How to Choose Ski Wax

Before you apply just any wax to your skis, you’ll want to be sure the wax you apply is designed to match the conditions you’ll be skiing that particular day. To further complicate the matter, conditions can vary widely based on snow and air temperature, humidity, and snow type. Our How to Choose Ski Wax Guide breaks down all you need to know when selecting the right ski wax for the conditions you’ll be skiing.

How to Choose Ski Wax

Before you apply just any wax to your skis, you’ll want to be sure the wax you apply is designed to match the conditions you’ll be skiing that particular day. To further complicate the matter, conditions can vary widely based on snow and air temperature, humidity, and snow type. Our How to Choose Ski Wax Guide breaks down all you need to know when selecting the right ski wax for the conditions you’ll be skiing.

Why Do Skis Need Wax?

Ski bases, whether sintered or extruded, function like an ice skate on a rink. As they glide over snow, a thin layer is melted, and the ski is moving across water. Because ski wax is hydrophobic and repels moisture, a waxed base produces less friction while moving across snow, and as a result, the ski can move faster.

When wax is applied with heat to porous ski bases, it is absorbed into the microscopic openings. Using a proper waxing iron and the right wax will allow the base to soak up more, for improved protection from oxidation and better, longer-lasting glide.

Have you ever looked at a pair of skis that haven’t been waxed in a while and noticed a bit of white discoloration near the edges? This is the base oxidizing, meaning it has begun to dry out and cannot repel moisture effectively. Dry bases lose efficiency on snow, and make the ski vulnerable to damage.

Types of Ski Wax

Generally speaking, ski waxes can be categorized by temperature and composition. This means ski waxes are available as either all-temperature (universal) waxes or temperature-specific waxes. When it comes to wax composition, the two most popular types of wax are paraffin-based hydrocarbon waxes and more high-performance fluorocarbon waxes. Additionally, eco-friendly waxes made from plant-based materials are becoming more common.

Jans ski technician Andy Buckley waxes a pair of skis at the Rennstall World Class Tune Center.

All-Temperature Wax

These do-it-all waxes get the job done in a wide range of temperatures and snow conditions. These all-rounders are a good choice if you aren’t quite sure what current snow conditions are or how the temperature will change. As is the case with any all-purpose item, all-temperature waxes’ versatility comes at the cost of performance in cold or warm conditions.

Temperature-Specific Wax

Temperature-specific waxes are formulated to perform well within a given temperature range. Choosing the right temperature-specific wax requires an understanding of how environmental factors related to snow and air will impact the wax’s ability to shed water. These factors are snow temperature, snow humidity, snow age and condition, air temperature, and air humidity.

Now, unless you’re waxing for race day, you’re probably not going to hike the hill with a snow thermometer. Snow humidity can also be a fast-changing and fickle measurement to work with. Realistically, the condition of the snow and the predicted air temperature are the two most important factors for recreational waxers to focus on when selecting a temperature-specific wax. For a detailed breakdown of wax temperatures, check out our Swix Cera Nova X Wax Guide to see what wax will work best for the conditions you’ll be skiing.

Hydrocarbon Wax

Available as either all-temperature or temperature-specific, Hydrocarbon (CF) waxes are simple paraffin-based waxes that are relatively inexpensive and work well for the majority of recreational skiers. Hydrocarbon waxes can be applied by either hot waxing or rub-on (or crayoning); although, hot waxing allows the wax to penetrate deeper into the base of the ski for better durability and performance. Hydrocarbon wax is also an excellent choice for storage waxing skis.

Fluorocarbon Wax

Fluorocarbons are found in a variety of consumer products, ranging from fishing line to non-stick coatings on cookware. For many years they were used in high-performance ski waxes due to their superior water-repellency. Fluorocarbons, also known as PFAs, contain “forever chemicals” that do not biodegrade. Because of the toxic impacts on humans and the environment, the ski industry has largely eliminated the use of fluorocarbon wax for skis. 

The 2023/24 season marked the beginning of a ban on fluorinated ski wax in elite competition, implemented by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). Some ski towns—like Park City, UT—have implemented area-wide bans on fluorocarbon wax.

Eco-Friendly Wax

In response to petroleum-based waxes and the environmental impacts and health risks of fluorinated wax, a few manufacturers are developing plant-based alternatives. These eco-friendly waxes are great in the sense that they do not introduce pollutants into a watershed, nor do they pose any health risks.

PHANTOM Glide

PHANTOM Glide is a one-time base treatment that reduces friction in polyethylene bases for skis and snowboards. After application skis undergo a UV curing process that causes the treatment to permanently fuse to ski bases. It’s eco-friendly, long-lasting, consistent, and simple to maintain. Apply once and experience smooth glide for the lifetime of your skis or snowboard. PHANTOM Glide does not contain harmful chemicals like PFAS or fluorocarbons.

Learn more about applying PHANTOM Glide to your skis on our Tuning Center page.

What Type of Wax Do I Need?

The type of wax that will work best for you ultimately comes down to the snow conditions, temperature, and type of skiing you’ll be doing. In short, there is no single wax that will excel in the myriad snow conditions and temperatures you’ll face throughout the ski season. For this reason, we encourage recreational skiers and DIY ski waxers to have a few different waxes on hand. At a minimum, the majority of skiers will want to have a simple paraffin-based wax for storage and base prep, a universal all-temp wax, and a cold- and warm-temperature wax for exceptionally cold conditions and warmer spring days.

Jans ski technician scrapes excess wax off of a pair of skis.

As you’re buying waxes for your home tuning setup, you should also consider the type of conditions you’ll encounter most frequently. For example, if you ski in the Northeast, where conditions are frequently cold and snow totals are low, you’ll want more low temperature waxes. You may also want to consider a higher fluoro (HF) wax to accommodate man-made snow and dirt within the snowpack. On the other hand, if you ski in the Pacific Northwest or Sierras, you’ll want to consider more high temperature waxes to match the warmer temperatures and higher humidity.

If you’re a competitive skier, or you are just really selective about ski tuning, we encourage you to work closely with a trusted shop to find the ideal waxes to match common conditions at your local resort. Humidity, air temperature, man-made snow, and water content all play critical factors in the type of wax you’ll want to use in order to get the most from your skis on any given day. And if you’re in Park City, be sure to stop by Rennstall, our full-service tune shop at Deer Valley, to get the low-down on which wax and base structure will work best for you.

Now you have the knowledge—what do you need to hit the trails or slopes?

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