this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2025
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A cheap solution is to wax some thrift store or old trousers. Beeswax and paraffin, there are different ratios to experiment with, and premade bars you can buy. You rub some on and heat with a hair dryer or clothes iron (with parchment paper so the iron doesn't get wax on it). It'll darken the cloth. The more you put on the more waterproof and wind-resistant it'll get. For bike pants you could focus on the front of the upper thigh and coat the rest less, leaving some breathability on the back.
Linseed oil also polymerizes very fast and can be used to waterproof fabrics.
If you go for linseed oil, make sure to put it outside to dry. During the oxidization process it can get so hot that it's self-igniting.