Winter Frequently Asked Questions

Waxable or waxless—what is the difference? Do they both need wax?

You can tell the difference between these two categories of skis by simply turning them over and exmaining the bases. Waxable skis are entirely smooth from tip to tail, while waxless versions have an obivous pattern along the middle third of the base length. The difference lies in how each type achieves grip.

A waxable ski requires the frequent application of special nordic kick wax to that middle third zone, selected by examining the snow condition and temperature of the day. Chosen properly, the kick wax will bind to the snow when the ski is weighted for excellent grip but release and slide smoothly during the glide phase. Waxable skis will always provide better overall performance—better grip that translates to a more powerful glide—than comparable waxless models with the understanding that they require a bit more effort to care for. Please note that there is nothing scary about waxing and wax selection, it’s just a step that some folks choose to leave out.

Waxless skis grip the snow like the tread of a boot, deforming the crystals and creating a stable platform to push off from. Every company has their own pattern, but most bear some resemblence in form to snake skin, designed to slide forward but not back. Since it is this pattern that provides grip, kick wax is not used on waxless skis. This makes them easier to maintain; if there’s snow, just step in to the bindings and go. The choice between the two is entirely dependent on your own preferences and nordic skiing goals. Little tidbit: There is no such thing as a “waxless” skate ski; skate skis have glide zones along their full length.

A helpful analogy is to equate waxable skis with standard automobile transmissions, which allow the driver to select the gear and compare waxless skis to automatics, where shift-and-forget convienence comes at the price of lower gas mileage.

Though waxless skis do not need kick wax, all skis need to be glide waxed. Alpine skis and snowboards need glide wax, but it’s even more important for nordic skis because gravity is not always on your side. The waxless designation only refers to the freedom from applying kick wax. The easiset solution is to purchase liquid glide wax and simply rub it in every 20 miles or so. Check out the next section for more specific waxing information or come visit us at the shop for wax recommendations and technique.

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Bike: Johnny's 10 Bike Tips Local MTB Rides Ski & Board: How-To Waxing Guide Winter Ski/Board F.A.Q. 06-07 Ski Gallery		Winter Frequently Asked Questions back to FAQ Waxable or waxless—what is the difference? Do they both need wax? You can tell the difference between these two categories of skis by simply turning them over and exmaining the bases. Waxable skis are entirely smooth from tip to tail, while waxless versions have an obivous pattern along the middle third of the base length. The difference lies in how each type achieves grip. A waxable ski requires the frequent application of special nordic kick wax to that middle third zone, selected by examining the snow condition and temperature of the day. Chosen properly, the kick wax will bind to the snow when the ski is weighted for excellent grip but release and slide smoothly during the glide phase. Waxable skis will always provide better overall performance—better grip that translates to a more powerful glide—than comparable waxless models with the understanding that they require a bit more effort to care for. Please note that there is nothing scary about waxing and wax selection, it’s just a step that some folks choose to leave out. Waxless skis grip the snow like the tread of a boot, deforming the crystals and creating a stable platform to push off from. Every company has their own pattern, but most bear some resemblence in form to snake skin, designed to slide forward but not back. Since it is this pattern that provides grip, kick wax is not used on waxless skis. This makes them easier to maintain; if there’s snow, just step in to the bindings and go. The choice between the two is entirely dependent on your own preferences and nordic skiing goals. Little tidbit: There is no such thing as a “waxless” skate ski; skate skis have glide zones along their full length. A helpful analogy is to equate waxable skis with standard automobile transmissions, which allow the driver to select the gear and compare waxless skis to automatics, where shift-and-forget convienence comes at the price of lower gas mileage. Though waxless skis do not need kick wax, all skis need to be glide waxed. Alpine skis and snowboards need glide wax, but it’s even more important for nordic skis because gravity is not always on your side. The waxless designation only refers to the freedom from applying kick wax. The easiset solution is to purchase liquid glide wax and simply rub it in every 20 miles or so. Check out the next section for more specific waxing information or come visit us at the shop for wax recommendations and technique. back to FAQ