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review

Squirt Low Temperature Chain Lube

7
£13.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Great for the conditions it's designed for, not so much if things turn wet
Keeps your chain clean and smooth running
100% biodegradable
Washes off easily in wet conditions
Weight: 
139g

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As the name suggests, Squirt Low Temperature Chain Lube looks after your chain in cold conditions, especially when they are also dry. Riding in the wet will see it require pre-ride applications near constantly, though, which means it can work out pricey in the long run.

Check out our guide to the best bike chain lubes for more options.

I reviewed Squirt's Long Lasting Chain Lube back in the summer, and overall I was pretty impressed. This Low Temperature version follows a similar theme, being a water-based, 100% biodegradable blend, but with the formula tweaked to be at its most productive when temperatures are below freezing.

First up, it needs to be applied to a completely clean, degreased chain for it to adhere, so that is your first job. Even the grease on a brand new chain needs to be removed, but once that is done, application is actually relatively simple. Just drip feed it onto the links of the chain, as sparingly as possible as it is a very runny liquid and if you overload the chain then you'll waste a lot of it on the floor.

Before your first ride it'll need to solidify and turn 'waxy', so you'll need to be organised and get it done the night before at least. If you can leave the bike outside in the shed or garage that'll speed up the process. The first couple of times did it I left the bike in the hallway so that it was ready to go first thing in the morning, and it was only just about dry before I left.

During testing we had a couple of periods here in the South West where the thermometer barely went above freezing both day and night, and this was the ideal conditions for the lube.

Apart from the cold, the roads were relatively dry, the only moisture being the residue left over from the salt that had gone down. With little road spray, the Squirt remained waxy and in situ, the small amount of spray from the roads being easy to wipe off so I could keep the chain clean.

In conditions like this I was probably reapplying it every 10 days or so, about every 150 to 175 miles.

If the roads are wet, though, and the temperatures start to creep above mid-single digits, the lube does tend to wash off quite easily, making reapplication times around half of that.

Value

Priced at £13.99 for a 120ml bottle, it's £1 more than the standard Squirt, and about 50p more than Bike Medicine's Purple Extreme Synthetic Lubricant which performed reasonably well in similar cold and dry conditions.

We were very impressed with Bat Chain Lube, though, when we tested it in all kinds of conditions, and it costs £8.99 for a similarly sized bottle.

Conclusion

If you ride regularly in very cold and dry conditions, this Squirt lube is a very good choice. It stays put on the chain for a reasonable number of miles, and as long as you are careful when applying it you shouldn't see much wastage. In changeable conditions, though, it won't last long.

Verdict

Great for the conditions it's designed for, not so much if things turn wet

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Squirt Low Temperature Chain Lube

Size tested: 120 ml

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?

Squirt says, "Squirt Low-Temp Chain Lube is a low temperature lube for use in very cold conditions. Lube that thickens or hardens in cold conditions causes more drag in the drive train, resulting in less efficient usage of power. Squirt Low Temp Lube has a modified congealing point, allowing it to lube optimally in these temperatures, keeping your chain quiet and clean, with long lasting durability."

It's a good lube for cold conditions, but its use could be limited in UK winters because of the wet.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Squirt lists these features:

Promotes a clean, smooth-running chain that repels dirt.

Improved shifting and no chain-suck

Extends the life of your drivetrain

Increased drivetrain efficiency upto 5 watts

100% biodegradable

Easy to apply

100% biodegradable

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

For the conditions it's specified to cope with, it does a good job.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

If the roads are dry it provides a long-lasting barrier.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It washes off quickly if the roads turn wet.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's around the same price as many waxy style lubes, although wet lubes suitable for a range of conditions can be found for less.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes, for cold and dry spells of weather.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

If the conditions you are likely to see are cold and dry then the Squirt lube works very well indeed, and I got some good mileage out of it. In the changeable conditions of a UK winter, though, you'll need other solutions in your toolbox.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

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: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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3 comments

Avatar
ChuckSneed | 12 months ago
1 like

This review doesn't address the whole point of the product. Is it better in colder weather?

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 12 months ago
0 likes

Been using normal squirt this winter frozen water or liquid water seems to make no difference to it, bar a bit more frequent application if the chain is submerged. 
Not sure why this is needed. 

Avatar
huntswheelers | 12 months ago
0 likes

I've used Squirt for a number of years and yes it's a decent chain lube, however not so good in the wet..... however.... recently I have been using FlowerPower Wax....and I fine that is much better all round and doesn't easily wash off in the wet plus is really good for gravel biking and long grass bridleways too. 

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