Fastest Ski Waxes

Ski wax provides a layer of viscosity on the base of your skis that improves the glide of your skis down the mountain. Racers rely on the optimal wax job to give them that extra millisecond to get them on to the podium, but everyday skiers can benefit highly from a proper wax job. While there is no fastest wax for every type of condition, different waxes work better in different types of snow conditions and in different temperatures. Learn about the different waxing options for your next day on the slopes.

  1. Rub-on Wax

    • Rub-on wax is the cheapest and easiest option for waxing; it doesn't require an iron or any clean-up. You simply rub the wax on the base of your skis, and it will improve the glide for a short amount of time. Make sure the bottoms of yous skis are clean before you apply the wax.

      Rub-on wax can be applied in the parking lot or even at the top of the lift. While it is not as effective as an iron-on wax job, it is certainly better than no wax at all.

    Universal Iron-on Wax

    • Universal iron-on waxes require the wax to be ironed on to your skis and to be removed using the proper technique. Universal waxes are useful because they are not specific to a certain temperature or snow condition and are therefore a good entry-level wax.

      Most universal waxes are available in two basic temperature ranges -- cold wax and warm wax. Cold wax is usually designed for the range of 0 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and warm wax is for 20 degrees and up.

    Hydro-carbonated Wax

    • Hydro-carbonated waxes are high performance treatments that are designed for specific types of snow conditions. They come in tighter temperature ranges since they are manufactured at different densities.

      This type of wax works under the theory that the colder the snow, the harder the snow crystals are and the more they will dig into your base. For this reason, in colder temperatures you will need a harder wax to make your skis go faster.

    Warm Weather Wax

    • Warm weather wax, also known as CH10, is designed to prevent your skis from dragging in the warm and wet snow typical of spring skiing. The range for warm weather wax is between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.