Waxed Pants for Bushcraft & Camping
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- This is the process I use to make waxed pants for the outdoors. Starting with a $7 pair of pants, I walk you step by step through the waxing process before upgrading the pants with some leather knee patches. The process is quite simple and results in a tough, functional pair of pants that will last for a few years with heavy use.
A few things to be noted:
100% cotton is the most ideal material for this project. It will have the least amount of stretch (compared to blends with synthetic material) which will result in better waterproofing abilities.
If you are going to be wearing these pants in the winter, make sure you get a size or two larger so that you can fit insulating layers underneath.
The wax is composed of 7 parts paraffin wax and 1 part beeswax. They are measured out by weight then melted together in a pot over low heat. I mix the melted waxes together very thoroughly then pour the melted wax into paper muffin wrappers. After the wax is allowed to completely cool and harden I end up with the wax pucks you see me using in this video.
Using parchment paper between the pants and the boiling pot/clothing iron when melting the wax will prevent the transfer of wax onto the pot/clothing iron.
Thin layers of wax melt in easier but require more layers of wax to fully saturate the material. Heavier layers of wax take longer to melt in but will saturate the material with 2 or 3 coatings. I opt for heavier layers of wax and leave my hot pot of water on each section for longer. Melting the wax is the slowest part of the waxing process.
Other methods to melt the wax include using a clothing iron, heat gun, blow dryer, or campfire. I decided to use a hot pot of water as a makeshift clothing iron since it is the easiest to replicate without any special tools.
If you have any questions or comments please let me know. Thank you to everyone who watches. God bless! - บันเทิง
Here’s a tip for sewing patches that I use every time…
Every couple of inches tie off the thread just like when finishing, but don’t cut it…just keep stitching. This way, if it breaks or is caught and pulled and then comes loose the thread will never work it’s way out more than a couple of inches. Virtually indestructible patches.
I use this method with everything I stitch.
Great advice!! Thank you!
Well!....that’s 48yrs of being on this planet having no clue that I NEEDED a pair of wax pants....until tonight!! (begins checking all the labels on his trousers...)
Don't feel bad, bud. I'm headed toward 60 and you beat me to the video by 7 months.😅
You just blew my mind! You did the best tutorial I’ve ever watched! From comfort, to explained reasons behind each step, to quantity! You gained a new subscriber! I’m gonna have to make me a pair of these now! Ty!
After a late 40s 'growth spurt' I ended up with a few pairs of pants that don't fit so well. I've been turning one into a 'bush bag' and another into gaiters. I've been looking for a simple wax application method just like this to wax them without having to use liquid wax: I have a nosy pitbull that would figure a way to spill it on me! Your patches have inspired me to make a pair of waxed denim chaps to wear over waxed pants for rainy days. Thanks for this vid! Simplest and best explained method I've seen and likely the last.
To set your wax in clothes the by far easiest way is to apply the wax to the entire garment and place in a black garbage bag and place in the sun for a hour. Repeat the process for how many layers of wax you want. I’ve worn waxed clothes for thirty years and it works every time which is way easier that heating small sections like this.
Great advice, thanks!
If you use dental flass or similar thickness thread, I would double the thread as it will have much less of a tendency to create a tearout. The best to use is 100% cotton thread doubled up, at least, and hand wax coated by drawing it through the same wax you use for the pants. If you want to make extra, sure, there is little to no tearout. After doing the whip stitch, go back through the holes in a zigzag. This can be a little overkill for some and time-consuming, but it will make them last much longer with little to no tearout.
I appreciate the advice! If I notice any sign of tearouts on this new pair of pants I'll restitch them as you've described. Happy trails!
Been so curious about those iconic pants for so long now. The Colorado bush definitely will be easier to perform some bushcraft with these. Thank you for the amazing videos you do!
Thank you for watching!! Happy trails!
The best video I've found on making waxed garments. Aside from the simple instructions, the beautiful wilderness shots are inspiring! Much thanks 😊
Detailed, well explained, useful and entertaining. The quality of your videos never ceases to impress!
I've been hiking for a few years now, buying "sports store" quality stuff which have been mostly dissapointing. I wish I had found your channel earlier on so I would've realized that there are better ways to do things even if more difficult/time consuming - what you are doing is actually enjoying nature, while I've been only visiting.
Best regards from the land of a thousand lakes, looking foward for the years to come!
These are awesome. Perfect bush pants.
Super informative. I actually dont have questions after watching this. Which is rare. Well done!
Very simple, cost effective method. I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great video! Was always loving the look of your pants, and wondering how you made them. Will definitely try to make some too! Best regards from Austria 😊👊🏽🔥🏕️🌲
Hope they work out well for you! Thanks for watching. Happy trails!
