From £12 | View offer Effetto Mariposa's eco wax formulation is derived from sunflower seeds, so it's biodegradable and Effetto says its 50% wax content is higher than competitors. The brand says the wax's viscosity allows it to penetrate the chain links. As with the waxes above, it's water based, so it needs to be allowed to dry before riding, but is claimed not to attract dirt. Effetto says you can top it up as you go, rather than needing to degrease and reapply. According to Zero Friction Cycling, it's the lowest friction drip lube it's ever tested. Squirt Long Lasting Chain Lube From £13.99 | View offer Squirt claims its wax-based lube works in wet and dry conditions, forming a thin film that stays clean. Again, it has a water-based carrier, is biodegradable and needs to be left to dry onto your chain. The brand claims between 300 miles in dry conditions and 30 in the wet. As well as larger volumes, Squirt sells a 15ml bottle, which is a great option for multi-day rides and mid-ride reapplication if your chain starts to sound unhappy. There's a hot wax option from Squirt too. Silca Super Secret Chain Lube Liquid wax formula with solvent carrier Designed for use between 5-30 degrees Celsius Tungsten Disulphide additive for enhanced lubrication Silca's range of chain waxes extends to hot wax treatments and the gear to go with them, as well as this easier to apply drip wax, which can also be used between hot waxings. Silca recommends leaving at least 12 hours before riding. Silca claims that its formulation, which contains tungsten disulphide, is up to 7 watts faster than alternatives and can last up to 200 miles between applications. Best immersion chain waxes £22.90 | View offer If you want to hot wax your chain, AbsoluteBlack claims its graphene powder containing formula is longer lasting than other hot wax treatments and its composition makes it less flaky. It also says it's quieter and can cope better with hot rides. In dry conditions, AbsoluteBlack claims 450km between applications, but significantly less if it's wet. AbsoluteBlack is another brand with a drip lube formulation, which you can use to top up between full waxings if needed. It claims it's used by WorldTour teams, although non-disclosure means it can't say which. There's a photo on its site of Tadej Pogačar with the lube though, which might provide a hint. Buy AbsoluteBlack GraphenLube V2 from AbsoluteBlack (£22.90) Connex Hot Wax £60 | View offer Wippermann Connex is best known for selling high quality chains. It also sells a range of maintenance products, including this hot wax treatment, a drip wax and pre-waxed chains. The Connex hot wax is claimed to provide protection for up to 800km, reducing adhesion of debris and dirt. As with other brands, the drip wax can be used to top up the hot wax between treatments. Buy now from Winstanley's Bikes (£59.99) Silca Ultimate Chain Waxing System £99.99 | View offer Silca sells a complete chain waxing system kit, which includes not just the hot wax tablets, also available separately, but a temperature controlled electric pot to melt them and a chain dipper. You can add other Silca products including its degreaser and SpeedChip or EnduranceChip wax additives, which it claims improve efficiency and longevity respectively. Alternatively, it claims that adding its StripChip to your cauldron of hot wax will avoid a separate pre-waxing degreasing stage. Buy the Silca Ultimate Chain Waxing System from Sigma Sports (£99) Best pre-waxed chains From £160 | View offer Another option from CeramicSpeed is to buy a pre-treated UFO chain, where the brand has waxed the chain for you. It claims you can get up to 650km from a chain before needing to rewax and that its chains will save you between 2 and 5 watts. You can choose from an 11 or 12-speed chain for Shimano or SRAM, although not Campagnolo, as well as a KMC track chain. You can top up the chain with CeramicSpeed's UFO drip wax if needed. The UFO chains are designed for dry conditions though, not wet or muddy riding Buy the CeramicSpeed UFO chain from Merlin Cycles (from £115) Silca Pre-Waxed Race Chain From £99 | View offer Silca's final offering is its pre-waxed chain in 11 or 12-speed variants, as well as Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed. It reckons its chain is up to 20% faster than other brands' and that you can ride up to 400km before needing to retreat the chain. When it does need extra waxing, Silca's Super Secret Lube will do the job. Buy the Silca Pre-Waxed Race chain from Silca (from £99) KMC Pre-waxed chain From £55 | View offer KMC sells a range of its chains pre-waxed, including 11-speed and 12-speed and Flat Top options. It's cheapest pre-waxed chains start at around £55, but fancier 12-speed options are priced up to £145. Again, there's a drip wax top-up available, KMC Go, although KMC doesn't sell a hot wax treatment. Things to consider before you use chain wax Degreasing It's important to thoroughly degrease your chain before waxing, as any grease, including that on a new chain, will stop the wax adhering. You can use a commercial chain degreaser, but it's then important to thoroughly wash it off and dry your chain before waxing. Don't leave waxing too long afterwards either, as a bare chain is prone to rusting. An ultrasound bath may help the degreaser to penetrate the chain. Although you can usually top up your wax with a drip wax, you also need to degrease it again before reapplying hot wax or if it's got very dirty. A new hot wax treatment will require removing your chain from your bike, whereas a drip wax top-up shouldn't. Waxing Buying a pre-treated chain is definitely the easiest option, although it may not provide optimal low friction performance for long. You can usually top up with drip wax to extend the chain's useful life though. Drip wax lube is easier than hot waxing, although it may not be as durable. As with hot waxing, thorough preparation and degreasing of the chain is the key to effective application. You need to allow time for the wax carrier on your chain, usually water, to dry out, so your chain may need to be left overnight before it's ready to ride. Hot waxing is the trickiest option, although possibly more effective than drip lube. You need to get your wax to the right temperature and handle the hot wax carefully. You'll be left with a pot full of wax afterwards too, which you'll need to store. A thermostatically controlled bath such as Silca's may be a worthwhile investment. The alternative is to seal your chain with the wax in a polythene bag and dip it in a bath of hot water, which may be less messy. Source: https://www.cyclist.co.uk/buying-guides/best-chain-wax