by G. Kunkel

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: March 10, 2010

You look at the base of your snowboard. It's looking kind of white and dried out. Your snowboard doesn't seem to be gliding as well either. It might be time to think about putting some wax on your ride. So, the question is: what wax should I use? Before we can answer that, let's explore the types of snowboard waxes that you can use.

There are several forms of snowboard wax on the market. Here's a rundown and description of the various types.

Hot wax/iron-on wax -
This is the type that most people are familiar with. You clean the base of your board with base cleaner and let it dry. You then apply the wax by dripping it on the board and ironing it in. You then scrape off the excess wax and texture the base with a brush. This is the best way to preserve the base of your board but it's not always an option. Time and finding a place to plug in your iron can be a big minus. The scraped off wax can be really messy too. Wax shavings get scattered and are really hard to clean out of carpet, and scrape off of the kitchen floor. This is a complete guide on how to hot wax your snowboard.

Rub-on wax -
This is exactly what it says it is. This is a wax to use between hot waxing. Use it to add some extra wax when time is limited. It's a little softer than hot wax and isn't as durable. Racers find this to be a great wax to use between runs. It's quick, easy, and adds that extra speed.

Paste wax -
This is another type of wax to use between hot waxing. It's usually not as durable as hot wax or rub-on wax. It can come in a can with its own applicator, a can with an applicator that you manually use, or a tube that you need to buy an applicator to use. It's great for racers, those in a hurry, or for spring conditions. We all know that spring corn snow strips wax off pretty quickly. It's nice to have some glide through slush later in the day. Paste wax, depending on the container size, can relieve those unexpected board base grabs.

Snowboard waxes are also made for different applications. Waxes are rated for different temperatures, can have different additives, or can be more environmentally friendly. This is where waxes can get confusing and very expensive. Know what you need and spend accordingly.

Here's a rundown of the basic categories of wax:

Universal wax - this can come as a paste, rub-on, or iron-in wax. It's good to use when you don't know the temperature that you will be riding in. A basic all-around wax. Usually rated for all but the most extreme temperatures. It is usually

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