I've always loved the look and performance of waxed canvas clothing and tarps... as a result, Filson and Frost River have gotten a lot of my money over the years. Looks like I'll be making my own from now on... as much for pride's sake as for the simplicity of it. Great video... thanks for sharing! Peace to you from Alaska.
I love this style a mix of video footage of past videos and you talking to us its simple but really entertaining
Thanks for the feedback!!
Gonna be looking out for a new thrift store pair of cotton pants! Great to see this finally! 👍
Fairly labor intensive. I prefer thinning silicone caulk in naphtha and soaking the garments in that because it is very fast, silicone lasts a long time, it is way more fire and heat resistant, and adds very little weight (and if you do the thinning ratio right, you can keep the material more breathable). I also prefer using linen or hemp over cotton because these are stronger and slightly more insulating when covered in silicone, wax, or the like. That is because both linen and hemp fibers are hollow tubes, and unless they are soaked with water, they are good at stilling air and thus insulating. Linen is slightly better than hemp because the fibers tend to be finer, and finer fibers are better at still air (though, more so in layers or loft), and it also feel softer on the skin (the larger the fibers, the more scratchy a material feels). The downside is that linen tends to be more loosely woven than cotton and so it will be less water resistant (though, this is better for summer because it breathes far better).
A good tip is that if it is very wet, or very cold, wearing some polypropylene (PP) baselayers underneath will help to keep you dryer and warmer, at low weight. But wear some odor reducing underwear underneath these, because PP tends to build up and retain bad odor quickly and easily.
A note on wool: There are two things that I really like about wool and one thing that I really dislike (and which outweighs what I like). What I like is that wool is great at reducing odor and it is extremely fire resistant. What I dislike is that it absorbs A LOT and holds onto moisture once it is wetted out. Treating it with lanolin helps to make it more surface water resistant, but it still absorbs a lot of moisture vapor.
On a side note, if you want a pair of pants that is very water resistant (if the weave is tight) and dries very fast, using 100% polyester pants and treating with silicone accomplishes that. Nylon is the next best. But if you're doing a silicone treatment, the pants/materials have to be free of DWR type coatings, otherwise the silicone will not adhere to the fibers. Obviously these have issues with melting in relation to sparks, so they are not the best with being close to open fires a lot.
For leather or wooden handles, you could add birch tar - it's a natural antiseptic. 50/50 ratio for leather and apply 100% to wooden handles. It's the best treatment from mold, too, and is nontoxic.
Very cool. I've never did that. For this winter, I will give it a try. Thank you.
One of the most useful videos I've seen. Thanks for that!
Thank you for watching!
I've been a subscriber for quite a while. After watching your first pants waxing video I rushed out and purchased the pants and waxes. Off to work I went and wound up with a pretty good pair of waxed pants for snow and cold weather in where I lived in Colorado! Last year I moved to Arizona. 🥵 I'll try them again on one of our really cold 60 degree winter days. Thank you for all your help, knowledge, and videos.
I bought a pair of carhartt pants with double knee fabric and brushed in melted wax from a croc pot. Then put them in the oven to melt excess into the fabric. Can’t wait to go camping
Hope they work well for you! Thanks for tuning in. Happy trails!
Very useful and handy information. A nice project for those long winter nights. Cheers mate.
This was so satisfying to watch
Obviously a Labor of love! I have waxed several cheap haversacks I bought from Coleman's Military surplus for $10.00 each and they make great stove/cook kits and a range bag. I also waxed several bush hats and a couple of ball caps for wet weather use and they work very well. The rain runs off them, no problem. I mixed beeswax with the general wax you can buy for canning but I have no particular formula yet. Just what looks right! I always wondered what it would be like to wax a jacket let alone pants. I may eventually give it a try one day. It must take a lot of patience to rub it into the material as you do. I just brush mine on with an old paintbrush while the wax is hot and wet. It does clump that way. I then use a blow dryer to spread it out. The method I use from TH-cam tends to make the fabric a bit stiff but I work it a bit and it seems ok. Thanks for sharing what you do to make your gear water-resistant. I always get something very valuable from your videos be it knots, camping tips, etc... I like that you actually use the stuff you show out in the bush before our very eyes. It makes a big difference. God Bless and stay safe out there. I will continue to watch. Doug.
Thanks for sharing, Doug. I greatly appreciate you watching. God bless you too! Happy trails.
Best Tutorial i ever seen
Well done Ryley 👍
Excellent work, thanks for the contribution!
Thanks for sharing Ryley.
Thank you for watching!
Oh thank you! Awesome video.
Thank you for watching!
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing and showing the process.
Thank you for watching!
Very nice. I will be moving back to my home province of NS in August and once settled, I am going to make me some waxed pants based on your instructions.
Wow! 12:00 you are one incredibly patient guy. The results are worth it, but this level of character is rare in today’s society.
