What type of MTB chain lube do you use: Wet, dry, or wax?

Tell us which type of chain lube you use for your local mountain bike trail conditions.

By Jeff Barber
August 9, 2026

19 comments

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A close-up image of a person's hand applying lubricant to a bicycle chain using a yellow and black lubricant applicator. The background is blurred, focusing on the chain links, which show a slight sheen from the lubricant being applied.

There are a lot of choices when it comes to mountain bike chain lube, and over time most riders will develop a preference. Broadly speaking, there are three basic lube choices: wet, dry, or wax. Most of us choose which type of lube to use based on our usual riding conditions, but even dry trails get wet sometimes, and rainy locations see dry spells. With that in mind, we want to know which type of lube you default to.

What’s your go-to brand of lube? Tell us what it is and why in the comments below!

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A man and a woman are working together to adjust a mountain bike inside a van. The woman is holding the bike's handlebar while the man is tightening a component. Both are outdoors in a sunny environment, with tools and bicycle parts visible in the background.

Lubes & Cleaners

MTB Lube Theory: Which Oil or Grease Goes Where? We Asked a World Cup Mechanic

Two bottles of Boeshield T-9 biodegradable bicycle lubricant, one small (1 oz) and one large (4 oz), are shown in focus, set against a blurred background of a mountain bike and autumn foliage. The labels indicate the product cleans, lubricates, and protects while repelling dirt and dust. The bike features Maxxis tires.

19 Comments

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Rockpicker Missouri // 2022
Aug 9, 2026

I've tried many but have settled on Silca Super Secret Chain Lube. The whole cleaning/stripping system is a bit expensive but all you really need is a clean chain and the lube. Works well in wet or dry.

4 reply

SkiBikeHike Alberta // 2025
Aug 10, 2026

I did my first couple chains stripping with alcohol, mineral spirits etc and while a bit of work it did the job. Have now done a couple with StripChip and that's definitely the easier way to go, for a few extra bucks. Not sure I'd stay with wax if I rode in the wet often, given the lesser degree of corrosion protection, but otherwise very happy with it.

1 reply

mtssea North Carolina // 2021
Aug 13, 2026

Been using Squirt wax on an ebike chain (and all others) since early 2024 - western NC so... pretty moist much of the year and I'm gettting about 1250 miles per chain for the ebike. I just wax every other ride, avg 17-20 miles per ride 3-4x a week. Zero corrosion at all. Seems like for a shorter bike year in your area (?) you'd have any issues.

0 reply

ZipHead South Carolina // 2015
Aug 9, 2026

I've used Muc-Off dry lube for a couple years on all my bikes, rain or shine. Seems to work ok.

3 reply

Year 36 for me and my 2nd & 3/4 year on Squirt wax lube...won't touch anything else now. No more wet lube hash-pipe crud or dry lube endess washing / reapplicaions.

The sad partt is I loved chain-pig cleaning, but now my chains are never dirty b/c he wax just sheds everything - just hose it off if diry, dry, and wax every other ride. I'm getting about 1250 miles for ebike chains and am at 1700 miles on an enduro bike chain and only just now hit .5 wear. This western NC with mostly long grave / old log road climbs and Big Ivy / Pisgah / Bent Ck (etc) style trails so prob 85-90% of time & chain use is just getting to the drops - no much tech c limbing at all.

2 reply

thebadpixel Delaware // 2022
Aug 12, 2026

Been using White Lightning for about as long as they've been making it.

Timkennedy Georgia // 2015
Aug 9, 2026

I have been using rock and roll gold for about 10 or 12 years and always had excellent results.

dlawson 2018
Aug 10, 2026

Same here.

jedhassell73 California // 2026
Aug 10, 2026

I was using RocknRoll Gold for the past year. Seemed to work great but had to apply it every ride. Switched to Squirt wax lube. Still best to apply every ride but I have done 2 rides with very little chain noise. However, it does build up a little on the front ring.

xcountry_rider 2010
Aug 10, 2026

I switched to Squirt a couple years ago. I used to clean the factory lube off of chain on first application. Now I just apply over factory lube. I only apply every 2-5 rides. I go on sound. When I start to hear that dry chain sound. I also live in a very dry dusty environment. My closest trails are like talcum powder. Squirt seems to last the best. Another thing I have noticed is how long I get out of chains. They seem to last exponentially longer.

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Squirt.pdf

Not the easiest read, but the quick summary is that Squirt seems to be very efficient but actually can have a hard time penetrating until a few applications, leading to high initial wear. I used it for years and wondered why I could only get a season out of a chain despite not riding a ton. Switched to Silca's system a couple years ago and have seen a multi-fold increase in chain life.

landonarkens Wisconsin // 2019
Aug 10, 2026

I dunk my chains in hot wax. Pretty cool to see some photos of this happening in World Cup xc pits too.

Andy Donahue 2026
Aug 10, 2026

I love Formula 100 Fast Wax, so clean, quiet chain..it’s new, this year, they have bomb dry lube too too.

Baureo Germany // 2021
Aug 11, 2026

I use Oil Of Rohloff and I apply it on top of the chain at the cassette. That way it more easily seeps into the rollers when the chain twists thought the pulley wheels at the derailleur as opposed to being collected and build up on the chain ring when applied on the inside of the chain after the rear mech. Also you can use the seat stay as a hand rest for precise application.
Most important bit of lubrication with oil is to best apply it the night before a ride and wipe of the excess on the morning of a ride.
With that practice the lubricant lasts 400 to 500km in dry conditions without any noise.
Also Oil Of Rohloff is biodegradable and last very long. At about 7000 to 8000km riding per year the 1l bottle I bought in 2013 still is 2/3 full.

~Mountain Bike Addict~ Colorado // 2008
Aug 9, 2026

I use Ride it Slick

Agent86Minus British Columbia // 2021
Aug 11, 2026

Lube: Wolf Tooth WT-1, applied sparingly roller-by-roller. Consumption: less than 2oz/year.

Clean: Chemical Guys microfibre towel with Simple Green diluted 1+4.

SRAM XX-1 chain (hard chromed).

Frequency: every 300-500 metres of climbing (e-mtn bike).

Drivetrain life: over 100,000 metres.

Credit: Andrew Major, NSMB.com.

joeleejr Georgia // 2021
3 weeks ago

Silca wax. What makes it easy to do is having two chains in rotation … and an ultrasonic cleaner.

Kirk Fromm 2026
Aug 13, 2026

There should be a distinction between drip applied wax and hot-dip wax. Very different performance and longevity, with hot-dipped being way superior.

Philippe Beaulieu 2026
Aug 10, 2026

Wet during winter, dry during summer, unless a know there will be mud, then wet.

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