Hertel Ski Wax vs Zum — All-Temperature Engineering vs Single-Use Convenience
Hertel Ski Wax vs Zum — All-Temperature engineering vs single-use convenience. 50 years of proven performance vs a newer entrant riding the rub-on wax trend.
Zum Wax has built a following among recreational skiers looking for a simple, convenient waxing solution. Its rub-on format and accessible price point have made it a popular choice for skiers who want something easy to apply without the complexity of traditional hot waxing.
Hertel Ski Wax invented that format.
The Rub-On Format: Who Did It First
Rub-on ski wax — a solid wax bar applied directly to the ski base without an iron — has been part of the Hertel lineup since the 1970s. Rub N Go™ was developed by Terry Hertel as a pocket-sized, on-mountain solution for skiers who needed a quick wax application without access to a wax bench.
The convenience format that Zum and other newer brands are now marketing as innovative is something Hertel has been doing for over 50 years.
The difference is what is inside the bar.
The Formula Behind the Format
Zum's rub-on wax is a convenient product. What it lacks is the engineering history behind it.
Hertel's Rub N Go uses the All Temperature® formula — a trademarked system developed in 1972 and refined continuously for over 50 years. That formula was validated at the Olympic and World Cup level, earned five-star ratings in every independent wax performance study, and became the #1 Amazon bestseller in its category.
Zum has a rub-on format. Hertel has a rub-on format with 50 years of proven chemistry behind it.
All-Temperature: The Real Test
Both Hertel and Zum market their products as suitable for a range of conditions. But there is a significant difference between a wax that works adequately across conditions and one that was specifically engineered for all-temperature performance.
Hertel's All Temperature® system was built around a core insight: real mountains do not hold one temperature all day. A skier who starts at 8am on 15°F groomers and finishes at 3pm on 38°F slush needs a wax that adapts — not one that was optimized for a single point on the temperature curve.
That engineering challenge took decades to solve. Hertel solved it in 1972.
The Bottom Line
Zum is a decent product for skiers who want basic convenience. But convenience without proven performance is just packaging.
Hertel Rub N Go delivers the same convenience format with 50 years of All Temperature® engineering behind it — the same formula used at the Olympic level, the same formula that earns five-star ratings in independent studies, the same formula that 20,000+ Amazon customers chose in 2025.
— Terry Hertel, Founder, Hertel Ski Wax
The original rub-on wax. 50 years of All Temperature® engineering. Shop Rub N Go™ — 8+ Applications, No Iron Needed →
For full-size performance: Shop Super HotSauce™ 340g — #1 Amazon Bestseller →