A freshly waxed board glides faster, turns smoother, and protects your base from drying out. The good news: waxing at home is easy, cheap, and takes about 30 minutes. Here's how to do it.
Why wax your snowboard?
The base of your snowboard is made from sintered or extruded polyethylene (P-Tex). Wax fills the microscopic pores in this material, reducing friction against the snow. Without wax:
- Your board runs slower
- Turns feel sluggish and harder to initiate
- The base dries out and becomes chalky white
- Over time, a dry base becomes permanently damaged
How often should you wax?
- Every 3–5 days of riding for sintered bases (most mid-to-high-end boards)
- Every 5–7 days for extruded bases (budget boards — they absorb less wax)
- Before storing at the end of the season — a thick coat of wax protects the base over summer
If your base looks white and dry, it's overdue.
What you'll need
- Iron — a dedicated wax iron is ideal (temperature control matters), but an old household iron works in a pinch. Don't use one you plan to iron clothes with again.
- Wax — temperature-specific or all-temp snowboard wax. More on this below.
- Plastic scraper — to remove excess wax after it cools
- Nylon brush — to brush out the structure after scraping
- Base cleaner (optional) — to clean the base before waxing
Step 1: Clean the base
Brush the base with a nylon brush from tip to tail to remove dirt and old wax. For a deeper clean, apply base cleaner with a cloth and let it evaporate before waxing.
Step 2: Set the iron temperature
Check the wax packaging for the recommended temperature. As a general rule:
- Cold-temp wax (below -10°C / 14°F): Iron at ~120°C / 248°F
- All-temp wax: Iron at ~130°C / 266°F
- Warm-temp wax (above -4°C / 25°F): Iron at ~140°C / 284°F
If the wax smokes when it touches the iron, it's too hot. Turn it down.
Step 3: Drip the wax
Hold the wax bar against the iron and let it drip onto the base in a zigzag pattern from tip to tail. You don't need much — a thin, even distribution of drips across the whole base is plenty.
Step 4: Iron the wax in
Place the iron flat on the base and move it slowly in smooth, overlapping passes from tip to tail. Keep the iron moving at all times — never leave it sitting in one spot, or you'll damage the base.
The wax should melt into a thin, even layer behind the iron. You'll see the base go from dull to glossy as the wax absorbs. This step should take about 5–8 minutes for a full board.
Step 5: Let it cool
Let the board sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (ideally an hour or more). Some riders leave it overnight. The longer it cools, the deeper the wax penetrates.
Step 6: Scrape
Hold the plastic scraper at a 45° angle and scrape from tip to tail in firm, consistent strokes. Remove all the surface wax — you should see thin, curly shavings. Don't worry about scraping too much; the wax that's absorbed into the pores is what matters, and that won't come out with a scraper.
Step 7: Brush
Finish by brushing tip to tail with a nylon brush. This removes any remaining wax from the base structure (the tiny grooves in the base material) and creates a faster, smoother glide.
Choosing the right wax temperature
Wax is rated for specific snow temperatures:
| Wax type | Snow temp | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Cold | Below -10°C / 14°F | Deep winter, cold snaps |
| All-temp | -10°C to -4°C / 14°F to 25°F | Works in most conditions |
| Warm | Above -4°C / 25°F | Spring skiing, slushy days |
If you only want to buy one wax, all-temp is the safest bet. It won't be perfect in extreme cold or warm slush, but it'll work well most of the time.
Pro tips
- Wax before you store: A thick "storage wax" coat left on (not scraped) protects the base over the off-season. Scrape it off before your first ride next season.
- Edge-to-edge: Make sure you wax all the way to the edges. The edges of the base dry out fastest.
- Don't forget the edges themselves: While you're at it, check your edges for burrs and give them a quick pass with a file if needed.
Keep your board running fast
A well-maintained board lasts years longer and rides better every day. And when it's time for an upgrade, you can sell your current board on Boardom — a well-waxed, well-maintained board fetches a much better price than a neglected one.