Excellent video!👍
Thanks. I made a similar pair. Works great here in the PNW. Just a light pair of wool longies underneath abates the occasional inner wetness.
Glad to hear! Thank you for watching!
Thank you my friend , enjoyed the video and actually learned quite a bit . Happy trails and hope all is getting better in the woods .
Thank you for tuning in! The fire bans have been lifted and I'm heading off to the woods in the morning. Trip videos will be returning shortly. Happy trails my friend!
@@KuskBushcraft praise God !
Cool bushcraft pants 😎
Very interesting and informative... Might have to give this a try.
Thank you for sharing your idea.👍👍
You are very patient😊
Another great video my friend. My choice was to buy a pair of heavy cotton bibs, they already had the extra knee patch on them. And yes I bought them a size bigger. I like the bibs because it does give you extra flexibility in your movement with a little extra protection. I actually bought this pair longer then my size so I can roll the cuff inside about 8 inches for extra snake protection.
Good stuff! Thanks for watching.
Great work..thanks so much for sharing
Great video buddy! I have been waiting for a tutorial for a long time, now it's time to try your process. Unmelted application seems better indeed. Thanks for the video
Excellent demo video thank you
Thank you for watching!
Nice video. I love my waxed hiking pants, they're from Fjallraven, one of the lighter weight fabrics, certainly not dirt cheap but also not hundreds of dollars/euros.
Sturdy mixture of 65% polyester and 35% cotton, waxed 2 or 3 times with beeswax.
Windproof, much more resistant to abrasion, water repellent to a degree (and indeed certainly not waterproof).
Because of the fabric mixture and the fact that the cotton is thoroughly waxed, it doesn't hold that much water so especially in windy conditions, they dry out real fast.
That baking/parchment paper is also ideal when you iron in the wax, very useful.
this guy is a damn pro
🙏🙏👍👍✌✌Brilliant again Ryley
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, dig’n your channel
Nice project! Greetings from the woods in Sweden 🇸🇪
Thank you for watching!
nice idea
If you're ever interested in a different thread, Ritza Tiger Thread, or Maine waxed thread are two awesome choices. I use Ritza .8 Waxed thread for all my leatherwork and it is a dream to work with and perfectly waxed.
I just found your channel, your videos great.👏
Thanks for sharing I use a heat gun to wax all my items. I as well as you believe 100% cotton is the best outerwear. I ha e about 3 pairs and 2 waxed tarps I use. Keep the videos coming and stay safe
A heat gun certainly works a lot faster. Thanks for watching! Happy trails.
Your videos should be in the ranger handbook!
Excellent
Amazing
For hand sewing i uae a bandaid and a dime placed so that it makes a thimble. I have sewn such things forvyears..like 55 years and never again did i have a needle going thru my finger backward.,and my "" thread" of choice is 50 lb fishing line..not monofilament...,
Great advice! Thank you.
I sewed a pair of moosehide mukluks to canvas and it was a beast. I ended up putting a dime between two layers of leftover hide and duct taping it to my thumb. 🙂
I put my dime / bandaid on my middle finger to push the needle thru.
Realy nice. You don't talk to much in your great videos. But when you talk then every word makes sense.
I remember you making a vid about this long ago...along with the tarp...but - they gone. Anyho, thanks for the update...Cheers from B.C. 🏕
I didn't do a very good job on those older videos. This version has a lot more info.
I greatly appreciate your continued support! You've been around for at least a few years if you remember those old videos.
Happy trails my friend!
I also remember the tarp and the treating the pans .
If they are properly waxed; of course they will be totally waterproof, 100%. Easy to wax any cotton type material; get paraffin wax (eg candle wax) and bee wax but what this video missed is to add some mineral oil (baby oil!).
Mix everything together by placing a pan into another larger pan with boiling water which ensures the mixture cannot burn.
Pour the mixture into moulds and let set - at least one hour. I make mine the size of bar of soap - I use silicone cake moulds.
‘Crayon’ on the wax and then use a heat gun to melt into the material - it’s easy to see where more wax is required as sparse areas will be lighter coloured.
Once the wax cakes/bricks have been created it takes about 15 minutes to wax a coat completely.
You could spray the inside and out side with 100% isopropyl alcohol to disinfect them. It works great for boots and any other garments that you don't want to or can't wash in soap and water.
kinda heavy, but looks great and it's durable. Waxed Canvas has so many applications - A water basin, a waist pouch, waterproof bags, etc.
8:08 I’m gonna need that fry bread and jelly recipe my friend.
First thing I noticed watching the first video I saw of yours was you pants. My initial thoughts were where the hell did you get those. The fact that you’ve put labour in to creating them just encourages me to try my own pair.
Maybe see if I can’t add a custom pocket or two for essentials.
Extra pockets are always nice. Thanks for tuning in! Happy trails.
