Hertel Ski Wax vs ONE Snowboard Wax — Olympic Heritage vs New Brand Claims
Hertel Ski Wax vs ONE Snowboard Wax — Olympic heritage and 50 years of All-Temperature engineering vs a newer snowboard-focused brand. Here is the honest comparison for snowboarders who want to know which wax actually performs.
ONE has built a following in the snowboard community with a focused product lineup and snowboard-specific branding. It markets itself as a wax brand that understands snowboarders — their culture, their riding style, and their equipment needs.
Hertel understands snowboarders too. It has since the late 1980s, when Burton Snowboards' elite team riders chose WhiteGold™ as their wax of choice at the Olympic and World Cup level.
The Snowboard Wax Heritage Question
When evaluating any snowboard wax brand, the most important question is not the packaging or the branding. It is the performance history.
Hertel's snowboard wax heritage is documented and specific:
- WhiteGold™ — Hertel's all-temperature formula — was used by Burton Snowboards' top riders including Craig Kelly, Mike Jacoby, Nora Brandon, Jeff Brushie, and Jonny Mosley at the Olympic and World Cup level in the late 1980s and 1990s.
- 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics — WhiteGold™ contributed to gold medal performances.
- 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics — WhiteGold™ again part of the performance equation at the Olympic level.
- Industry pushback — Hertel's performance was so dominant that Terry Hertel was told by ski establishment leadership to "get the fuck out of the industry." That is what happens when an independent American company outperforms the establishment on its own turf.
ONE has snowboard-focused branding. Hertel has Olympic snowboard history.
The All-Temperature Advantage for Snowboarders
Snowboarders face the same all-temperature challenge as skiers: conditions change throughout the day, and a wax optimized for morning cold groomers may fail on afternoon slush.
Hertel's All Temperature® system — developed in 1972 and trademarked in 1974 — was engineered specifically to manage this challenge. One formula performs from approximately 6°F to 52°F without switching products or second-guessing conditions.
Super HotSauce™ — the current expression of that system — is the #1 Amazon bestseller in its category with 20,000+ units sold in 2025, five-star rated in every independent wax performance study, and used on both skis and snowboards.
For on-mountain convenience, Hertel Rub N Go™ — the original pocket snowboard wax developed in the 1970s — applies in under 2 minutes without an iron, right on the slope.
What ONE Offers
ONE produces a range of snowboard-specific wax products with temperature-matched formulas and a brand identity built around snowboard culture. Its products are quality products for snowboarders who want a brand that speaks their language.
What ONE does not have is a documented performance history at the Olympic level, 50 years of continuous wax chemistry development, or the independent validation that Hertel has accumulated since 1972.
The Bottom Line for Snowboarders
ONE is a decent snowboard wax brand. Hertel is the wax brand that was used by Burton's elite team riders at the Olympics — and was so effective that the ski establishment tried to push it out of the industry.
For snowboarders who want the best all-temperature performance with the deepest competitive heritage in the sport, the choice is clear.
A Note From Terry Hertel
I have been making wax for snowboarders since before most current snowboarders were born. Craig Kelly rode on WhiteGold™. Jonny Mosley rode on WhiteGold™. The Burton team rode on WhiteGold™ at the Olympics.
That is not a marketing story. That is history. And it is built into every product Hertel makes today.
— Terry Hertel, Founder, Hertel Ski Wax — Made in USA since 1972
The wax Burton's Olympic team chose. Shop WhiteGold™ — 1988 & 1994 Olympic Gold Medal Snowboard Wax →
The all-temperature flagship: Shop Super HotSauce™ — #1 Amazon Bestseller, Works on Skis & Snowboards →
On-mountain pocket wax: Shop Rub N Go™ — No Iron, 8+ Applications, Fits in Your Pocket →
📚 The full story: Read the WhiteGold™ Olympic Story →