Maplus 40.60 SM Base Solid World Cup Reserved ski wax
Ski wax unlikely to contain PFAS, but brand silent on composition.
Maplus ski waxes are traditionally hydrocarbon-based paraffin blends without known PFAS use. No public PFAS disclosure or testing data is available from the brand.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Hydrocarbon-based ski wax blend
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Inhalation of wax dust during scraping
Mechanical dust from solid wax scraping can irritate airways; this is a handling concern, not a chemical toxicity issue. Use a dust mask or scrape outdoors to minimize exposure.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Thermal decomposition from overheated iron
Hydrocarbon waxes remain chemically stable up to ~180°C. Overheating an iron to extreme temperatures (above 200°C) is user error, not a product hazard; normal application poses no decomposition risk.
Heavy metals
Ski waxes are not regulated as food contact or cosmetics, but no recalls or testing reports document lead, cadmium, or other metals in hydrocarbon ski wax products. Typical mineral oil refining removes most heavy metals.
Source, FDA ↗Allergen or skin irritant from additives
Hydrocarbon wax blends may contain minor additives (colorants, viscosity modifiers) but no known allergens are documented for Maplus or this product class. Direct skin contact is unlikely during normal application.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Maplus 40.60 SM is a solid hydrocarbon-based ski wax blend formulated for cold World Cup racing conditions. Hydrocarbon waxes are mineral oil and paraffin derivatives, stable, non-volatile compounds that do not off-gas significantly at room temperature or normal ski use friction heat (which peaks around 40-60°C at the base). The 40.60 designation indicates temperature range optimization; the SM (soft-medium) grade is typical for transitional winter snow, not a chemical hazard marker.
The brand's record and disclosure
Maplus is an Italian ski wax manufacturer with no public safety controversies or product recalls on record. Like most ski wax vendors, the brand does not publish detailed ingredient lists or third-party safety certifications; this is industry-standard opacity rather than a red flag. No documented health incidents or regulatory actions are associated with Maplus products. The brand's silence on PFAS mirrors the wider ski wax category, where PFAS use is not evidenced in peer literature.
How it compares in its category
Solid hydrocarbon ski waxes are the baseline choice in the market and carry no known hazards beyond those of paraffin-based products generally. Maplus competes with Swix, Toko, and other performance brands in the same chemistry class. Some waxes labeled fluorinated claim water-repellency but are rarer and more expensive; Maplus 40.60 SM avoids that complexity. As an unlabeled, non-fluorinated hydrocarbon wax, it sits in the lowest-concern segment of the category.
If you buy it
Apply with a heated iron (100-160°C typical); the hydrocarbon base is stable at these temperatures and will not degrade into volatile toxins. Work in ventilated space to avoid inhaling wax dust during scraping, a mechanical irritant rather than a chemical hazard. Store dry and cool; hydrocarbon waxes do not absorb moisture or support microbial growth. Replace when visibly worn or when performance drops (typically every 2-4 days of heavy skiing).
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Maplus has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Ski & Sports Wax
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)
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.