Snow ski wax protects your skis and improves their performance. Cross-country skiing typically requires grip wax to help skiers propel themselves forward, while downhill and recreational skiers typically use glide wax which enables them to move easily over snow. There are different kinds of waxes within each category. The technicians at your local ski shop can help you pick the right wax for your specific needs.
Grip Wax
Grip wax includes hard wax and klisters. According to Nordic Ski Source, hard wax is used primarily on crystalline or new snow, and klisters are used when the snow is wet or transformed. Transformed snow is snow that has melted and then refroze, and is partly ice. For each type, there is a color-coding system to determine which wax to use based on the outside temperature. Skiwax.org states that grip wax is usually applied to the kick zone of the skis, which is the middle of the ski under the foot. This allows you to better grip the snow and go forward.
Glide Wax
Glide wax includes four types of wax: hydrocarbon, low fluorinated, high fluorinated and pure fluoro. This type of wax is used to help glide the skis properly along the film of water between the skis and the snow, says Skiwax.org. Glide wax types are chosen depending on the snow type, temperature and humidity, states Nordic Ski Source. In addition to helping the skis glide well along the snow, these waxes also help protect the skis from dirt, oxidation and abrasion.
Universal Wax
A universal wax may be a good choice if you are a recreational skier looking for a one-step, simple ski wax. According to REI.com, universal glide wax works in all temperatures; there is also a two-wax system that uses one wax for above-freezing temperatures and another for below-freezing conditions.
Binder Wax
This wax is applied before the hard grip wax to prevent the grip wax from being rubbed off easily, says REI.com. Binder wax should be applied to the kick zone and on either side of the groove. Binder wax is not a necessity, but can beneficial especially in coarse snow.
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