Optimize Graphite Hot Wax is the most affordable of such options from the German manufacturer, and comes with impressive claims of 800-1,000km longevity. It requires no special application method and kept the drivetrain exceptionally clean – even for a hot chain wax – but failed to come close to that claimed lifespan, even when used in dry, desert-like conditions.
> Buy now: Optimize Graphite Hot Wax for €33.61 from Optimize
If you’re familiar with hot wax as a chain lubricant you’ll find Optimize Graphite straightforward to use – it doesn’t require any special application process. Optimize offers a heated ultrasonic cleaner as an optional extra – for £100 – but you can use a slow cooker, which is the more common method. The ultrasonic cleaner automatically manages the temperature, but otherwise, Optimize recommends heating the wax to 90°C.

The process involves submerging the chain in the heated wax for 10 minutes, allowing it to reach the same temperature. You then turn the heat off, and remove the chain from the hot wax once a crust begins to form on the surface. After cooling completely – around two hours – the chain links should be firm and can be broken apart before installation.
Optimize advises a 50km break-in period, after which the chain should run smoothly. While this may sound time-consuming, it is comparable to other hot wax options.
The 375g box of wax is said to be sufficient for 20-30 applications, which seems reasonable based on prior experience.



As with all wax-based lubricants, starting with a clean chain is essential. I used a Connex 12WAX chain, which was not new and had been waxed. To prepare it, I boiled the chain in water to remove the old wax, dried it completely, and then used Optimize’s ultrasonic wax cooker to apply the Graphite wax.
Performance
The first ride with the wax was during the Atlas Mountain Race, an off-road event in Morocco. The wax was broken in and run to a point where the chain rotated smoothly, but this took just a few kilometres, far from the 50km run-in period that Optimize suggests.
Conditions were ideal – dry weather with a mix of dusty tracks and some tarmac roads. However, after just 150km, the chain began to be noisy, indicating the wax was wearing off. By 190km, the chain had become very noisy and required a top-up with Optimize Graphite Drip Lube.
Subsequent rides in the UK, after a full clean, riding in mostly dry but cooler conditions, yielded similar results. On a gravel bike, the wax lasted less than 200km in total. Had I been riding in wet weather or on damp roads and tracks, it would likely have worn out even faster.
> What’s the best way to lubricate a bike chain?
The lifespan isn’t far from what I would expect from other hot wax options, where 200km on a gravel bike would be reasonable, and I would typically expect around 400km on dry tarmac roads. That makes the claimed 800km lifespan seem inflated, and while Optimize does not specify how it was tested, I would not expect such results outside of lab conditions. Providing a figure of 800-1,000km sets expectations that are unlikely to be met in real-world conditions.
Value & conclusion
At around £29 for a 375g box (£12.90 per 100g), Optimize Graphite is slightly pricier than other hot wax options. For comparison, Silca Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax costs £40 for 500g (£8 per 100g), while Molten Speed Wax is £25.99 for 520g (£4.99 per 100g).
Optimize Graphite is a very clean hot wax with an application process identical to other leading options, but its durability is disappointing against the bold longevity claims of 800-1,000km. Even in dry conditions, it struggled to last beyond 200km, making it a less compelling choice if you’re seeking long-lasting performance.
> Buy now: Optimize Graphite Hot Wax for €33.61 from Optimize
Verdict
Clean-running wax, but falls well short of longevity claims
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Optimize Graphite hot wax
Size tested: 375g
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 graphite chain wax offers a very good price-performance ratio. The advantages are low friction, low costs and very good running properties!
Perfect for daily touring as it protects the components and keeps the chain extremely clean. There is no reason to use oil!
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Optimize lists:
375gr. +/- 5gr. => 20-30 applications
(the smaller the pot, the more applications possible)
800-1000km mileage
PFAS free
Even in dry weather, the durability was well below the claimed lifespan, although it is similar to what I expect from other brands.
Not bad value, but slightly pricier than rivals.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
While the wax kept the drivetrain clean, it didn’t come close to the durability claims.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Very clean running and ability to top up with drip wax options.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
It didn’t last as long as you might expect if you go off the claims, despite the ability to use it in dry conditions.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
At £29 for a 375g box (£12.90 per 100g), Optimize Graphite is slightly pricier than other hot wax options: Silca Secret Chain Blend is £40 for a 500g bag, which works out at £8 per 100g, while Molten Speed Wax is slightly cheaper at £25.99 for 520g (£4.99 per 100g).
Did you enjoy using the product? It was OK.
Would you consider buying the product? No, I’d go for the cheaper Molten Speed Wax.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe, but don’t expect to get close to the claimed distances.
Use this box to explain your overall score
While Optimize Graphite Wax does a similar job to others, it didn’t get close to the optimistic lifespan claims, even when used in dry and dusty conditions. Overall, it’s good – just don’t expect it to last as long as Optimize claims.
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




