I’m putting the most popular tree flocking powders in a head-to-head competition to find out which one is really the best for flocking a Christmas tree.
I just love a beautiful flocked Christmas tree. I flocked my first Christmas tree six years ago and since then, I’ve flocked all kinds of wreaths, trees, and garlands.
Up until this point, I’ve always used the same flocking powder for all my projects: SnoFlock.
I’ve had great results and I love it, so I just keep using it. But I started to wonder, what if there is an even better option out there?
So I decided to put it to the test. I want to find out once and for all – what is the best snow flocking powder?
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SnoFlock vs. Sno-Bond Flocking Powder
The two contenders in this test are my beloved SnoFlock and Flock in a Box, which is a flocking powder made by Sno-Bond.
I chose these two flocking powders to test because they are by far the most popular on Amazon and they both have very strong reviews.
I purposefully am not testing any flocking sprays today because they just aren’t that great for flocking a Christmas tree. They’re good for adding some fake snow to your windows, but they do not give you that realistic textured flocking that you want on your Christmas tree.
For this test, I purchased a five pound box of each flock and bought two identical mini Christmas trees to test them on.
I flocked one tree with the SnoFlock and the other tree with the Sno-Bond Flock in a Box. For comparison sake, I tried to flock each tree as equally as possible.
To figure out which flocking is truly the best, I’m breaking down my test into the categories of Packaging, Price and Availability, Ease of Use, Appearance, and Adhesion/Mess Factor.
Packaging
Both flocks arrived in a box with a sealed bag of flocking powder inside.
The only real difference in the packaging is the SnoFlock comes in a resealable bag, which makes it really easy to store any extra flock for future projects. Otherwise they are pretty even.
Winner: Tie
Availability and Cost
Both SnoFlock and Sno-Bond can be purchased on Amazon.
SnoFlock is available in both a 2 lb box and a 5 lb. box,.
If you are planning to flock a full 7.5′ tree, two pounds is going to be cutting it close. You could get away with using a 2 lb. box if you are planning to flock your tree a bit more lightly, but if you like a heavily flocked tree without a lot of green showing, you will need a 5 lb. box.
Also, after having used SnoFlock for quite a few different projects over the past several years, I know they tend to sell out pretty regularly, especially the closer we get to Christmas.
Sno-Bond is also available in a few different sizes. Currently, you can buy a 2 lb box, a 5 lb box, or a 25 lb box.
Like pretty much everything else, the more you buy, the better deal you get.
The 25 lb box of Sno-Bond Flock is a phenomenal deal. (It’s not that much more than the cost of a 5 lb box!) If you are planning on flocking ALL the things, this is definitely the way to go.
Right now (Nov. 2023), a 5 lb. box of Sno-Bond is only a few dollars cheaper than a 5 lb. box of SnoFlock.
After tracking this for a few Christmas seasons, I’ve found that the sizes available as well as the prices seem to change often. At times Sno-Bond is cheaper and at other times SnoFlock is a better deal, so you may want to check prices before purchasing.
But the 25 lb. box of Sno-Bond is typically, by far, the best deal of all.
Winner: Sno-Bond
Ease of Use
Honestly, they both went on the exact same way and both were very quick and easy to use.
Winner: Tie
Appearance
Out of the box, both flocking powders appear very similar. They both come as a lightweight white powder with iridescent flecks mixed in to add a bit of sparkle.
After flocking, both trees turned out beautifully!
They each look very realistic up close. They both have a fluffy texture, a little bit of shimmer from the iridescent flakes, and just a bit of green peeking through just like a real tree.
Basically they look just like the beautiful trees that you can buy.
The only real difference I can see is the SnoFlock appears to have adhered a bit more thickly. As I mentioned, I did my best to flock them both evenly by flocking them as heavily as possible. But of course, I’m not perfect so human error could have played a part.
Regardless, they both look beautiful and the difference in the amount of flocking is miniscule.
