Environmentally Safe Ski Wax Options

[dookeyXXX]

(i searched "environmental", "green", "wax" and various combos of those and came up empty).

Who has used any of the various environmentally safe ski waxes out there?

I've been using a combo of Purl and One Ball Jay, but am curious about some of the others.

Ethica seems to have gone belly under.

But I've found the following:

GREEN WAX: http://www.greenskiwax.com/product.html

ENVIRO MOUNTAIN WAX: http://www.enviromountain.com/produc...20products.htm

BLUEBIRD WAX: http://bluebirdsales.com/index.php?m...&products_id=5

plus Burton has a new "Green" wax this season. Problem with most of these (with the exception of Purl and the now-defunct Ethica) is that they are all All-Temp.

so, anybody have any feedback on these waxes and their performance?

I've been happy with a tag-team approach of using OBJ and Purl purple as a base layer and then Purl yellow as a top layer for spring/summer patch skiing. I'm looking for a nice winter combo (will be trying Purl blue out this season).

PS
Willie McMillon, founder of Bluebird, is pretty damn responsive to email inquiries about his products (I emailed him today and got several replies within 10 minutes...that's pretty good customer service right there). Ditto for Purl (emailed them last month and they responded within 24 hours).

[huckster989]

one ball jay biogreen soy wax: http://www.rei.com/product/761705 I haven't used it but have talked to a few people who said it seemed pretty much the same as regualr all temp wax. any aprticular reason why your into the eco-wax? I thought about this before and it seems like it really is one of those things thats not gonna make a differnece I figure if I drive 60 miles to a ski area using am eco wax is not not gonna kae up for it.

It sounds like youre pretty into waxing as well so its gonna be hard to find "performance" eco wax but best of luck

[dookeyXXX]

yeah, i realize that driving 3 hours to the resort is leaving a hefty carbon footprint, but figure every little bit can help. plus if everybody were to switch to eco wax imagine how the water would improve (i have to imagine that all the flourocarbons melting into the water table can't be good for plants, animals, and ultimately us). at any rate, i switched to all eco waxes this summer and they've worked pretty well, as far as i can tell. just looking for some winter options/combinations and feedback on some of those other waxes i listed.

i've been happy with the OBJ and Purl waxes for spring/summer and will be trying out the Purl winter wax, but again, just looking for some feedback.

[krp8128]

baby seal blubber FTW

[skibum93]

I use the One Ball Jay Bio Wax and its great. Pretty easy to get on and off, glides well.

[QuikR12]

I commend you, but its a little silly. I just hope the rest of your life/impact is as green as possible, cause there are other things you can do that have a much higher benefit/$ than this, but regardless, kudos amigo. but you're still whacky.

Support Renewable E. / Carbon offsets

[iscariot]

Kentucky Fried Chicken gravy...it works really well. Not sure on the environmental effects of it though.

[dookeyXXX]

I commend you, but its a little silly. I just hope the rest of your life/impact is as green as possible, cause there are other things you can do that have a much higher benefit/$ than this, but regardless, kudos amigo. but you're still whacky.

Support Renewable E. / Carbon offsets

i agree. but at the moment i live in San Francisco, which i believe has the most progressive recycling program around (they take everything from styrofoam to plastic bags and compostables). i walk/ride my bike/scoot skate everywhere during the week, thus having one less car on the road for a good 5-7 days. so i'm doing small part.

but the thing of it is, switching ski wax is a simple thing. if all of us did it we could make an impact. and the wax isn't any more expensive than the toxic fluoro waxes out there.

so, yeah, i know it's basically just an eco gesture at this point, but since eco friendly wax costs the same as toxic fluoro wax, why not?

ultimately this wasn't meant to be a post promoting eco awareness, but rather to get some feedback on the different eco waxes out there and attempt to narrow down which ones perform the best.

