4WD is the premium hydrocarbon wax line from One MFG, the company riders still call Oneball or Oneball Jay. One MFG says it develops and tests its wax on Mount Baker in Washington and makes it in the USA. Oneball comes up often when riders ask which wax to buy.
This review covers the 4WD cool bar, what owners say about Oneball wax and when you need a different bar.
What It Is: A Temperature-Specific Hot Wax
Hot wax is wax you melt onto your base with an iron, let cool, then scrape off. 4WD comes in bars for different snow temperatures. This yellow cool bar is for snow from 28F to 21F (-2C to -6C), which covers powder, slush and ice on most normal winter days.
The bar weighs 165g, which One MFG says is enough to hot wax 6 to 8 snowboards. It is fluoro-free and has a tropical scent.
A note from owners: the temperature on the label is the snow temperature, not the air temperature.
On the Hill: Solid Everyday Wax
When riders ask which wax brand to use, Oneball comes up alongside Hertel, Swix, Purl and Bluebird. One rider who has waxed for years uses a Demon universal wax for most days and the 4WD cold bar on cold days. Another rider names Oneball, especially its X-Wax line, as their favorite wax.
Owners of other Oneball bars call it solid. One owner of a Oneball novelty bar was happy with it and called it nothing special, but not bad either. They only used it as a hot wax and say a rub-on did not seem to do much.
Where It Falls Short
Few owners call Oneball the best wax they have used. Many riders in these threads say most wax is close enough, and that how often you wax matters more than the brand. One rider says they use canning paraffin with no difference in performance. If you agree, a cheaper bulk wax may suit you better.
The temperature range is narrow, so one bar will not cover a whole season. Owners say temperature-specific wax beats a universal wax in the right conditions, and that cold waxes are meant to be harder to scrape. For colder snow, One MFG sells the 4WD cold bar for snow from 21F to 5F.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the 4WD cool bar if you hot wax at home and want a cheap, fluoro-free wax matched to normal winter snow.
Look elsewhere if you only rub on wax, or if you ride mostly in very cold or very warm, wet snow. Pick the bar that matches your snow.
Alternatives
The Oneball X-Wax is One MFG's other line, and some riders rate it higher than the average wax.
The Demon Complete Tune Kit includes an iron, scraper, brushes and a bar of wax, if you do not own waxing tools yet.
Verdict
Oneball 4WD is a cheap, fluoro-free wax that does the job well on normal winter snow. It is not the wax riders rave about, and you may need a second bar for cold days. If you wax often and want a dependable bar, it is a good pick.
