Waxed Pants for Bushcraft & Camping

[@W_H_K]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Great advice!! Thank you!

[@DavidJohnson-nf1be]

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...)

[@jimketchum3169]

Don't feel bad, bud. I'm headed toward 60 and you beat me to the video by 7 months.😅

[@tywilliams6530]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Great advice, thanks!

[@jons2cool1]

I bought this wax brand 'Otter wax'. It says to just store the garment in a warm dry place for 24 hours but I've done so much to it and it seems like it still hasn't set. I've used a hair dryer on it for like an hour, let it set in a black trashbag in the sun for several hours (it got up to 88 degrees today), rubbed in the wax more with a brush. But you can tell there is still white wax on them. So now I just put them in my attic in a black trash bag because it gets hot up there. Might just leave them there for a couple days.

[@BlazingBushcraft]

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 😊👊🏽🔥🏕️🌲

[@KuskBushcraft]

Hope they work out well for you! Thanks for watching. Happy trails!

[@proudheart_pack8962]

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!

[@seangere9698]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

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!

[@looooongman4394]

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!

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!! Happy trails!

[@Dude3941]

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!

[@CherryBlossomskt]

I have no idea why this is so fascinating to me? I have no intentions of ever going camping or needing wax pants, but I am just so enthralled with it all. 😂

[@mtgAzim]

There may very well be a point within our lifetime when we find ourselves doing something akin to camping, whether we intended to or not, so having these ideas and little bits of information might be really useful one day. Even if it's just anecdotal from watching videos like this. It's better to at least have the idea rather than not having a clue. Just being interested in this stuff puts you ahead of people who have never considered a way of living that isn't facilitated by qr codes.

[@CherryBlossomskt]

@@mtgAzim thank you, well said.

[@darrinrebagliati5365]

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.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

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...,

[@KuskBushcraft]

Great advice! Thank you.

[@DarrenBush]

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. 🙂

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

I put my dime / bandaid on my middle finger to push the needle thru.

[@justinw1765]

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.

[@JJ-JOHNSON]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Yup, buying waxed pants is very expensive. Making your own pair is fun and rewarding. Thanks for watching! Happy trails.

[@tatiananaugolnykh]

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.

[@downeastprimitiveskills7688]

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?

[@NorthwoodsRaven]

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.

[@krimke881]

This is great! Good to hear a solid wax mixture to use. I run both my anorak and fjellräven pants through the tumble dryer after a complete layer of wax. And then 3 times more or less, until Im out of wax. The wear and tear parts get priority. A tumble dryer makes the wax soak in so incredibly even and almost remove any marks of any wax have been applied. Ironing though, has the worst result I've seen. It works, but it's not very effective. Solid heat on a larger area at the time absolutt makes it fun, and satisfying.

[@AdamDitheridge]

Add Mineral oil: approx 500ml per 1kg of wax. Makes the clothing more supple and lessens the cracking effect. No discernable oily residue.

[@donaldhofman5257]

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!

[@gudgengrebe]

Wow! What a great idea and so enjoyable to watch! This is something I’d like to try. It’s a good project to do in winter, a few hours or so in an evening now and then like you said. I think they looked really good. I subscribed after watching this. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@honuhalawahalepule653]

The best video I've found on making waxed garments. Aside from the simple instructions, the beautiful wilderness shots are inspiring! Much thanks 😊

[@johnovanic9560]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Good stuff! Thanks for watching.

[@maxim_mahadeva]

Was this the same way you've made tarp? Really would love to see how you made you're own tarp. Amazing content.

[@chrishamilton2527]

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.

[@jasonplugowsky3086]

What ratio of Bees wax, paraffin wax, and mineral oil are you using?

[@chrishamilton2527]

@@jasonplugowsky3086 45/45/10. I have a silicone muffin mould to make 6x cakes per time. Small pieces end up in a clean jam jar and can melted to combine into a new bar. I use a DeWalt heater gun after waxing to ensure good penetration. Hope this helps.

[@jasonplugowsky3086]

@@chrishamilton2527 Thanks for taking the time. I'm going to try that.