[QuikR12]

[QUOTE=dookey67;2526898]

so, yeah, i know it's basically just an eco gesture at this point, but since eco friendly wax costs the same as toxic fluoro wax, why not?

ultimately this wasn't meant to be a post promoting eco awareness, but rather to get some feedback on the different eco waxes out there and attempt to narrow down which ones perform the best.[/QUO

Yea i hear ya man, I know it wasn't your intent, but showing an example is a great way to promote behavior change... Its nice to see people pursue positive change when they're not forced to. Regardless, you're still whacky, dude. The name "Dookey" and your profile pic are a dead give away.

[El Chupacabra]

since eco friendly wax costs the same as toxic fluoro wax, why not?

Are you really using a fluoro wax for everyday skiing? I thought only racers used those expensive waxes.

Still my favorite, still cheap:
http://www.hertelskiwax.com/Super_Ho...rick-board.htm

It's an all-temp wax, but in the Sierra, it's fine 95% of the time.

[dookeyXXX]

i'm no waxologist, but it was my impression that all ski waxes have some degree of fluorocarbons in them. if not, then i think they have some other nasty carbons and definitely have petroleum in them...

in short, i think unless it's a soy or other vegetable based wax it's pretty damn toxic.

[Jim J]

i'm no waxologist, but it was my impression that all ski waxes have some degree of fluorocarbons in them. if not, then i think they have some other nasty carbons and definitely have petroleum in them...

in short, i think unless it's a soy or other vegetable based wax it's pretty damn toxic.

You can drink mineral oil, which is a product of crude oil. It doesn't have to come from a plant to be safe.

[dookeyXXX]

spoke with the folks @ Purl and they gave me a pretty quick and easy breakdown on their waxes:

"PFOA is a pretty nasty chemical used in the manufacturing of perfluorocarbons (PFC). All of our products are PFC free and therefore PFOA free. The microcrysatlline line is still petroleum based but we use silicones as additives instead of fluoros. Silicones and microcrystallines are not biodegradable but are much more inert in the environment than fluoros- PFCs.

The Verde natural wax is all organic - no petroleum - made from renewable resources and 100% biodegradable."

when speaking with Will McMillon of Bluebird he mentioned that they were the first to make soy-based ski wax and that their all temp and cold temp waxes are about in the middle for eco-friendly, so i would assume that they may be tinkering around with something similar to Purl (i.e. using more inert materials) but not 100%.

i'll see if those guys would post on this thread and shed some further light.

also, as the season progresses and i get around to testing out the various other eco waxes i mentioned in the original post, i'll comment on their performance.

again, to date all i have used is Purl (purple and yellow) and OBJ. plan to score some Bluebird and those others I listed soon, but we'll need some snow and colder temps for a good testing.

i do have to say that a tag-team combo of Purl and OBJ, double coated has been working pretty sweetly for summer patch skiing and if my waxing job is solid, it lasts for a couple of days easy. Granted patch conditions are a bit rougher than during the regular season (sun cups, ice runnels, rocks, dirt, twigs), but if a wax can hold up to that...

[twist303]

My shop started using the Purl natural waxes 2 seasons ago when they got released. We use it as our shop wax for customer tunes, rentals and our own personal use. I really don't have any complaints about it's performance and i've skied all the temps in their respective conditions. The natural green and purple are very durable in the standard summit county condition. I don't think I can even tell the difference between the standard Purl purple and the natural version. The only problem I have with the natural waxes is how they scrape and polish up. If the base is not totally cool it gets really gummy on your scraper. It also is a lot harder to polish up to a really nice glossy finish but these are very minor annoyances. So far the customer reviews are all positive even from racers. I will say that most people don't care if the wax is natural or toxic they rarely wax enough to know, but some people are stoked.

[XXX-er]

I think if you completely scrape off all the wax and do a complete brushing with a brass/nylon brush like you should as opposed to leaving the wax on and letting the snow wear it off the amount of wax you are leaving behind is microscopic ... I would think of other ways to have a bigger impact on the environment

[stuckathuntermtn]

I think if you completely scrape off all the wax and do a complete brushing with a brass/nylon brush like you should as opposed to leaving the wax on and letting the snow wear it off the amount of wax you are leaving behind is microscopic ... I would think of other ways to have a bigger impact on the environment

he's got bike riding and recycling covered so I guess this is a noble effort. I'd say use less plastic if you can. That's tough since everything comes in it.

