Surfboard Wax

Jack's Surfboards carries surfboard wax from Sticky Bumps, Sex Wax and Fu Wax in basecoat plus cold, cool, warm and tropical formulas, along with wax scrapers and removers from Wax Fresh, Solarez and Blocksurf. Most bars cost a couple of dollars, and you can grab them at any of our six Southern California shops. The chart below shows which wax matches your water temperature.

Which surf wax should I use?

Match the wax to the water temperature. Softer wax for cold water stays sticky, and harder wax for warm water won't melt off. Start with a basecoat on a clean board, then add a topcoat for your water.

Ranges from Sex Wax and Fu Wax labels. Sticky Bumps uses Cold, Cool, Warm and Tropical, plus a harder all-temp Basecoat.

How do you wax a surfboard?

1. Start with a clean, dry deck. Strip off old wax first if it's dirty or flat.
2. Rub on a basecoat in small circles or a crosshatch pattern until little bumps form. Sticky Bumps makes its basecoat harder for exactly this job.
3. Add a layer of topcoat that matches your water temperature.
4. Wax where your feet go: from the tail pad up to around your chest on a shortboard, and most of the deck on a longboard so you can walk it.
5. Before each session, rough up the wax with a wax comb or scraper and add a quick fresh layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does surf wax go on the top or bottom?

The top. Wax goes on the deck where you stand and lie down. Never wax the bottom of your board, since it slows you down.

How often should you wax your surfboard?

Add a light topcoat before most sessions, and strip it all off and start fresh every few months, or sooner when it gets dirty, flat or slippery.

What happens if you don't wax a surfboard?

Your feet will slip right off. Fiberglass and epoxy decks are slick when wet, and wax gives you the grip to paddle, pop up and stay on your board. Soft tops are the exception, since their textured decks grip on their own.

What is the best wax for surfboards?

The one that matches your water temperature. Sticky Bumps, Sex Wax and Fu Wax all make proven formulas. Sticky Bumps' Tour Series is its stickiest, and Fu Wax and Sex Wax both label each bar with exact water temperatures.

Does surf wax ever go bad?

Not really. Wax doesn't expire, but old bars can pick up dirt and sand, and wax left in a hot car gets soft and messy. Store it somewhere cool.

What can I use instead of surfboard wax?

A traction pad, also called deck grip, either on the tail or the front of the board. Some surfers run pads instead of wax entirely. Soft top boards don't need wax at all.

How do you get old wax off a surfboard?

Let the board sit in the sun for a few minutes to soften the wax, then scrape it off with a scraper like the Wax Fresh. Finish with a wax remover, like Sticky Bumps' plant and citrus-based remover or Solarez's Pickle, a dry wax remover.

Where can I buy surf wax near me?

At any of our six Southern California shops in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Dana Point, Hermosa Beach and Santa Monica, or online.