Does Holmenkol ski & sports wax have PFAS?
We graded 16 Holmenkol ski & sports wax products, averaging Excellent (80/100). 14 of them grade Good or better. Against the other 32 ski & sports wax brands we grade, where the middle brand sits at 82/100, Holmenkol is about typical, scoring above 47% of them.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Holmenkol ski & sports wax worth buying Good or better, best-graded first
Holmenkol
Natural Skiwax Bar
Natural hydrocarbon wax blend
Inhalation of wax fumes during application
Natural wax heated above melting point (typically 65-80°C) may release volatile organic…
Thermal decomposition at high ironing temperatures
Hydrocarbon waxes begin to degrade or smoke noticeably above 100-120°C. If applied with…
Lower concern. Natural hydrocarbon wax base is not a material linked to PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
- Holmenkol Natural Wax Paste
Natural wax paste (paraffin/beeswax base)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from heating
Wax application may involve brief heating to activate adhesion. Natural paraffin and…
Skin sensitization from residual additives
Base wax materials are generally non-irritant, but the paste may contain minor additives…
PFAS risk is lower for natural wax paste products.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Beta Mix Ski & Snowboard Wax
Hydrocarbon-based ski wax blend
Hydrocarbon vapor inhalation during application
Heating hydrocarbon wax releases aliphatic hydrocarbon vapors; at normal application…
Skin contact with heated wax
Hot wax can cause thermal burns if spilled or if the iron comes into contact with skin.…
Dust or particulate inhalation during scraping
Scraping wax from skis generates fine wax dust particles; this is a mechanical hazard…
Environmental persistence and aquatic toxicity
Hydrocarbon waxes do not biodegrade rapidly and can persist in snow runoff; however, they…
Traditional hydrocarbon formula shows lower PFAS concern.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Grip Wax
Hydrocarbon wax blend (ski/snowboard grip wax)
Hydrocarbon skin contact and sensitization
Prolonged skin contact with mineral oil and paraffin wax can cause mild irritation or…
Thermal degradation fumes if overheated
If applied with excessive heat (e.g., iron set above 60°C or open flame), hydrocarbon…
PFAS risk is lower for hydrocarbon grip wax without special coatings.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Natural Ski Wax Fluid
Natural wax blend (hydrocarbon-based)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) / inhalation exposure
Hydrocarbon-based ski wax fluids typically contain solvent carriers (aliphatic…
Skin/dermal contact irritation
Mineral oil and hydrocarbon base can cause mild dermal irritation or contact…
Natural wax formula carries lower PFAS risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Natural Ski Wax Bar
Natural wax blend (no synthetic Teflon-family coating disclosed)
Thermal degradation and wax smoke
Natural wax blends can release irritant volatile compounds if heated above recommended…
Environmental persistence or aquatic toxicity
Natural waxes are biodegradable and less persistent than fluorinated waxes, but…
Natural wax carries lower PFAS risk, but brand remains silent.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Universal Pink Ski Wax
Hydrocarbon wax blend
Hydrocarbon volatility and inhalation
Ski-wax application via hot iron can release mineral oil vapor. Risk is low with proper…
Skin irritation from wax contact
Undiluted mineral waxes can cause mild skin irritation or temporary dermatitis in…
PFAS
Hydrocarbon waxes are chemically distinct from fluorocarbon waxes and unlikely to contain…
Ski wax unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Alphamix Yellow
hydrocarbon wax blend ski base treatment
Smoke and volatile organic compounds during application
Ironing hydrocarbon wax produces visible smoke and airborne fine particles. Exposure is…
Hydrocarbon ski wax carries lower PFAS risk than fluorinated types.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Betamix Red Ski Wax
hydrocarbon-based ski wax blend
Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions
Hydrocarbon wax blending may include trace solvents or volatile components, though ski…
Skin or eye irritation from wax dust
Dry wax application or grating can produce fine particulate that may irritate mucous…
Thermal decomposition by excessive ironing
Extreme heat (above 200°C) may cause hydrocarbon wax to scorch or release fumes; however…
No known PFAS in this wax product.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Syntec FF Bar
Hydrocarbon wax blend (paraffin-based ski wax)
Paraffin inhalation during application
Hot paraffin wax at iron temperature generates vapor; risk is low with adequate…
Skin contact and thermal burns
Liquid wax at 130-160°C can cause burns on contact. This is a handling risk, not a…
Oxidative degradation byproducts