[waxman@pacbell.net]

This is Terry Hertel of Hertelwax.com.
Our HotSauce is Green. It is also the best performing wax.
Please go to [url]http://www.hertelwax.com.

This wax has been part of the Olympics and World Cup for years.
Burton used to use it to win everything.
Stay away from colord wax . It is not green. It really sucks when it sticks.
Awhite all temperature HotSauce is something that nobody else has.
You will be glad you tried it.

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

[QUOTE=dookey67;2526898]i
but the thing of it is, switching ski wax is a simple thing. if all of us did it we could make an impact. and the wax isn't any more expensive than the toxic fluoro waxes out there.

so, yeah, i know it's basically just an eco gesture at this point, but since eco friendly wax costs the same as toxic fluoro wax, why not?

QUOTE]

Props, cracks me up when people say 'well I already do XXXX so why bother doing this little thing' and prefer your 'hell, why not' attitude. When faced with two options and one is the better thing for the world why NOT do it assuming everything else equal?

[H-wood]

As far as I know, only (expensive) race wax includes flouro. Most is paraffin-based, for whatever that's worth. If only because of economies of scale, I bet that on a per-ounce basis, producing and distributing a bar of small-batch wax has a bigger footprint than whatever Swix does.

And using (low-end) flouro wax crayon/cork style is way more efficient (and keeps bases slippery for longer) than drip/scraping regular-ass wax. Heating up wax with an iron is probably the biggest source of pollution (and personal toxicity) in the process--vaporizing chemicals into the air. Corking or (solar-heating) low-flouro wax will make your Planetary Wax Footprint micro, save money, and make for fast skis in wet Cali snow. Or something.

[XXX-er]

[QUOTE=Crystal_Mt_Dreamin;2548456][QUOTE=dookey67;2526898]i
but the thing of it is, switching ski wax is a simple thing. if all of us did it we could make an impact. and the wax isn't any more expensive than the toxic fluoro waxes out there.

so, yeah, i know it's basically just an eco gesture at this point, but since eco friendly wax costs the same as toxic fluoro wax, why not?

QUOTE]
you sure about that? I thot the suoer toxic fluro wax that they won't let you apply indoors at the xc ski areas is really expensive and only used for racing ?

if you worry about wax fumes on your bench a buddy of mine mounted an old range hood he picked up at the dump with the light and fan above his waxing bench with a vent to the outside of his house

[murph]

The only problem I have with the natural waxes is how they scrape and polish up. If the base is not totally cool it gets really gummy on your scraper. It also is a lot harder to polish up to a really nice glossy finish but these are very minor annoyances.

Pretty much my experience as well. I've switched back to the regular Purl all temp wax, which I am very happy with.

[Genetic]

Swix's response to this topic...

http://www.swixsport.com/eway/defaul...0:6106:2:::0:0

[murph]

Swix's response to this topic...

http://www.swixsport.com/eway/defaul...0:6106:2:::0:0

"Swix waxes always come with an updated Material Safety Data Sheet."

Can't say I've bought Swix in awhile, but is this really true? Is it something that is included in a bulk purchase but not the smaller bricks available in most shops?

[galibier_numero_un]

OK ... so after decades of using numerous bargain irons that can't hold a tight enough temperature range to keep from smoking, I'm going to pull the trigger on a Toko T8 (please ... no debates about the value of a dedicated iron ... I've read it all & I'm o.k. with spending the $60).

As I'm running low on wax, I'm thinking of trying some of the enviro waxes.

It dawns on me that I should consider their melting points. Are they in a range that a dedicated waxing iron will work? I assume so, but thought I'd ask.

Thanks,
Thom

[TahoeJ]

Hertel Hot Sauce has performed well for me, at least as well as more expensive Swix and Toko waxes.

I switched to Hertel's this season and was impressed... especially on those days where there are huge temperature swings (15-20 degrees in the morning and pushing 50+ by the afternoon).