Best Ski Wax Iron (The 5 Best Options of 2021-2022 Season)

Best Ski Snowboard Waxing Iron

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Want to get the best out of your skis or snowboard?

Then you should consider getting a ski waxing iron. Of course, you can always send it for professional tuning and occasional repairs. However, knowing how to wax your snowboard is essential if you are a regular snowboarder and want to save some bucks.

So, to help you find the best ski wax iron, we’ve compiled five top-notch options available on the market. With this brief but informative guide, we are sure you’ll find the perfect wax iron to keep your skis or snowboard prim and proper.

Why Do You Need A Real Wax Iron?

Now, you may be wondering if a wax iron is worth it when you can just use a clothing iron. Of course, the latter will be much cheaper, but we don’t recommend using a regular iron on your snowboards.

This is because, with a clothing iron, controlling the temperature requires extra effort, time, and caution. Especially if the base has too many holes, you might end up smoking the wax and damaging your snowboard. And the gunk that gets collected in the holes is another headache.

Believe it or not, a snowboard wax iron was not invented to rob you of your money! It is designed keeping in mind the melting points of different wax products and the tuning requirements of a snowboard. Hence, most waxing irons don a curved base to accommodate more wax in the center.

Additionally, the thermostat on a wax iron ensures that the correct temperature is maintained throughout the waxing process. Unlike clothing irons, dedicated wax irons boast better temperature tolerance. And when you’re spending hundreds of dollars on snowboards, it only makes sense to maintain one with a high-quality iron!

Ski Wax Iron: Our Top Picks

To ensure that you get the best ski wax iron here’s a quick summary of my top picks.

Best Overall: Swix North Waxing Iron

“I debated buying a more expensive iron. Glad I didn’t. This iron works great. Adjustable heat. Melts wax as intended, and flattens wax evenly across the ski for scraping.”

Best Digital Interface: RaceWax Snowboard Waxing Iron

“Very easy to use. Great build quality. Temp dial works very well and is easy to set. Heats up quickly.”

Best for Cross-country Ski Waxing: TOKO T14 Digital Wax Iron

“If you’re like many cross-country skiers, you started off with an economy iron from Swix.”

Best Value: WSD Ski and Snowboard Wax Iron

“An excellent little ski iron for the price. Heats up fast and holds the temperature after you figure out where you need it.”

Best Portable: Wintersteiger Ski Waxing Iron

“I have waxed 3 pairs of skis without issue. It is easy to keep this iron from getting to hot and burning the base.”

Best Overall: Swix North Waxing Iron

Swix North Waxing Iron
Photo: Swix

The Swix North Waxing Iron is the ideal budget buy with easy adjustments and a portable design. It offers a temperature range of 212–302°F that can be controlled with the dial. It also features a light indicator to check the temperature while you iron your equipment.

We particularly liked its lightweight and ergonomic design that allows first-time users to iron their snowboard with ease. Its smooth plate glides on the snowboard, ensuring a sparkling finish. Since the plate measures 108 x 132 mm, you can use this iron on both snowboards and skis.

Additionally, many customers have sworn by its durability as it is sturdy enough to handle accidental falls and slips.

Overall, this affordable but effective iron is versatile enough for different types of wax products. You will also appreciate its built-in heel rest that facilitates easy cooling by keeping the device in an upright position. 

Best Digital Interface: RaceWax Snowboard Waxing Iron

RaceWax-Ski-Wax-Snowboard-Waxing-Iron
Photo: RaceWax

Professional and convenient- the chunky RaceWax Snowboard Waxing Iron works well for both beginners and experts. Thanks to its digital interface, setting and maintaining a suitable temperature is no big deal. Plus, the wide temperature range of 176–338°F ensures compatibility with all types of wax products.

Besides heating quickly, its unique integrated microprocessor and grooved base allow even wax distribution and better coverage. The convenient light indicator and long cord help ease out the ironing process for first-time users. In fact, many customers have agreed that this device is fairly easy to use.

Lastly, the great build quality makes this wax iron a favorite among professional snowboarders and skiers. It also boasts a sturdy base for storing it upright while the base cools down. And to top it off, the brand offers a one-year limited warranty to keep you covered in case of damages and defects.  

Best for Cross-country Ski Waxing: TOKO T14 Digital Wax Iron

TOKO T14 Digital Wax Iron
Photo: TOKO

First off, we admit the canary yellow TOKO T14 Digital Wax Iron is quite eye-catching. But other than that, its ergonomic design and digital temperature adjustment features make wax ironing a tad easier. Since snowboards should be waxed quite often, investing in a user-friendly iron is important.

