Grip wax

More info/instructions for grip wax (hard)

🏷️ XCSkiGuru’s guide to grip wax (classic kick zone)

1) Clean & mask: Clean the kick zone (typically from behind the binding toward the heel ~50–65 cm, ski- and skier-dependent). Mask the glide zone if needed.
2) Light sanding: Lightly roughen with P100–150 (tip → tail). Remove dust.
3) Base: Apply a thin layer of hard base wax (or a very thin base klister on icy/hard tracks). Cork smooth.
4) Layering: Choose grip wax for the conditions. Apply 2–6 thin layers using cross or stripe technique.
5) Cork between layers: Light cork after each layer – evens the surface and boosts durability/sensitivity.
6) Fine-tune zone: Slipping → extend 2–5 cm backward or add a thin layer. Draggy → shorten at the front and thin the surface.
7) Weather shift: Warming → slightly softer top layer. Cooling → harder top layer.
8) Test: Try on a gentle climb: solid kick without “sticking”, smooth glide. Add a very thin adjustment layer if needed.

Grip wax or klister?

Grip wax (hard): New/dry/cold snow (about +2…−20 °C) when crystals are sharp and snow isn’t wet or icy.
Klister: Coarse, icy, hard or wet snow (0 °C and warmer, spring conditions). Klister fills and adheres better.

Selection tips (grip wax):

Temperature: Start mid-range. Draggy → go colder/harder; slipping → go warmer/softer.
Crystal: New, sharp → harder; rounded/old → softer is fine.
Number of layers: Cold/dry 3–4 thin; near zero 5–6 well-corked.
Combos: “Cold base + slightly warmer top” often works around zero.

Troubleshooting:

Icing/scratching: Wipe off snow, re-cork, add a touch softer top or thin antistatic/topping.
Grabby: Shorten the front of the zone, cork more firmly, add a bit harder wax on top.
Slipping: Extend the zone backward, add one thin layer or move one step softer.

Quick checklist: Clean & sand → Base → 2–6 thin layers → Cork between → Test → Adjust.

Glide powders are race-level finishes for maximum glide and durability, especially in wet, dirty or fast snow. All powders we stock are fluorine-free per current standards.

At XCSkiGuru you’ll find powders from Swix, Vauhti, Maplus and Toko — best on top of a hot-waxed, well-brushed base.

❄️ Condensed powder guide: Hot wax → dust a thin layer → fix with iron (8–10 s/ski) or roto-cork → cool 10–20 min → fiber cloth → light scrape → brush (brass/fine steel → plenty of nylon) → (topper) → go ski.