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A snowboard base-up on a workbench in a home workshop, with a wax iron, a bar of wax, a scraper and a Phantom Glide Single Application packet

Do Snowboards Need Wax Every Day Out? Waxing, Tuning and Base Treatment for Riders

A slow, grabby base can turn a fun lap into a long traverse. So do you need to wax your board every day out? No. How often really depends on how often you're riding.

Waxing is still the best way to get consistent glide. Below we break down three routes (wax as you go, get a tune, or a Phantom Glide base treatment) and who each one fits. None wins for every rider.

How Often to Wax

For occasional riders, a yearly tune-up may be enough, while frequent riders may need wax as often as once a month, especially in the warmer months. Our tune-and-wax guide is written for skis, so treat it as a starting point for your board.

Three Routes Side by Side

Three cards comparing snowboard base care: wax as you go, get a tune, or a Phantom Glide base treatment

Three routes, and where each one happens.

Wax as You Go

This route fits riders who get out a lot and don't mind small jobs at home. Basic tunes are totally manageable to do at home.

A few notes before you dial in your kit. Pick your wax by the coldest air temperature you'll ride in. Got a sintered base (made from pressed polyethylene powder)? A few hot-waxing and scraping cycles are the best way to clean dirt and old wax out of it. Extruded base (made from melted polyethylene)? Spray it with a spray-on base cleaner and wipe it clean. Not sure which base you have? Check your board maker's specs.

Gearhead Tip: Snowboards need a larger scraper, so size yours to your board.

Hot iron safety: Hot irons burn, so work in a ventilated space. Keep the iron moving so you don't burn the base. If it sits in one spot for more than a couple of seconds, the base may not absorb wax as well in the future. Set your iron to the specs on the wax you've chosen.

Skip this route if:

  • you don't want to handle a hot iron, a scraper and the cleanup;

  • you'd rather hand the whole job to a shop.

Get a Tune

A tune is more than wax. A basic at-home tune covers waxing and edge sharpening, and more in-depth tunes can add a base grind and base repair. Some jobs belong in the shop, though: base welds, base grinds and edge repairs should be done at a ski shop.

So a shop tune fits when you need base welds, base grinds or edge repairs. Short on time, or just want your board in tip top shape? It doesn't hurt to get a professional tune at the beginning of the season.

Skip a tune if:

  • you're happy doing the basics at home;

  • all you want is a quick wax.

Phantom Glide Base Treatment

Phantom Glide is a base treatment for skis and snowboards from DPS: you put it on once instead of waxing as you go. Not sure how it fits with your routine? Ask a Gearhead.

At Home With a Kit

Before you start: read your kit's instructions. They are the final word.

One Single Application Kit treats one pair of skis or one board. Plan on less than 2 hours on a sunny day; our guide to applying Phantom Glide at home walks you through it.

Prep matters: remove wax and clean the base before applying, for best results. Skip the hot-wax cleaning cycles from the wax-as-you-go route here, since they leave wax in the base. Use a base cleaner, or get a shop stone grind.

Only the Single Application Kit and the At Home Kit, which includes it, hold the treatment itself. See which kit does what, or browse all four on the Phantom Glide kits page.

Added to a New Board, Where Offered

Buying a new board? Check its page for Phantom Glide: Professional Application Before Shipment. It's a $129.95 service you add to a new ski or board order. Our technicians treat the base before it ships, so expect your order to ship within a week. Here's how that route compares with doing it at home.

Skip the treatment if:

  • you don't want to strip wax and clean the base before a kit job;

  • you need a new board to ship as fast as possible (the add-on delays shipping).

Pick Your Route

  • If you ride often and like working on your own setup, then wax as you go with our guides. Keep the iron moving, and set it to the wax's specs.

  • If you ride a few days a season, then a yearly tune-up may be enough.

  • If you need base welds, base grinds or edge repairs, then get a shop tune.

  • If you want a base treatment on a board you already own, then grab the Single Application Kit (or the At Home Kit) and clean the base first.

  • If you're buying a new board and its page shows the add-on, then add it and allow for slower shipping. If the board's page doesn't show it, use a Single Application Kit at home.

Riding on a Budget

You don't need a shop for the basics: basic tunes are manageable at home. One Single Application Kit covers one snowboard.

Gearhead Notes

Let the wax cool fully before you scrape it. Putting your board away for summer? We recommend a thick storage coat of wax that runs over the edges to keep air and moisture off, then a cool, dry spot out of direct sunlight. Leave that coat on until the snow comes back, then scrape it off and ride.

Get Out There

You know your riding and your schedule best, so pick the route that fits how often you get out. If you're waxing, keep that iron moving and set it per the wax's specs. Want a hand matching a route to your board? Chat with a Gearhead.

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