heated it up, you have to be careful with moving it around, otherwise you lose a part of the wax. Kind regards, papa hiker
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.
Hey Steelonius, The material is very comfortable for a pant: it gets wet, but yes, it dries super quick. Waxed, unwaxed or silicone coated makes no difference, it al dries very fast. Also, when the pant is wet, different from cotton, I don’t find the g1000 or other polycotton to feel like a wet, cold tea towel, but still agreeable. Bye, Papa hiker
Hi Joe, I wouldn’t worry about waterproofness. I’ve never used waterproof pants and never missed them. If you bought a Fjällräven g1000 pant you will most likely love them. Kind regards Papa hiker
These are really good all round pants! If it's raining so bad you need waterproof trousers just wear the sweaty £20/$ ones or make them shorts! (Legs are water proof!)
Hi Phaser, Yes, afraid so. I have had three Fjällraven pants for trekking and they are comfy and well designed, but you get puncture holes, tears, torn stitches and worn out seams all the time. Not to mentions holes in the pockets. I also have nylon pants and my wife has nylon stretch, those are a bit stronger. But, your mileage may vary. Kind regards, Papa hiker
PBushcraft Drôme , comme il le dit dans sa vidéo, basé sur ses tests il n y a pas de différence. Pour l environnement personnellement j irai pour la cire
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?
+Arvid Lundberg Hey Arvid, I also wear several Fjällraven items that I like. Some of their stuff is really more suited for the city or walking the dog, but the pants and the shirts are good for trekkings too, in my experience. One thing I will mention is that although functional, the pieces of clothing that I have were not very durable: tears, stitches coming loose, fabric worn through. Well, my test was a comparison between wax and spray coating and there was SPOILER no difference in wet-out time and in dry-out time. I wonder if a comparison between wax and nothing would give the same result. Give it a try! I feel that the wax keeps the clothing cleaner, it seems to protect against stains. Kind regards Papa hiker.
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
Hi Joe, I once had a pair of water shoes, the type made of mesh so they drain quickly. They had a label that said "water resistant". Completely baffled. Looked up what they meant: obviously they were not waterproof or meant to keep you dry, but they meant that if you got them wet they would not ROT. sigh. Anyway, Fjällraven should not sell their g1000 jackets as able to withstand light rain. You're right that the pants are really nice. Not durable mind you.
Hi Jesse, I looked it up. It seems a little softer, which is good I guess for performance. It is parrafin based so some other people here who commented on sustainability will find that a downside. At the moment we have our own bees, so I am experimenting with my own beeswax. The smell is out of this world. Have a great time! Papa hiker
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 ,
That is not true. Fjällraven Eco-Shell is as good as goretex pro. People just make mistakes by thinking that their g1000 garments are waterproof. They are not. They are fast drying clothes with really good breathing abilities for activities where you generate a lot of heat.
@@sebulban people just dont understand the vast scale of the definition ''water resistant''. it can be right on the edge of being not resistant at all all the way up to being basically waterproof. if it doesnt have a waterproof membrane with a column rating then its water resistant. fjallraven has the eco shel that is WATERPROOF, the waxed product are simply to keep the fabric from absorbing water.
👀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. 🔥
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?....
Hey Michael, They dry very fast. No complaints there. Also I find the material easy on the skin and once dry it gives a comfortable inner climate, not clammy. Kind regards, Papa hiker
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.
Hi! I am from the Netherlands. Just moved from the grassy west to the woody south. I go to Norway quite often so some of the pettiest footage is shot there. 🙂
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
G-1000 dries very fast even unwaxed.
I have that experience too. And more air movement, good to expell transpiration.
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.
Hi AJ, but... how light or moderate are we talking here? My experience with a single layer G1000 jacket is that you get soaked in 20 minutes walking with the dog in the lightest drizzle. Weirdly this does not happen with a padded G1000 jacket I have. The padding soaks up the rain. Takes a long time to dry though.
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.
With the rain its ever a game between waterproofness and breathability the more you have one the less you have the second, even with GTX the problem is here : if the exterior is water saturated membran can't be efficient...
I live between Scotland and Ireland. Lots of rain and Barbour is fine so long as it's properly waxed which, as you say, takes a tin of melted wax. Not very breathable but waterproof. If I'm hiking I wear membrane based gear by Haglofs and Arcteryx but for casual walks around the countryside Barbour is excellent & lasts for years.
I like Fjallraven but I think applying Greenland wax via that bar just doesn't work as well as painting on melted barbour wax. I think they use clothes irons to apply it in the Fjallraven shops.
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.
+580ex2 : that's true: the wax keeps them cleaner than no wax. But not measurably drier, at least compared to the spray. I also have a g1000 jacket. It is a nice soft shell, but pretty useless in rain longer than 10 minutes.
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.