[@dhealz87]

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.

[@WeluvcastingSpels]

I love this style a mix of video footage of past videos and you talking to us its simple but really entertaining

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thanks for the feedback!!

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

You should think about getting a wool great kilt.

[@KuskBushcraft]

I think I'll stick with wool blankets haha. Thanks for watching!

[@gud2go50]

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 KZbin 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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thanks for sharing, Doug. I greatly appreciate you watching. God bless you too! Happy trails.

[@aranha9365]

That is a beautiful way of spent time in better than in the internet... Would be a problem of using beeswax only?

[@philiprayner]

all I can see is the danger of waxed cloth pants while hiking and back packing good for keeping dry but if you get to close to your fire at night good bye

[@seedy-waney-bonnie4906]

Very cool. I've never did that. For this winter, I will give it a try. Thank you.

[@TheClemiClarence]

I was pretty sure your really comfy appealing pants would have been some sort of leather pants

[@JohnSmith-gs4lw]

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.

[@awayinthewilderness4319]

Gonna be looking out for a new thrift store pair of cotton pants! Great to see this finally! 👍

[@phoenixrevolver5995]

Very simple, cost effective method. I love it! Thanks for sharing.

[@cattleNhay]

Why not melt the wax and just brush on.?that’s how I do it with wood. Using an electric wok

[@AD-bx5fm]

Excellent work, thanks for the contribution!

[@roncadenhead9650]

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.

[@jasonh0]

This has gotta be the most time-consuming way to apply wax.

[@dazzaoutandabout4870]

Very useful and handy information. A nice project for those long winter nights. Cheers mate.

[@mickgately5423]

ok like the idea. but how do you clean them? must get sweaty and start to smell. ta

[@alternative87dude]

Super informative. I actually dont have questions after watching this. Which is rare. Well done!

[@codyp9312]

Can you do this to flannel lined denim or shill it soak through to the flannel?

[@JMAAD]

going to try this but im gonna use a heat gun.....

[@gordaro2828]

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. 🏕

[@KuskBushcraft]

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!

[@thomasfletcher760]

I also remember the tarp and the treating the pans .

[@wadejensen3301]

Great work..thanks so much for sharing

[@balthezar1]

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?

[@TheDavidPoole]

One of the most useful videos I've seen. Thanks for that!

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@Labuenavidasurf]

D9 you wax the inside too? How smelly do they get?

[@thomasfletcher760]

Thank you my friend , enjoyed the video and actually learned quite a bit . Happy trails and hope all is getting better in the woods .

[@KuskBushcraft]

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!

[@thomasfletcher760]

@@KuskBushcraft praise God !

[@il2451]

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

[@KuskBushcraft]

Hope they work well for you! Thanks for tuning in. Happy trails!

[@scottiebunch]

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

[@KuskBushcraft]

A heat gun certainly works a lot faster. Thanks for watching! Happy trails.

[@MrSladej]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Extra pockets are always nice. Thanks for tuning in! Happy trails.

[@khanartist7987]

Dude, buy jeans lol

[@richard_n]

How does it feel wearing them? Is it stiff when you first treat them, then gets more flexible and comfortable as you use them?

[@KuskBushcraft]

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!

[@adamradomski9366]

nice idea

[@dalechambers5234]

you should sell them..i would buy them

[@JimmyDevere]

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.

[@tubulzr]

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.

[@NatureBoy711]

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

[@xy6195]

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.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Glad to hear! Thank you for watching!

[@bebisa1]

Best Tutorial i ever seen

[@bartas_aventure]

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

[@rodrigocappato4207]

Nice project! Greetings from the woods in Sweden 🇸🇪

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@The_Story_Channel]

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.

[@zaibcom]

Amazing

[@stalkit]

Cool bushcraft pants 😎

[@alexsuydam7543]

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.

[@pedroclaro7822]

kinda heavy, but looks great and it's durable. Waxed Canvas has so many applications - A water basin, a waist pouch, waterproof bags, etc.

