Skip to content

Holiday Sale - 25% Off, On All Products!

How To Use Fast Wax

Selecting a wax for the conditions should not be that difficult. It should be simple and straight forward. If you are new to waxing here is the Fast Wax method explained.

Wax 101

Choosing the right wax for the weather conditions should be straightforward. If you're new to waxing, you can start with the Fast Wax method. Check the weather forecast for the day of your event, focusing on the temperature and relative humidity. Based on the humidity, you can decide whether to use a wax with Fluorocarbons. You can also consider your budget in making this decision. Refer to the charts on the next page to see if the relative humidity falls within the recommended range for a Fluorocarbon wax. Once you've determined the wax line to use, consider the temperature ranges within that line to select the specific wax. This is a basic approach to waxing, but everyone has to start somewhere. As you gain more experience, you can take additional factors into account when choosing your waxes.

 

temperature range

 

Fast Wax products are named with a number, which is crucial as it represents the approximate mid-temperature in the product's temperature range. By adding and subtracting 10 to this number, one can calculate the approximate temperature range ideal for the wax. For instance, HS 20 has a temperature range of 12 to 28. By adding and subtracting 10 from 20, we get 10 and 30, which closely aligns with the ideal temperature range.

Frequently Ask Questions

What factors should be considered when selecting a wax for a race?

There are many factors when determining a race wax to use.

  1. The start time and duration of the race: what will the temperature and humidity do while you are racing?
  2. What are the current snow conditions, along the entire trail or course.
  3. What is the history of the snow? Has it been very cold the past couple of days, so the snow pack might lag behind the air temps?
  4. Is there fresh snow in the forecast? If so you will probably want to wax colder.
How do I know the temperature range for a ski wax?

Fast Wax packaging states the temperature that the wax is designed for. A trick is to look at the number in the name of the Fast Wax product.

Then add and subtract 10 to that number to get the range that the wax is for. The number on the package is the mid point in the twenty degree range for that wax.

Unfortunately as the temperatures change the snow changes its properties so the wax on your ski needs to change as well. Cold temps requires a harder wax, and warmer temps need a warmer temperature wax.

What do the colors of ski wax mean?

Ski Wax manufacturers have a loose standard on wax colors. Each color represents a temperature range that the wax is made for. Here is a breakdown of the Fast Wax color system.

  • White is the coldest wax Fast Wax makes
  • Teal is good from 0-20 F
  • Blue is good from 10 -30F
  • Red is good from 20-40F
  • Yellow is good from 30-50F
Will cross country wax work on my down-hill skis or snowboard?

ABSOLUTELY! Fast Wax makes glide wax, a generic term for a type of wax that is used to slide or glide across snow. Glide wax is an excellent choice for all down hill skiers or boarders. Glide wax lowers the level of friction between your ski base and the snow.

What is hard wax?

Hard wax is a generic term used to describe a bar of paraffin wax that is applied with an iron and scraped off. This process is somewhat time consuming but the results are unmistakably great: the heat expands the ski base, opening microscopic voids and holes, which allows the liquid wax to sink deeper into the ski base. The more wax you have in your base the more distance you will get out of the wax.

The base of the iron works like a hydraulic press, when the wax becomes liquid the solid surface and the weight of the iron forces wax deeper into the base of your ski.

What is paste wax?

Paste wax is paraffin wax suspended in a wax conditioner. This wax conditioner keeps the wax in a peanut butter-like consistency. This makes the wax very easy to apply and without the need of an iron. Since you do not use a hot iron to apply the wax does not get very deep into the ski base.

What is the difference between hard wax and a paste wax?

Hard wax is a general term used to describe wax that re-quires an iron to apply. This process generally takes longer, but the results last longer.

Paste wax on the other hand provides the same results as hard wax, but paste wax has the consistency of jelly and is applied with an included applicator, no iron needed. Since paste wax does not have the heat from an iron it does not sink as deep in to the ski base so it generally does not last as along.

If you have lots of skis to wax, a paste wax can save you lots of time.

How long does wax last in the package?

Paraffin wax is a very stable product and should last for 10+ years, easily. After a couple of years out of the package a thin layer around the wax may oxidize. This oxidation is only cosmetic and the rest of the wax is still as good as the day it was made.

How long does wax last in the package?

Paraffin wax is a very stable product and should last for 10+ years, easily. After a couple of years out of the package a thin layer around the wax may oxidize. This oxidation is only cosmetic and the rest of the wax is still as good as the day it was made.

Can I mix Fast Wax with wax from other manufacturers?

Sure, knock yourself out. So far we have not heard of any negative side effects from mixing Fast Wax with another brand. It may be hard to replicate your ski setup in the future, but if you want experiment do it.

Cart Close

Your cart is currently empty.

Start Shopping
Select options Close