Fjällräven Greenland Wax

Fjällräven G-1000 Greenland Wax:

How to wax your Fjällräven G-1000 garments

With Fjällräven’s Greenland Wax, you can easily adapt your G-1000 garments to suit different weather conditions and your intended activity level. More wax gives a more resistant garment that can withstand weather and wind. If you wash out the wax you get a cooler garment with maximum breathability.

G-1000 fabric is a classic element in Fjällräven’s clothing. The tight weave of 65% polyester and 35% cotton is windproof, fast drying and very hardwearing, and thanks to the Greenland Wax impregnation it is also water resistant and dirt repellent. Over time the wax washes out of the fabric and its water resistant properties become reduced. After two-three washes it can be time to renew the impregnation. This gives better protection against getting wet at the same time as it increases the durability and therefore the life of the garment.

Greenland Wax is made from paraffin and beeswax. A block of wax (100 g) is enough for about ten articles of clothing. A travel pack (23 g) is practical to have with you in case you want to re-impregnate a garment or part of a garment when out trekking. You can buy Greenland Wax from our webshop or any store where you can buy G-1000 products.

How to wax Fjällräven G-1000

1) Apply Take the block of Greenland Wax and rub it with long strokes against the fabric, leaving behind a thin, even layer. It’s a little like writing with chalk on a chalkboard. Make sure you cover all of the fabric well.

2) Melt Melt the wax into the fabric with an iron on low/moderate heat with no stream (remember to wipe off the iron before you use it on other garments). You can also use a hairdryer or the flame of a camping stove (see below). The wax melts at approximately 55-60°C (131-140°F).

Helpful hint! If you want to make the fabric even more water resistant, repeat the process several times rather than applying a single thick layer of wax. This is a good idea for exposed sections of the garment such as the hood and shoulders, knees and seat.

Note: G-1000 garments with down or synthetic padding and garments with Hydratic lining or a combination of fabrics need to be waxed with extra care – read more here.

Waxing outdoors using your outdoor stove

Once you have rubbed the wax onto the fabric, hold the garment a few decimetres above a steady, strong flame from your outdoor stove. Start further away and slowly move it closer until you see the wax starting to melt. Be careful not to burn the fabric and avoid having your arm or other part of your body inside the garment. Stretch out the fabric over the flame and move it back and forth until the wax has melted.

Waxing G-1000 together with other fabrics

For garments that are made entirely of G-1000, several methods can be used to melt in the Greenland Wax – you can use a hair dryer, hot air gun, iron, over a camping stove, in a drying cabinet or tumble dryer. Start at a low temperature and increase it until you see that the wax has begun to melt into the fabric (approx. 55-60°C or 131-140°F).

Hybrid garments, down or synthetic padded garments and waterproof G-1000 garments lined with Hydratic need to be waxed a little more carefully. It is the melting of the wax that is the difference, so just like when you wax a garment made entirely of G-1000, start by applying the wax in long strokes so you get a thin even layer on the fabric.

Waxing Fjällräven hybrid garments

Hybrid garments are made from a combination of materials. For example G-1000 and stretch fabric (often Nylon 6.6) such as in Keb Trousers, or G-1000 Lite and MT as you will find in several products in the Abisko series. In principle, it is just as simple to wax a hybrid garment as a garment made entirely of G-1000, but you need to be a little more careful when you are melting the wax in.

Apply the Greenland Wax in long strokes on the G-1000 sections of the garment and melt the wax into the fibres of the fabric. It is most practical to use a hairdryer, but if you want to use an iron make sure it is on the lowest setting then gradually increase the heat until you see the wax starting to melt. Do not apply wax to stretch or MT fabrics.

Waxing garments with down padding

The easiest way to melt in wax on a G-1000 down garment is to tumble dry it on low heat. You can also use a hairdryer. Remember that the down is usually contained in a protective synthetic lining to stop it from working its way out through the fabric. This lining can be more sensitive to heat that the G-1000 fabric. This is one of the reasons why it is not a good idea to iron a down-padded G-1000 garment.

Waxing garments with synthetic padding

The best way to wax G-1000 garments with synthetic padding is to use a hair dryer, but you can also use a hot air gun (remember to have it at a low heat setting, otherwise you will have to be very careful not to damage the garment). Alternatively you can warm the garment in a drying cabinet on the lowest heat setting.

Waxing garments with Fjällräven Hydratic lining

The easiest way to wax a waterproof G-1000 garment lined with Hydratic is to use a hair dryer, but you can also use a hot air gun (remember to have it at a low heat setting, otherwise you will have to be very careful not to damage the garment). Alternatively you can warm the garment in a drying cabinet on the lowest heat setting.  

Fjällräven Wax guide Video