I was wondering about objects getting stuck underneath the patches!! My son in law just got a pair of Fire hose pants with a pockets for kneepads!
finally!
Been looking for a good instructional video on how to make these. You have definitely done a fantastic job on the video like all your others and made it extremely easy to follow along. Luckily beeswax is very easy to come by in my area to make that mixture. What are your thoughts on using a heavier grade leather on the knee patches?
You should think about getting a wool great kilt.
I think I'll stick with wool blankets haha. Thanks for watching!
I'm watching
Cool
Bros got the most drip out of these woodsmen
Thank you so much for sharing, I always wonder where you got your pants and now I know, I looked a buying a pair of waxs canvas pants and they where 400 dollars usd.
Yup, buying waxed pants is very expensive. Making your own pair is fun and rewarding. Thanks for watching! Happy trails.
You can also use a hairdryer to melt the wax.
I made a few waxed cotton pouches, one for fire kit and one for food, and I ended up using my wife’s hair dryer to melt it in 😅
With how long just those 2 pouches took (I applied about 3 layers also), I can only imagine how long those pants took!
Cheers! 🇺🇸🤝🇨🇦
Was this the same way you've made tarp? Really would love to see how you made you're own tarp. Amazing content.
man... gotta give it to you bro. i just use hair dryer . you are very patient person. being frugal is good indeed !
i have fjallraven and using greenland wax is insufficient. i will try your 70/30 mixture
👍👍
That is a beautiful way of spent time in better than in the internet... Would be a problem of using beeswax only?
This has gotta be the most time-consuming way to apply wax.
ok like the idea. but how do you clean them? must get sweaty and start to smell. ta
I has a pair of Frog Toggs that melted to the back of legs when I was just warming myself at the fire. Luckily they were an outer layer and I had jeans under them, otherwise I would have got burned. I have one question thought, you mentioned that the waxed pants are not waterproof, only water resistant. Do you find that to be a problem when out in the backcountry in the rain? How do you deal with the added moisture, getting cold etc? Thanks.
Awesome stuff. Do you find the lard attracts critters? I can think of a few porcupines that would love to eat those knees. 🙂
Did you use the same waxing technique to make your tarp?
How does it feel wearing them? Is it stiff when you first treat them, then gets more flexible and comfortable as you use them?
At first they will be stiff and a little uncomfortable. After hiking in them once or twice they will soften and become more comfortable. Thanks for watching!
Will the log home be finished? Sorry if youve mentioned this in a video but i normally sleep through most vids lol
I found my waxed pants to be much colder than regular pants, jeans or wool, not my favorite for fall winter use. They are also heavier which I did not appreciate. Mine were from Filson, I like the possibility of making my own. Would an electric iron do the same job as the hot pot of water?
👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼✊🏼👍🏼✌🏼
Can you do this to flannel lined denim or shill it soak through to the flannel?
Hi! Una pregunta, para poner en la lavadora de ropa, como haces? Tenés que hacer el mismo procedimiento de pasarle parafina cada vez que se lavan?
Washing them will remove most of the wax and it needs to applied again.
Wash at lower temperure and, if possible, without chemicals (water only).
While obviously not a budget option I personally like and use Fjällräven pants (like Keb or Vidda Pro) and they even sell their own wax and I wax those depending on season. Works great in the swedish winters, through the summer.
Their mix is something like 70/30 cotton/polyester which is a great mix for when you’re not waxed up, they dry extremely fast. Probably less fireproof though.
Btw, a hairdryer works great for melting the wax into the fabric.
I use the Vidda Pro’s also, great trousers! I typically wax the bottom half of the leg and the seat, keeps moisture out from walking through brush or sitting on logs but also stay a little more comfortable..
I also love my Vidda Pros. I use wax, but I use a steamer rather than an iron and it works great. I just spent a week in Ireland and they're perfect for west coast adventures.@@Ben-rq5re
Can you make a tarp video? I remember seeing one on your channel but it seems like it's gone.
The video I used to have on the waxed tarp was poorly done on my part. The waxing process is the same as the pants. I plan to make a new waxed cloth shelter soon and when I do I will share the process.
Thanks for tuning in. Happy trails!
Amazing! 300-400 usd?!
Looking at companies that make and sell waxed pants, yes they range in the $300-$400 USD range. Too expensive for my taste! Haha thanks for watching.
D9 you wax the inside too? How smelly do they get?
Fjällraven wax.
12:31 wow, how smart to sew with dental floss as trhread!
Why not melt the wax and just brush on.?that’s how I do it with wood. Using an electric wok
I wish you could build a dugout house
In August I'll be building a permanent shelter that I can live out of this winter.
Now I know what to do with that "expired" lard in my cupboard. Who knew?
🤙🏼🍺
Cheers!! 🍻🍻🍻 Thanks for watching!
How fucking cool
you should sell them..i would buy them