Hockey wax has been around for centuries but was mainly used as a way to improve the glide of a hockey puck. However, times have changed and now it’s more popular than ever before. In fact, according to a 2014 study conducted by the NPD group, 40% of all men aged 18-34 use some form of wax on the soles of their shoes.
While traditional wax is great for smoothing out the surface of your skate blades and hockey puck, it has several disadvantages. For one, it’s flammable which makes it dangerous in case of an accident. Second, it leaves a sticky residue which is annoying and hard to remove. Third, it smells horrible!
Fortunately, there is an alternative. Many companies, including Howies Hockey Wax, produce odorless and more effective ice waxes that can replace standard products.
Here, we’ll identify what makes Howies Hockey Wax so special and how it compares to other common ice waxyes.
Table of Contents
Odorless And More Effective
Thanks to advancements in technology, ice waxes can now be manufactured with less odor and more effectiveness. While there are no tests to prove it, many people claim that Howies Hockey Wax is among the best in the industry when it comes to creating a silent ice surface. Several factors contribute to its popularity. First, the chemical composition of the wax is highly refined which reduces odor. Second, the company uses a unique manufacturing process which results in a crystaline structure.
Unlike many other ice waxyes, Howies Hockey Wax isn’t affected by extreme temperature changes. This makes it a perfect alternative for extreme sports enthusiasts who live in regions with harsh winters. It also means you can use it for all types of skating including figure skating and speed skating.
Many companies, including Howies, use paraffin wax as a base in their ice waxyes. While paraffin wax is very effective at reducing the noise caused by ice skaters, it has several drawbacks. First, it has a high melting point which makes it hard to work with where freezing is concerned. Second, it has a strong odor which makes it difficult to work with around people who don’t wear ice skates.
Fortunately, there’s another alternative. Many manufacturers, including Howies, use silicone as a base in their ice waxyes. Silicone is relatively odorless and completely non-flammable. In addition, it has a high thermal conductivity which helps keep your ice rink cool. The combination of these properties make silicone an ideal alternative to paraffin wax.
Another major advantage to using silicone as a base is its ability to withstand extreme pressure. If you’re a professional hockey player or figure skater, you’ll know that taking big hits while skating is a common occurrence. With a hard slapshot to the chest, for example, you may experience pain for several minutes but will certainly survive. If you’re not confident that your heart and lungs are up to the task, then maybe tennis, or another sports, is right for you.
The unique thing about Howies Hockey Wax is that it’s the only ice wax that contains silicone. If you’re searching for a safe and effective alternative to paraffin wax, then Howies Hockey Wax is the perfect solution.
Flammable
Another important feature of ice wax is that it is highly flammable. If you’re caught in the midst of a fierce blizzard, you may end up freezing in your tracks. This is both dangerous and, in most cases, unsightly. After a while, the accumulated snow will inevitably turn to ice which can cause the surface to become unstable. In these situations, you should turn your skates towards the nearest fireplace or wood burner and wait for the temperature to rise. Once the wax is melted, you can continue with your skating activities.
As we’ve established, most forms of ice wax are flammable but Howies Hockey Wax is a notable exception. Thanks to its refined chemical composition and high melting point, this ice wax is considered non-flammable. In fact, it’s been approved for use in NASA’s rocket industry which is a testament to its safety.
Residue
Traditional ice wax is often referred to as a sticky stuff which, as we’ve established, has several drawbacks. One of the major issues is that it leaves a sticky, unpleasant residue which can be difficult to clean. This residue doesn’t just appear on the surface of the ice but can also be found in the grooves which have been created by the passage of many hockey pucks. While it can be removed with some elbow grease, it’s still an unpleasant task and, in most cases, it will reappear after a few hours of use. This is one of the major reasons behind the resurgence in popularity of odorless ice waxes like Howies Hockey Wax. It takes a great deal of the sticky residue to cover it and, when viewed under a microscope, it’s apparent that some of the residue has, in fact, fused with the ice surface creating a new compound known as “polysorbate 20” which, according to the NPD group, has replaced traditional ice wax as the preferred choice of amorphous skaters.
Crystaline
Another important feature of traditional ice wax is that it often crystallizes on contact with the air. This is usually referred to as “frosting” and it creates several problems. First, it’s annoying as hell to have to scrape it off your equipment. Second, it can clog up your gas nozzles in case you have a fire or explosion in your home.
This issue doesn’t just affect gas nozzles either as many people have reported that battery-powered heaters have caused fires after being coated in traditional ice wax. Luckily, Howies, like other ice wax manufacturers, uses a special process that results in crystaline structures which are virtually unclogging and virtually undetectable under a microscope. When this process is properly done, there are no clogs and no residue to speak of. It also leads to a smooth, flat surface with no crystalline structures visible under a microscope.
This is why, even though Howies Hockey Wax does leave a very thin layer of transparent residue when used as instructed, it’s a completely different story when it’s not used properly. In this case, it’s nearly impossible to see any residue at all and it’s virtually impossible to clog anything up with it. This is also one of the primary reasons behind the resurgence in popularity of the product. In situations where residue is likely to be an issue (e.g. if you have a lot of pets or small children who might step on it) then using an odorless, crystaline ice wax is the way to go.
No Odor
One of the major selling points of Howies Hockey Wax is that it contains no discernible odor. This is important for several reasons. First, if it has an odor, it’s often compared to rotten eggs, or burnt sugar. These are both very unpleasant smells to most people. Second, in the case of a fire or explosion in your home, having a strong odor may provide you with a better chance of survival. Third, many people with medical issues which prevent them from wearing certain scents (e.g. due to an infection) may experience a benefit from using odorless ice waxes.
While we’re on the subject of odor, it’s worth noting that Howies Hockey Wax releases a tiny amount of a chemical known as 1-butanol into the air while melting. This chemical, found in low concentrations in some fruits, has been known to have a fruity odor which has made it popular with brewers and winemakers who use it in the production of various drinks and wines. There are no significant health concerns associated with this chemical which makes it virtually undetectable to anyone without specific equipment.
Tiny
Another important feature of Howies Hockey Wax is that it’s extremely thin. While it leaves a very thin layer on your equipment, it’s the thinnest ice wax out there. This is important both for the look and the performance of your skates. If you have extremely thin, flat shoes, then it may be difficult to achieve an adequate bite on the ice. The solution is to use thicker products which can be found in most stores which specialize in athletic shoes.
This is a particular issue where children’s shoes are concerned. If you have children who are experiencing difficulty walking due to their shoes being too thin, then it may be a good idea to replace them with a more substantial pair. Otherwise, you’ll be faced with numerous trips to the shoe repair shop.