Performance-wise, this device has no competition as it provides a smooth wax finish within minutes. Adding to that, its ultra-thick base plates do a commendable job at retaining the heat and thus melting the wax in a uniform manner. This is usually not the case with poor-quality irons donning a thin base.

Although this iron is a professional-grade device, its ergonomic handle and durability make it suitable for occasional snowboarders too. If you’re willing to upgrade from an old, economy iron, this product is your best bet. 

Best Value: WSD Ski and Snowboard Wax Iron

WSD Ski and Snowboard Wax Iron
Photo: WSD

First off, we admit the canary yellow TOKO T14 Digital Wax Iron is quite eye-catching. But other than that, its ergonomic design and digital temperature adjustment features make wax ironing a tad easier. Since snowboards should be waxed quite often, investing in a user-friendly iron is important.

Performance-wise, this device has no competition as it provides a smooth wax finish within minutes. Adding to that, its ultra-thick base plates do a commendable job at retaining the heat and thus melting the wax in a uniform manner. This is usually not the case with poor-quality irons donning a thin base.

Although this iron is a professional-grade device, its ergonomic handle and durability make it suitable for occasional snowboarders too. If you’re willing to upgrade from an old, economy iron, this product is your best bet. 

Best Portable: Wintersteiger Ski Waxing Iron

Photo: Wintersteiger

If you want to wax your snowboard in one swift motion, the Wintersteiger Waxing Iron is the perfect pick. Its smooth metal finish and plastic exterior allow effective heating while keeping the overall body lightweight. So, if your snowy escapades require traveling, you don’t have to think twice before picking this wax iron.

Equipped with a temperature control dial, we faced no issues setting the desired temperature while using this device. Another impressive factor is its rubber handle which facilitates better grip to avoid any clumsy accidents. Additionally, the rear end sports a protruding point, so the iron stays upright when not in use.

If you’ve got kids interested in snowboarding, this wax iron is an affordable option to keep their snowboards in great shape. However, it may not be the ideal pick for thicker wax products. 

How To Choose The Best Ski Wax Iron

We know a dedicated wax iron is not a common device, so choosing the best product is quite a challenge. And to make the right choice, you must keep note of certain features that make one wax iron different from the other. After all, not all wax irons are built the same, and just because one is pricier than the other doesn’t automatically make it a better option.

So, move away from your old iron, and check out the factors below to avoid tuning mistakes and achieve a smooth snowboard in minutes…

Base Plate

The base plate is the most crucial part of a wax iron. Its thickness defines the heat retention capacity of the device, which is necessary for waxing your snowboard efficiently.

Generally, wax irons with thicker base plates are better than the thinner variants. Since a thick base takes longer to heat up, it ensures consistent and even heating. On the other hand, a thinner surface does not retain heat and may result in a shoddy wax finish.

Adjustable Temperature 

You may find wax irons with and without a temperature control dial. The former simply turns on and off with a switch/button and maintains the temperature around 257°F. While this may work for beginners, you’ll need a more advanced mechanism if you use different types of wax. 

Since various wax products have different melting points, you’ll require an iron that allows more adjustments and versatility. That said, a wax iron with a temperature adjusting dial, light indicator, and digital reader is the most convenient pick. In fact, higher-end models are equipped with single-degree increments for more precise temperature control.

Size And Design

Most waxing irons are much smaller than clothing irons. This makes them portable enough for snowboarders and skiers who are always on the go!

Moreover, snowboards should be waxed regularly every 2-3 days, so it helps to have a lightweight device. However, if you tune your snowboards at home or in the garage, looking at larger irons that cover more area and speed up the waxing process may be a better option.

Final Thoughts

Waxing your snowboard is no rocket science and learning to do it yourself is possible with the right wax kits. While tables and vises are optional (unless you are a professional snowboarder), a wax iron is a must to maintain your snowboard. 

Although using a clothing iron once or twice may not cause much harm, in the long term, it will only complicate the tuning process and result in an unsatisfactory snowboarding experience. That said, we hope this short guide helped you pick the best snowboard wax iron for your equipment.

Until next time, stay adventurous! 

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Matt Scofield
Matt Scofield

Hi! I’m Matt, an adventure freak who lives and breathes the great outdoors. Spending time under the open sky always appealed to me, even as a kid. Perhaps that’s why I liked camping with my dad so much. The days spent hiking and the nights around the campfire are times I’ll cherish forever.

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