Start Review, Is Start Non-Toxic?
Start averages 81 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 12 Start products graded as of November 2026, and 11 of them reach its 70 point pass mark.
Start grades Excellent on our four-band scale. On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. See what every brand has published about PFAS for how that compares.
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.
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- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
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Does Start have PFAS, by category
Which Start products are PFAS-free? Good or better, best-graded first
- Hydrocarbon wax blend (Nordic ski glider wax)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Inhalation of wax dust during application. Ironing or scraping hydrocarbon ski wax generates fine particle…
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Natural wax blend, paraffin and/or plant-based waxes
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Paraffin vapor inhalation (thermal). Heating paraffin wax above 100°C for application generates vapors that…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- paraffin and hydrocarbon wax blend
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Thermal decomposition and fume inhalation. Paraffin wax heated above 150-160°C can release minor volatile…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Synthetic hydrocarbon wax blend
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Skin contact sensitization or irritation. Hydrocarbon wax blends are generally low-irritant, but individual…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Paraffin wax blend
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Thermal decomposition / inhalation during application. Heating paraffin wax above ~100-120°C can release…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Ski base wax, hydrocarbon/paraffin composition
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Inhalation of wax dust and friction byproducts. Applying paraffin wax to heated ski bases generates fine…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax-based product (beeswax, plant waxes, or mineral wax blend)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC) from heating. Heating hydrocarbon wax to application temperature releases…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Plastic racing glider toy
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals. Toys manufactured in some regions may contain trace lead or cadmium in pigments or as residual…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax-based formulation
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC) from heating. Melting or ironing wax may release minor hydrocarbon vapors…
- Ski/snowboard glide wax or base treatment
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Inhalation exposure during application. Wax dust and thermal fumes from iron-on application can irritate…
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Unknown liquid glider formulation (likely silicone or wax-based)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC) / solvent off-gassing. Liquid gliders, particularly hydrocarbon or…
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Which Start products contain PFAS? Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
- Hydrocarbon wax blend with fluorinated surfactants (typical for performance ski wax)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- PFAS. Iron-application of fluorinated ski wax generates aerosol and vapor. Start does not disclose fluorine…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonWhat to buy instead Good or better, in the categories Start sells
- hydrocarbon ski wax (non-fluorinated)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and mineral oil vapor
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- hydrocarbon wax blend
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Thermal degradation and fume emission
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Wax-based ski base, fluorine-free formulation
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Inhalation of wax particulates and volatiles during application
Start and PFAS, common questions
- Does Start have PFAS?
- Start averages 81 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 12 Start products graded as of November 2026, and 11 of them reach its 70 point pass mark. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Start non-toxic?
- Start SG10 Glider Wax 180g Green is the highest-graded Start product we have scored, at 85/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Start products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Start products we have scored are Start SG10 Glider Wax 180g Green, Start Base Wax Extra, Start Glide BW Base Wax. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Start products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Start products we have scored are Start LF10 Ski Wax Race Room Skis 180g. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →