Optimize specialises in wax chain lubrication, offering a range of hot wax and drip lubes. Optimize Chain Wax is the most affordable option in the line-up, yet it still delivers a very good performance and runs exceptionally clean, though its longevity is compromised in wet conditions or even light road spray.
> Buy now: Optimize Chain Wax for €12.60 from Optimize
Application is similar to other drip wax products, but it is crucial to ensure the chain is completely clean before use. All traces of oil or grease must be thoroughly removed, especially from a brand new chain.
Application
The application process is straightforward. The bottle features an excellent nozzle, allowing precise application directly to the chain rollers with minimal mess or waste. There’s no need to shake the bottle, as this can introduce air into the liquid, which isn’t good, but the bottle can be turned over to help mix any settled wax particles.
I found it very quick and easy to apply, and the nozzle is one of the best I’ve used on any chain lube bottle. Optimize Chain Wax is more fluid than some popular alternatives, such as Squirt and Smoove, and comes out of the bottle quickly with very little force needed. Unlike some other drip wax I did not attempt to drop onto every link, instead I applied the wax by backpedalling and targeting the lower part of the chain first, followed by the top side to ensure complete coverage. For the initial application, this process can be repeated, allowing five minutes between coats.
It is essential to allow the wax to dry fully, with a minimum of eight hours recommended, ideally overnight. This means a bit of planning is required, as it’s not suitable for a quick application before heading out on a ride.
Optimize advises reapplying the wax every 150-200km, or up to 300km in favourable conditions.
When it came time to re-wax, I cleaned the chain and reapplied it immediately, allowing it to dry overnight. Once dry, the chain took on a noticeably hard, waxy feel and required a few crank revolutions to spin freely. While not as firm as a hot wax lubricant, it dried significantly harder than any other drip wax I’ve tried, likely because of either a higher wax content or reduced water content in the formula.
Performance
In dry conditions, performance was excellent, regularly delivering over 100km of smooth, quiet operation, even on gravel and mountain bike rides. The chain stayed impressively silent and efficient, with just a slight increase in drivetrain noise the only hint of the need to reapply. I chose not to push the limits and run it until it was completely clear of wax, instead reapplying between rides the majority of the time.
In wet conditions – whether rain, heavy road spray, or puddle-filled off-road routes – longevity was significantly diminished. After the wettest rides, some only around 30km, the chain was obviously stripped of all wax. While this is expected behaviour from wax-based lubes, Optimize Chain Wax performed slightly below some I’ve used. After wet rides, it’s important to dry the chain thoroughly and reapply as soon as possible.
What did impress me was how clean the chain remained, even after multiple reapplications. It consistently looked like new, with only minimal build-up of dry, blackened wax, and what did remain was easily wiped away before the next application.
Optimize claims a full 100ml bottle should last 4,000-5,000km, though based on my usage and the frequency of reapplication, that figure seems rather optimistic. Around half that distance feels more realistic to me, unless you’re strictly riding road bikes in dry conditions.
Value
At €12.60 for 100ml (currently converting to £10.75), Optimize Chain Wax remains one of the most affordable wax-based chain lubes available. For comparison, Squirt is now £14.99 for 120ml (so around £11.99 for 100ml), and Smoove now £16.99 for the same volume (around £13.59 for 100ml).
Optimize does also offer more premium variants, including a graphite-infused option at €22.68 (~£20) and a graphene version priced at €58.82 (~£50), both for 100ml. Other high-end alternatives, such as Silca Super Secret, retail at £25 for 120ml.
Conclusion
Hot waxing a chain has grown in popularity, largely thanks to its promises of reduced friction and increased drivetrain longevity – I’m a fan! – but the process is undeniably time-consuming, even with shortcuts like dedicated machines or batch-prepping multiple chains. Optimize Chain Wax offers comparable cleanliness to hot waxing with a fraction of the time commitment, and despite its reduced longevity in wet weather it has become my go-to choice for general use across all bikes. While I would opt for hot wax for races or very long rides, Optimize Chain Wax is competitively priced and has proven to be an effective and impressively clean option for everyday riding.
> Buy now: Optimize Chain Wax for €12.60 from Optimize
Verdict
Clean, cost-effective wax lube that excels in dry conditions but falls short on wet weather durability
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Optimize Chain Wax
Size tested: 100ml
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Optimize says:
Our super dirt-repellent chain wax.
100ml (approx. 4,000km – 5,000km)
By using harder wax, dirt can hardly stick to it, and it also holds extremely strongly to the chain. No lumps or piles of wax!
The wax that lives up to its advertising! Simple, clean, quiet and fast!
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Optimize lists these technical specifications:
Contents: 100ml
Range: 250-300km range (less depending on weather and load) – Sufficient for approximately 4,000-5,000km per bottle
Additive: none.
Excellent nozzle that makes application easy to avoid wasting.
Excellent in dry conditions, with reasonable longevity, but doesn’t last well in the wet.
Reasonable in the dry, not so good in wet conditions, even if that is just heavy road spray.
Among the cheaper of the drip wax chain lube options.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It’s excellent in dry conditions, keeping the chain clean and quiet, though in wet conditions or road spray it would wear off in very little time.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
It kept the chain very clean, and is a match for hot wax products, also keeping the chain quiet. In dry conditions, both on and off-road, it works really well.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Any use in wet weather, or simply riding wet roads and encountering spray, reduces longevity significantly.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It’s cheaper than Squirt (£14.99 for 120ml) or Smoove (£16.99 for 125ml) based on current exchange rates, and it keeps the chain cleaner than both of those.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, to those who prefer wax-based chain lubes.
Use this box to explain your overall score
Overall I think it’s very good; it’s excellent in dry weather, keeping the chain very clean, but this is tempered by its poor longevity in any wet conditions.
About the tester
Age: 39 Height: 168 Weight: 61
I usually ride: My best bike is: Cannondale SystemSix
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Lots of gravel style riding