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.
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.
U take canvas tent to hikes? It sounds really heavy.
@@tomer7613 no, on true hikes (without canoe) I use silicon free cuben fibre dyneema tents from Hyperlite Mountain Gear (Ultamid 2).
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
Hey Red Martyr,
Sorry for a very late reply!
Actually I stopped waxing OR spraying, and guess what, there is no real downside to that... Maybe I will in the future though, but at the moment I don't feel the need.
Happy camping! Papa hiker
5:13 to get the shocking answer
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.
Hi Anders, sorry for a very late reply. I like Fjällräven pants, but not for durability. Try a nylon trekking pant sometimes, you will find that it is much sturdier than G1000. I have the Arc'teryx levon pant for example, indestructible.
Also, yes to bringing a poncho. But, then I will not take a second jacket. No waterproof and also no breathable.
Kind regards, Papa hiker
Really cool video thanks.does the synthetic spay also waterproof jackets please?
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.
Hi Mattias, thanks for your comment! I need to dig a bit into finding the least harmful spray option...
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.
+J1ss3ncy Hi! The barbour wax jackets I know are 100 % waterproof but not breathable. Effectively the same effect as a rubber coat. So yes, that would get sweaty. One of the systems i use for rain is a poncho with a full front zipper. The poncho is not breathable but airs well. The g1000 jackets should be considered soft shell jackets.
Ponchos are great as long as the weather's not too windy. But if you venture on top hills or mountain crests, they become pretty much useless and might drive you crazy.
Personally, I own a pair of Fjällräven Vidda Pro Hydratic Trousers. They're crazy expensive (about 200 euros), but perfect for cold and damp conditions.
+J1ss3ncy Hey, yes that's true. I have had success using a guyline around my waist to prevent flapping, but the immediate downside is that there is no more air flow.
I have now bought a gore tex active jacket by Eider. It' very light, stretchy, waterproof and does not get clammy. I personally don't need waterproof pants. I don't care that they get wet, except in the gaiter area.
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.
Hi OASM, Thanks a lot. Is pants American english? As a non-native speaker these subtleties elude me... In Holland we call it a "broek" which sounds exactly like the English word brook. :-) no, I do check my pants for critters before putting the puffy pants over top of them and later on before crawling in the sleeping bag. This has been working for my very well over the last years. It increases the warmth of the sleeping bag a lot, so saves weight. Have a nice one! Papa hiker
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.
Hey Nathaniel! Yes I also look at it like protecting your pants. But, if you overwax them they get really clammy. The test was pretty real though: I washed the pants hot before the test.
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.
Hey Andras, that sounds like a good approach. The approach where you wax double and also spray would reduce breathability too much i guess. Kind regards PH
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
Hey! Thanks for the comment. I'm also considering the no 1 gaiter trousers. Do they wet out slower than other g1000 pants, because they are thicker? I consider the material to be non-stretch soft shell. Quick drying though.
I'v actually filmed a movie respons to this video. Havnt edited it yet and Im extreamly self aware when I look at the photage... We'll see If I can gather enough balls to post it ;)
Waxed, the No 1 gaiter trousers wets through if its stays wet at the same spot for to long, if the beading effect by the wax isnt enough so to speak. But it only gets through at that specific point and doesnt bleed into the rest of the fabric. Unwaxed they are like wettex, the water will soak, bleed and spread as much as it can. I would say they wet just as much (or little) as regular G-1000. Strangely though, I find that the heavy duty G-1000 dries faster then regular G-1000 and ECO.
That's just so cool. Don't worry about the self awareness, it wears off. I'm not too thrilled about my dutch accent either. Would be cool to see your results, please do post it! But hey, it would be great if G1000 HD does actually dry faster. The material has a less smooth exterior, so that could explain it?
Papa hiker I'm guessing that the more rough texture of the HD material offers more surface area for the water to evaporate. On the other hand, that fact also ought to allow more water to actually get trapped in it so it should cancel it self out... I don't know but it seems to me that it does dry quicker. It would be interesting to do some sort of controlled comparison.
I will most likely have some time on my hands next week. I'll edit the footage and try to gather some guts. Maybe I'll be able to swallow my pride and post the video by the end of next week. With Swedish accent and all :P
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!
Hum G1000 super durable ? For light trekking condition of course ! But, for heavy duty its not the great deal : in wine growing work i torn badly a barent pro in only some months and seeing the price of this pants (140euros !) its hard to digest !
@@charlyapkarian1511 but it’s a hiking pant, not a work pant. What pants can handle that without ripping or being damaged? Police officers, forest rangers, hikers, bush-crafters all use Fjällräven pants! If they didn’t work, they wouldn’t have lasted so long on the market.
I’ve thru-hiked in Abisko Midsummer Trs and they last 2000miles.. just in my experience.