[@DarrenBush]

Awesome stuff. Do you find the lard attracts critters? I can think of a few porcupines that would love to eat those knees. 🙂

[@DannyKorff]

Realy nice. You don't talk to much in your great videos. But when you talk then every word makes sense.

[@antoniescargo1529]

Fjällraven wax.

[@tinysun6139]

this guy is a damn pro

[@RiverCrow_88]

These are awesome. Perfect bush pants.

[@davidleasure9138]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing and showing the process.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@rickmacm]

Now I know what to do with that "expired" lard in my cupboard. Who knew?

[@GodBearOutoors]

Very interesting and informative... Might have to give this a try. Thank you for sharing your idea.👍👍

[@Kinetically616TTV]

Will the log home be finished? Sorry if youve mentioned this in a video but i normally sleep through most vids lol

[@awangmujin3988]

I'm watching

[@reginalynn9856]

I just found your channel, your videos great.👏

[@wambroser]

Did you use the same waxing technique to make your tarp?

[@JensVanDeAarde]

finally!

[@tanjarott7535]

Oh thank you! Awesome video.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@thatoneguywithtwothumbs]

8:08 I’m gonna need that fry bread and jelly recipe my friend.

[@lordverbik1589]

Amazing! 300-400 usd?!

[@KuskBushcraft]

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.

[@chriss6398]

Some person on Facebook is stealing your content. Just thought I would let ya know

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thanks for the heads up, I appreciate it.

[@kirkterwilliger6407]

Thanks for sharing Ryley.

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@nm-ge4tb]

🙏🙏👍👍✌✌Brilliant again Ryley

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you!

[@jjfaris]

Excellent demo video thank you

[@KuskBushcraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@73FORGE]

🤙🏼🍺

[@KuskBushcraft]

Cheers!! 🍻🍻🍻 Thanks for watching!

[@tom1966mac]

Your videos should be in the ranger handbook!

[@ALEXANDER1318]

You can also use a hairdryer to melt the wax.

[@littlejohnny4470]

I was wondering if you could use Scotch Guard water repellant instead of the wax. Obviously it would be much more expensive to buy it, but it would be a lot easier to apply. Also, years ago, I used to play ice hockey and my equipment would smell pretty bad after a couple of games. So I would make up a mixture of bleach and water in a spray bottle. I had to dilute the bleach really well because I didn't want it to bleach out my equipment. I would spray it on and it worked really well to get rid of the bad smell, and my equipment didn't have a strong odor of bleach afterwards. (Too bad the rest of the guys on the team didn't do that! LOL!)

[@KuskBushcraft]

I'm unfamiliar with that product so I can't really say. If it's a water repellant spray I'm sure it would work Not sure about the longevity/how often it would need to be reapplied. The bleach spray would probably work quite well. I use a 50/50 alcohol/water spray on my boots to keep them from smelling which would also probably work. Thank you for watching! Happy trails.

[@aldoluisalmadafernandez4139]

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?

[@jez76]

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).

[@drakenulla]

12:31 wow, how smart to sew with dental floss as trhread!

[@alexcondones6149]

Bros got the most drip out of these woodsmen

[@portalmanHUN]

Can you make a tarp video? I remember seeing one on your channel but it seems like it's gone.

[@KuskBushcraft]

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!

[@christianboel3183]

Hello. Have you tried the pants from Swedish Fjällräven? Their 100% cotton fabric, G1000, is extremely strong and durable, and treated with bee’ wax - or the compound you make, I believe - they’re very water resistant and completely airtight. Check out the Vidda Pro trousers. I have a pair, and they’re absolutely awesome :D

[@KuskBushcraft]

I have never tried those pants. They sure do look nice but they are too pricy for me! Thanks for watching.

[@christianboel3183]

@@KuskBushcraft they’re quite pricy, indeed. Fjällräven generally is. Thank you for making the great videos. I enjoy watching them all :)

[@christianboel3183]

Oh, I was mistaken, btw. They’re not 100% cotton, as I claimed. They’re 65% polyester and 35% cotton 😅

[@amandaschipper8389]

You are very patient😊

[@christinecoughlan4699]

👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼✊🏼👍🏼✌🏼