Glide Waxes

Buy snowboard wax online at Sport Conrad

Just like your skis, your snowboard needs to be waxed regularly. The wax is responsible for making your board glide over the snow. If the base, i.e. the underside of your board, looks rather dull and gray and you no longer glide across the slopes or deep snow at your usual speed, it's high time to get a new layer of wax.

We explain which wax you need and how to apply it best!

What types of wax are there?

Whether you prefer carving on the slopes or surfing through the deep snow in the backcountry - every board needs a fresh wax at some point for new riding fun. In general, you can distinguish between hot and cold waxing.

Hot wax is sold in block or stick form and only becomes liquid when it comes into contact with heat, for example from an iron. The wax penetrates deep into the pores due to the high temperature, making it last longer, but it also takes longer to apply and is a bit more work.

You can often get cold wax in liquid form, and it's perfect for a quick treatment, especially when you're on the go. However, cold wax penetrates less deeply into your board and the abrasion resistance is correspondingly lower.

In addition, there are special waxes for different snow temperatures. The specifications for which snow conditions and temperature ranges the respective waxes are best suited for are always marked on the product.

How do you find the right wax?

The type of wax you use and when you use it depends not only on the temperature or the snow, but also on where you're riding. Try to assess your riding style. If you're riding mostly on groomed ground, you'll need a different wax than for backcountry or splitboard touring.

Wax for the slopes

If your snowboard is well waxed, the descent will be a real pleasure. You also need less power to handle your board. In addition, your snowboard is better protected by the wax and gives you longer pleasure. Boards for use on the slopes can be maintained with cold or hot wax. The range of waxes does not differ significantly between snowboards and skis.

Wax for freeride and splitboards

Here you can also use cold or hot waxes. However, it is best to use fluorine-free universal waxes, so-called hydrocarbon waxes. The temperature range is much wider, and they have a high abrasion resistance. On the slopes and on tour, you can also use a high-quality cold wax. Splitboards usually need to be waxed less often than all-mountain and freeride snowboards.

How do you apply the wax?

If you want to wax your board yourself, you'll need a suitable place, such as a room with a solid surface, and a few things before you can start.

First, you need to scrub the board. You should remove all the old wax from your board. For this, you need a hard brush, as well as a wax remover. Apply the wax cleaner with a rag and then go over it with the hard brush.

Now it's time to wax your snowboard:

Heat the wax with an iron and drip it at regular intervals onto the entire surface of the base. Then go over the base with an iron suitable for waxing and let the wax work deep into the pores of your snowboard base. Once you have worked on the entire surface, you first have to wait until your snowboard has cooled down to room temperature. Then you need a plexi scraper and pull the excess wax off the board. With the bulge on the side of the plexi blade you should free the edges of your board from wax.

Finally, the finishing touches: Grab a slightly softer brush and run it with light pressure from the nose to the tail. This will give your board the finishing touch, and you'll glide perfectly through the powder!

When do you need to wax your snowboard?

Are you unsure if your snowboard needs a tune-up? Here are a few tips to help you identify a dull base:

1.) Some manufacturers recommend that you re-wax your board after about five days on the slopes. If you are snowboarding in spring-like temperatures or on heavy and wet snow, you should even think about waxing more often.

2) The feeling under the binding is always decisive. If you feel an unusually high resistance under the binding on the snow, it is probably time for a new layer of hot wax.

3) Also slow edge changes, as well as resistance on one edge, give you an indication of the condition of the base.

4) Last but not least, look for discolouration in your base. If the base looks colorless, dry, almost flaky, you need to wax. You'll find these signs first in the areas with the most snow contact - between your feet, along the edges, and outside your feet.

Especially as a newcomer to the subject, you can't go wrong if you buy a snowboard wax set or a care set - they already contain the most important things, and you can be sure that. Set prices are usually significantly cheaper than if you buy the items individually.

We have put together a small list for your purchase below, with everything you need to wax your snowboard yourself:

• Base Cleaner (To remove the old wax)
• Wax (A good compromise is universal wax)
• Nylon or copper brush
• Wax iron
• Plastic or plexiglass scraper
• A soft cotton or microfiber cloth
• Optional: base repair sticks to repair larger scratches in your base before waxing

Snowboard Wax at Sport Conrad

We hope we could shed some light and help you with your purchase decision, so you can practice your favorite sport without worries. In our online store you will find a large selection of snowboard wax for piste, backcountry or park. We also have top brands in the store, such as Swix, Holmenkol and Toko. And now have fun shopping and shredding!