@@charlyapkarian1511 well if you ripped those good luck finding a pant that wouldnt have ripped
@@moist_potato2837 Its possible to find better product alternatives in terms of resistance about abrasion, i think polycoton pant with ripstop (why fjallraven don’t use this ! 😭) or if its for heavy duty job without consideration for the weight : Filson double tin pant !
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?
Hi Jon, Sorry, I do not answer very quickly usually. Don't take the time all that often. If you really want to go gore tex, the ultralight Goretex Active is very good and stays dry. However, I have to say that if you control your temperature well (more important than moisture control) a non-breathable jacket also works very well. I have great experiences with a 30€ poncho in 40 denier PU coated polyester. And I mean hundreds of kilometers in really bad conditions, where the poncho also doubles as a ground sheet.
What is the name of the synthetic spray please?
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
+Woodsman Tonahuac Hey Woodsman, yes, that's right. The wax does make it more dirt resistant maybe? Although my test did not even show that result.
What happens if you put waxed pants in the washer machine? How does it affect other clothes washed together with it?
+NeoHeo : hey NeoHeo, according to Fjällraven you can wash your garment three times at 40 degr C before you need to wax again, and there is no effect on the machine or other clothes. According to Mama hiker this is true.
Papa hiker OK, Thnx for the reply.
Very cool video thanks. What brand Silicone coating is it please?
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.
Hi there! They are Lundhags boots, a shell boot from Sweden. I have a video on them: ruclips.net/video/qlK54UhtfhI/видео.html
The ones you see are Forest, that I hiked 1500 km on without visible deterioration. They did not fit my feet all that well, so mr. Lundhag has now had me made a custom (!) pair of Vandra boots that I adore. The Teva's you mention also look like a good option for very wet weather, but maybe less sturdy.
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.
Agreed! But for pants I don't want waterproofness. Except when sailing.
Thanks for the video! If one is less harmfull to the environment than the other one, then it makes all the difference for me.
Hello Jm, that's definately a consideration. It does depend on the spray brand. The wax is natural, but not sure if that means it is environmentally friendly. For example gasoline is also natural :-)
Gasoline is not natural. But lets stick to the crude oil which is. However, oil is forming in an isolated area for ages, while wax "grows" on the trees where we hike. Wild bees will produce quite some wax in one year, once they die out the wax stays. Natural and usual. Pure wax is also perfectly edible. So I would vote wax is more environment friendly then any silicon spray. But I doubt the spray is any harmful either - not sure there though.
All the environmental concerns date back to when aerosols used fluorocarbon propellants that were destroying the ozone layer. Modern aerosols are legally required to use ozone friendly propellants.
Hey Bostjan,
Completely missed your comment, sorry. Hey, my wife has a beehive these days, so if it is at all possible I will use the natural beewax next season, isn’t that awesome!
Kind regards, papa hiker
Hey Wilsjane,
Not sure really, but I guess the spray itself is also considered harmful, as it is full of silicone. But this is not my area of expertise!
Kind regards, Papa hiker
i love your hat
Thanks!
I just use an iron to do the waxing. Several layers to keep the wind out.
Hey Tak1. And are you happy with the result? late reply from my side I know...
Cool video. I was wondering about this myself. Thank you.
+Wesley Easter thanks wesley!
My experience is that the wax doesn’t make difference. It works for a short time then wears off. Still, I really like the fjallraven trousers because they are so hard wearing and they dry pretty quick
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...
What about rubbing alot of wax and skipping the melting part
Hey diskutera mera,
No it does not work. The way needs to turn to liquid form, by heating up, for the strands of fabric to absorb it. Otherwise you will just have a polycotton fabric that absorbs moisture, with tiny crumbs of wax clinging to it. Also if you have rubbed in the wax, but have not yet heated it up, you have to be careful with moving it around, otherwise you lose a part of the wax.
Kind regards, papa hiker
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.
Hey Steelonius,
The material is very comfortable for a pant: it gets wet, but yes, it dries super quick. Waxed, unwaxed or silicone coated makes no difference, it al dries very fast. Also, when the pant is wet, different from cotton, I don’t find the g1000 or other polycotton to feel like a wet, cold tea towel, but still agreeable. Bye, Papa hiker
@@papahiker9014 Thanks for your reply. Happy hiking.
nice iv just wasted £150 ..any decent pants that are waterproof without the sweatyness of goretex
Hi Joe,
I wouldn’t worry about waterproofness. I’ve never used waterproof pants and never missed them. If you bought a Fjällräven g1000 pant you will most likely love them. Kind regards Papa hiker
These are really good all round pants! If it's raining so bad you need waterproof trousers just wear the sweaty £20/$ ones or make them shorts! (Legs are water proof!)
@@JoeZUGOOLA or just buy those packs of ponchos from wal mart.