Winner: SnoFlock (barely)
Adhesion/Mess Factor
One of the more annoying parts of a flocked tree is when the flocking doesn’t adhere as well as it should and ends up all over your house. A bit of mess is inevitable with any flocking, but I wanted to see if there was a noticeable difference between the two flocks.
I waited a full week after flocking each tree and then put them to the test. My goals was to see how well the flocking stuck to the trees and how big a mess it made when disturbed.
I put a piece of black posterboard under each tree and then gave the branches of each tree a really good shake.
The SnoFlock tree definitely lost a bit more flocking than the Sno-Bond tree.
Winner: Sno-Bond
Final Verdict: Which is the Best Tree Flocking Powder?
So which one is the best? Well, I mean, honestly, they are both pretty fabulous.
Both flocks are packaged well and are easy to apply. And both flocks do exactly what they are supposed to and look beautiful.
I was able to flock the tree a bit more thickly with the SnoFlock flocking powder for a slightly nicer, snowier look.
But the Sno-Bond flocking powder is available at a better price and didn’t come off quite as easily.
Based on all of these factors, if I have to choose just one best flocking powder, I would have to choose Sno-Bond.
But having said that, I truly feel confident both recommending and using either of these flocking powders in the future. They truly both give beautiful results.
In fact, I made a video of this flocking test and declared SnoFlock the slight winner before finishing my research on the current availability of each flock! So yes, I know that is pretty anticlimactic for a head-to-head test of which is the best, but they are just both really great products!
And even though, this isn’t a dramatic conclusion, I still think this test was really valuable. In the past, there have been times I wanted to buy more SnoFlock but it was out of stock and I wasn’t confident enough to buy a whole box of something untried. Now I know Sno-Bond really is just as good.
Winner: Sno-Bond Flock in a Box (by a hair)
Watch the Video: SnoFlock vs. Sno-Bond
If you’re looking for more details on all things flocking, I’ve got you covered with the posts below:
- DIY Flocked Christmas Tree – walks you step-by-step through how to flock a Christmas tree.
- How my Flocked Christmas Tree Looks 5 Years Later – answers all kinds of questions including how much mess is actually involved.
- 15 Gorgeous Flocked Christmas Trees for Any Budget – for when you don’t feel like going the DIY route
- Easy DIY Flocked Wreath – if you want to start with something quick and easy
- 23 Beautiful Flocked Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas – all kinds of gorgeous inspiration for decorating your flocked tree
I’d love for you to pin this post on Pinterest!
David says
Hello Carrie & Readers, David here from Seasons Reflection Co. manufactures and sellers of SnoFlock® Brand Flocking Powder.
That you for taking all of this time to make such a great and through post comparing the two varieties of flocking powders—I found myself reading the article a few times last year to gain insight into your comments on how we can better reformulate our SnoFlock for the future.
Our competitors do sell a good product, however it’s been the same formulation for decades as it’s made for a specific use with machine applied properties. With SnoFlock, we changed the way we looked at the industry by being the first to make and sell genuine flocking for use specifically in the home and without the need for specialized application guns or machines. We purposefully formulate and manufacture our powder for use on fresh cut and artificial decor whilst applying them at home. We’ve been changing our formula almost every year as we absorb feedback such as your own to better our product.
Our new formula, Version 202.1, is super easy to apply and actually gets stronger in the humidity of the winter months than our previous blend—and we can’t wait until you see what we have in the pipeline for the future of SnoFlock.
A warm thank you for all of your efforts Carrie!
To you and all,
Have a wonderful Holiday Season.
Carrie says
Thanks so much for your response and the info! I can’t wait to see what SnoFlock does in the future!
sarah gourley says
is either flocking safe for animals?
Carrie says
I don’t have pets but from the research I have done, flocking is nontoxic but it shouldn’t be consumed by people or animals. So if you think there is a chance your animals may eat some, I would skip it.