Paraffin hydrocarbons exposed to prolonged heat or light may undergo oxidation…
PFAS
Brand does not disclose PFAS absence or content. FF designation suggests omission of…
Ski wax shows lower concern.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Worldcup Mix Cold Ski Wax
Hydrocarbon wax blend (paraffin/synthetic)
Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions during heating
Hydrocarbon waxes can release low levels of VOCs when heated for application. Holmenkol's…
Inhalation of wax dust during application or storage
Grinding, scraping, or handling powdered wax residue may generate inhalable particles. No…
Microplastic or polymer shedding during use
Wax fragments shed onto snow during skiing are hydrocarbon-based and will break down in…
Lower PFAS concern; traditional wax formulation unlikely to contain fluorochemicals.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Ultramix Blue Ski and Snowboard Wax
Hydrocarbon wax blend
Hydrocarbon volatilization (inhalation during application)
Melting wax on ski bases releases low-level volatile organic compounds typical of mineral…
Oxidative degradation and byproducts
Hydrocarbon waxes can oxidize over time or under heat stress, potentially releasing…
Environmental persistence (non-aquatic toxicity)
Hydrocarbon waxes are not acutely toxic to aquatic life but are poorly biodegradable and…
Ski wax lower concern; no known PFAS use, but brand silent on composition.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Cross Country Ski Grip Wax
Hydrocarbon wax blend (paraffin, synthetic base)
Volatile organic compound emissions (minor)
Paraffin wax itself has low volatility, but heating during ski friction or storage near…
Thermal degradation and combustion byproducts
If wax is exposed to high heat (e.g., near stove or in closed storage near a heat…
Grip wax unlikely to contain PFAS; typical paraffin pose lower concern.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Holmenkol
Ultramix BLUE Liquid 100ml
Liquid ski/snowboard wax, hydrocarbon base
Hydrocarbon solvent volatilization and inhalation exposure
During application, the liquid evaporates to deposit wax; inhalation of mineral oil and…
Container leakage or disposal of spent solvent
As a liquid, improper cap sealing can lead to spills during storage or transport.…
Environmental persistence and bioaccumulation (hydrocarbon wax residue on snow and waterwa
Wax residue deposited on snow eventually enters snowmelt runoff. Hydrocarbon waxes are…
Hydrocarbon base is not a material linked to PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Holmenkol
Cross Country Ski Grip
Wax-based ski grip (likely hydrocarbon blend; coating composition unspecified)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from unknown binders
The undisclosed coating chemistry may contain synthetic resins or solvents that off-gas…
Skin irritation or sensitization from contact
Hydrocarbon wax blends are generally low in acute toxicity, but additives (colorants…
Microplastic or wax particle shedding into snow and water
Ski wax, including grip formulations, sheds during use and contributes microplastic…
PFAS
Although rated Good on PFAS transparency, the lack of explicit PFAS-free certification…
Avoid due to unknown coating chemistry and no brand transparency.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Holmenkol
Unisex Adult Klister Ski Wax
Hydrocarbon-based klister wax with fluorocarbon additives
PFAS
Fluorocarbon-containing waxes are a known source of PFAS exposure, particularly during…
VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions during application and storage
Hydrocarbon-based ski waxes release volatile organics when heated for application…
Skin and eye contact irritation from fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon components
Wet klister residue on hands can cause minor dermatitis in sensitive individuals…
Contact Holmenkol or choose verified PFAS-free wax.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Better ski & sports wax from other brands
Graded higher than the Holmenkol average of 80.
Swix
PS10 Yellow Wax
Hydrocarbon-based ski wax (paraffin/synthetic blend)
Combustion by-products during hot application
Limited concern
Skin and eye contact irritation
Limited concern
Ingestion toxicity (accidental exposure)
Limited concern
Microabrasive particulates from worn base or scraping
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)
Swix
PS7 Violet Ski Snowboard Glide Wax
Hydrocarbon wax blend (paraffin/synthetic hydrocarbon base)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from heating
Limited concern
Inhalation of wax dust during application
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)
Maplus
Arctic Base Fluor Free 1 kg
ski wax base, fluorine-free formulation
Hydrocarbon volatiles and inhalation risk
Limited concern
PFAS
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)
See every Holmenkol product we grade on the Holmenkol brand page, or the full ski & sports wax ranking.