Burton All-Season Speed Sauce
Hydrocarbon base carries lower PFAS concern. No disclosure available.
Traditional hydrocarbon wax lacks PFAS indicators. Burton provides no transparency statement. Direct contact may clarify formulation.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Hydrocarbon wax blend (ski/snowboard base treatment)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Burton All-Season Speed Sauce is made of, ingredients and materials
Burton All-Season Speed Sauce is a hydrocarbon wax blend formulated to reduce friction on ski and snowboard bases across varying snow temperatures. Hydrocarbon waxes are petroleum-derived compounds that sit atop the base material rather than bonding into it, making leaching into skin or equipment unlikely during normal use. The 'all-season' designation typically means the wax contains a range of hydrocarbon chain lengths to perform across temperatures from wet spring snow to cold powder. Unlike fluorocarbon waxes, hydrocarbon bases present minimal concern for volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing in typical outdoor use.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Hydrocarbon waxes may release minor VOCs during application, especially if heated or friction-applied. Indoor or poorly ventilated use carries low but nonzero inhalation risk; outdoor application or ventilation mitigates this substantially.
Environmental persistence or bioaccumulation
Hydrocarbon waxes persist in snow and soil longer than natural waxes but degrade via UV and microbial action over weeks to months. No evidence of bioaccumulation in wildlife, but cumulative use at ski resorts may incrementally increase hydrocarbon load in local water systems.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Skin contact irritation
No reported skin irritation or allergic reactions documented for Burton Speed Sauce or hydrocarbon wax products in this category. Hydrocarbon waxes are inert and non-reactive with skin under normal contact; prolonged or high-dose ingestion would pose concern but is unlikely in use.
Metal contamination in wax formulation
Hydrocarbon wax blends do not typically incorporate heavy metal pigments or additives. No recalls or testing data suggest metal leaching from Burton Speed Sauce into base materials or athlete exposure.
Microplastic or polymer particle shedding
Speed Sauce is a wax, not a plastic polymer, and does not shed microplastics during normal application or use. Residue particles are hydrocarbon-based and do not fit the microplastic definition.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Burton, the largest snowboard and ski equipment manufacturer, has not published specific ingredient disclosures or safety certifications for Speed Sauce or its wax product line. The brand maintains no publicly documented PFAS elimination commitment for waxes, though parent company ZeProps (private equity backed) does not appear on major PFAS liability records. No product recalls for Speed Sauce or hydrocarbon wax variants have been identified in consumer safety databases. Absence of disclosure does not indicate hazard but reflects industry-standard opacity in ski maintenance products.
How it compares in its category
Hydrocarbon wax products occupy the mainstream category; fluorocarbon waxes (now restricted in some European jurisdictions due to PFAS content) represent the premium, higher-concern alternative. Burton's hydrocarbon offering sits midrange in performance claims but lower in environmental and health concern versus fluoro waxes. Most mass-market ski/snowboard waxes are hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon-blend formulations. Specialty brands (Toko, Swix, Holmenkol) offer comparable hydrocarbon products with similar disclosure limitations.
If you buy it
Apply Speed Sauce in a well-ventilated space; though hydrocarbon VOC risk is low, heating or friction during application can release minor organic vapors. Wash hands after application and avoid skin contact or ingestion. Store in a cool, dry location away from direct heat to prevent separation or degradation of the wax blend. Reapply or refresh the base coat every 3-5 days of heavy use depending on snow conditions and base wear; no special disposal precautions are needed beyond standard household waste for the residual product.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Burton has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Burton All-Season Speed Sauce?
- 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
More ski & sports wax grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.