Can you use alpine ski wax on Nordic skis?

By Casey Kirt|February 17th, 2021|Uncategorized|Comments Off. A question we get all the time is “Can I use Nordic ski wax on my alpine ski's?” The answer is Yes, yes, a hundred times yes. In classic Nordic skiing we use two types of wax, kick and glide.

Can you use ski wax on cross-country skis?

Only waxable classic cross-country skis should be waxed at the grip zone (underneath your foot). Fishscale or skin skis don't need any grip wax. Grip wax on classic cross-country skis is all about a compromise between grip and glide. Applying this kind of wax is quite technical and needs to be done properly.

Do Nordic skis need wax?

Traditional striding cross country skis will need regular waxing on the center third of the base to enable them to perform properly on the snow. Wax will keep dirt out of the base, prevent the base from drying out and will keep your skis gliding fast. Some cross country skis, however, are waxless.

How do you wax Nordic skin skis?

Glide waxing your classic cross-country skis

To wax the glide zone, you need to follow the same steps as for skate skis, but don't apply wax to the grip zone: Clean the ski base by brushing it. Apply the wax and iron on the two glide zones. Let the wax cool down for at least 10 minutes.

Can you use any wax for skis?

Fluorocarbon Ski & Snowboard Waxes

For most recreational use, hydrocarbon or low-fluoro waxes are a good choice.

33 related questions found

What can I use instead of ski wax?

The Best Ski Wax Alternatives

Look No Wax.
Phantom Permanent Waxless Glide.
Faststik Revolutionary Ski Wax Alternative.

What kind of wax is used for skis?

For recreational skiers and boarders, a basic hydrocarbon wax is usually suitable. For a step up in glide, go with a low-fluorocarbon wax. Racers often use expensive high-fluorocarbon waxes for the greatest glide.

What is kick wax?

Grip wax (also called "kick wax") provides on-snow traction for cross-country skiers, as they stride forward using classic technique.

Do skin skis need to be waxed?

As with every other cross-country ski, skin skis need to be glide waxed regularly tip and tail. In addition, if you think about the conditions that they really come into their own (see also – warmer), when everyone else is skiing with Klister and soft waxes you are skiing with a mop.

Do waxless cross-country skis need wax?

Should you wax your waxless xc skis? Yes. You need to regularly apply glide wax to the tips and tails of your waxless cross-country skis. If you don't use glide wax, you run the risk of not getting any glide while skiing.

How often should you wax your Nordic skis?

If you ever see the bases of your skis looking slightly white the base has oxidised, and no amount of waxing can return it. To prevent that, make sure you wax your skis at least every 4-5 times you ski.

What temperature should it be to wax skis?

Warm rated (Red or Yellow) hydrocarbon is best above 25 F. It is a great wax to ski on but is also used for conditioning a new base and is the best wax for hot-wax-scrape-cleaning. Cold rated (Green or Blue) hydrocarbon is best below 25 F.

What kind of wax do you use for cross-country skis?

Higher performance classic skis and skate skis will perform best with an iron-in glide wax. These help keep the bases healthy, and will provide the best glide. If a wax bench and an iron is out of your budget, you can also apply a rub on glide wax.

Can you put kick wax on skate skis?

Glide wax is applied to the entire base of skate style skis. It is applied to the glide zone (the tips and tails) of waxable and no-wax classic skis. Kick wax is only necessary for waxable classic cross-country skis. It is applied solely to the kick zone, also referred to as the wax pocket, of the ski.

How many layers of wax do you need for cross-country skis?

Two layers of kick wax may be enough, but three is even better. Now you are ready to go skiing. Swix wax kit with synthetic foam cork. (one that is designed for the next higher temperature range).

How long do Nordic skis last?

The average skier replaces their skis every 8 years but your skis peak performance diminishes after 100-125 full days of use – that's five years if you ski 20 days a year.

How do you apply kick wax to skis?

Klisters tend to be applied in single layers by dabbing them onto the ski straight out of the tube. The klister is heated using an iron, heat gun or torch and then smoothed out on the base using an iron or fingers. With all kick wax applications, it is important to keep the wax as smooth as possible.

Can you use car wax on skis?

What you need is a wax that will work on the plastic base of the ski, is designed to work in very cold temperatures, and stay on even with abrasion (such as you get when skiing), so I wouldn't use a car wax.

Does liquid ski wax work?

Liquid glide waxes are really good. We love them. Not only are they convenient and easy to apply, we believe they may be superior to melted wax as far as base penetration into the ski, as the wax is suspended in a solvent.

What happens if you never wax your skis?

Over time, without wax, the base of a ski or board will start to dry out and whiten, almost like the black is fading. As it continues to dry, it shrinks. In extreme cases, the base can shrink away from your edges, making them prone to blowing out of the ski on a rock or hard ice.

Does ski wax dry out?

Cold weather will speed up the deterioration of your wax job and if you go a few days or weeks between skiing sessions, it will cause your skis to dry out, requiring you do have them waxed once more.