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?
Hi Phaser,
Yes, afraid so. I have had three Fjällraven pants for trekking and they are comfy and well designed, but you get puncture holes, tears, torn stitches and worn out seams all the time. Not to mentions holes in the pockets. I also have nylon pants and my wife has nylon stretch, those are a bit stronger. But, your mileage may vary. Kind regards, Papa hiker
no bullshit. plain talk. thumbs up.
Thanks! I like evidence based video's :-)
Bonjour which one is the best ?
PBushcraft Drôme , comme il le dit dans sa vidéo, basé sur ses tests il n y a pas de différence. Pour l environnement personnellement j irai pour la cire
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?
+Arvid Lundberg Hey Arvid, I also wear several Fjällraven items that I like. Some of their stuff is really more suited for the city or walking the dog, but the pants and the shirts are good for trekkings too, in my experience. One thing I will mention is that although functional, the pieces of clothing that I have were not very durable: tears, stitches coming loose, fabric worn through.
Well, my test was a comparison between wax and spray coating and there was SPOILER no difference in wet-out time and in dry-out time. I wonder if a comparison between wax and nothing would give the same result. Give it a try! I feel that the wax keeps the clothing cleaner, it seems to protect against stains.
Kind regards Papa hiker.
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
Hi Joe,
I once had a pair of water shoes, the type made of mesh so they drain quickly. They had a label that said "water resistant". Completely baffled. Looked up what they meant: obviously they were not waterproof or meant to keep you dry, but they meant that if you got them wet they would not ROT. sigh. Anyway, Fjällraven should not sell their g1000 jackets as able to withstand light rain. You're right that the pants are really nice. Not durable mind you.
G1000 breaks down. Goretex doesnt. Fjallraven is all about caring for the environment, goretex doesnt care
@@moist_potato2837 it doesn't break down, but it can get fouled with skin oils and degrade that way.
Which one cost more? Did one last a lot longer than the other?
Hey! The wax is cheaper. They both don’t last very long.
@@papahiker9014 I have several Fjallraven items and have had a bar of Wax for more than 2 years.
Maby you can test spray wax
Please do show the insulated shorts you talk about.
+wazzup105, hey wazzup, i will show them. Working on a video on the most effective clothing system. Will take a little while though! Kind regards ph
Wax makes the pants more quiet, I'd like to think.
It does. It also ad some over all durability to the garment.
Definitely cool hat like a sheriff!
Thanks!
Try filsons oil wax it works better for water proofing
Hi Jesse, I looked it up. It seems a little softer, which is good I guess for performance. It is parrafin based so some other people here who commented on sustainability will find that a downside.
At the moment we have our own bees, so I am experimenting with my own beeswax. The smell is out of this world.
Have a great time! Papa hiker
@@papahiker9014 I keep bees myself. If you find a recipe that works please share it
I just wear canvas gaiters which come up to me knee.
Hi! Don't they get terribly wet? Or are they waxed?
@@papahiker9014 they use a silicone based wash-in waterproofing, which I apply every 3-5 years. They are now 25 years old.
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 ,
That is not true. Fjällraven Eco-Shell is as good as goretex pro.
People just make mistakes by thinking that their g1000 garments are waterproof. They are not. They are fast drying clothes with really good breathing abilities for activities where you generate a lot of heat.
@@sebulban people just dont understand the vast scale of the definition ''water resistant''. it can be right on the edge of being not resistant at all all the way up to being basically waterproof. if it doesnt have a waterproof membrane with a column rating then its water resistant. fjallraven has the eco shel that is WATERPROOF, the waxed product are simply to keep the fabric from absorbing water.
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
Hey Jesse,
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out! Kind regards, Papa hiker
I think you need more wax. I wax pants until they just about stand up by themselves.
Dorky sheriff hat. I'd wear it.
Thanks Chad.
👀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. 🔥
Cool like a sherriff
Thanks Max. I still have the hat, it really works.
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?....
Hey Michael,
They dry very fast. No complaints there. Also I find the material easy on the skin and once dry it gives a comfortable inner climate, not clammy.
Kind regards, Papa hiker
So is not big difference wax and spray what about price? I can say wax is natural material and spray is chemical.
Everything is a 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.
Hi! I am from the Netherlands. Just moved from the grassy west to the woody south. I go to Norway quite often so some of the pettiest footage is shot there. 🙂
Edit pRettiest
@@papahiker9014 Woody South ? Brabant of Limburg? Ben je in ieder geval sneller in de Ardennen. Groeten uit Klimmen.
Haha! Ja, Brabant. Heel mooi en gezellig.
"...and waxshing your bants...."
Sad hat dude bin it 4 sure 👯
I ‘ll take it into consideration Paul 😄
A ;)
Rubber baby bubby bumpers'