 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Never waxed my own skis before, but my bro got some ski/board wax free with a Protest hoodie so I figure I may as well give that a go before I head out in January.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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For race and glide Holmenkol red. But brushing, good scraping and just having the temperature right helps.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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How effective is this type of wax at end of season? I note it says for colder conditions
I've always taken to ski shop to give a general wax
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I just got the cheapest wax I could find. This is how it was described:
"The Data Universal Alpine Fluoro Wax Set – (300g) Contains:
Unlike other foreign waxes the full range of Data waxes have the benefit of Fluoro additives!
GREEN *Best Seller*
Universal. Very versatile wax. Ideal when conditions will be unknown. A good training wax for all snow conditions. Hardening additives in the wax gives it long lasting properties. This is especially useful for the more aggressive snow found at indoor snow slopes. Popular with Nordic skiers as a glide wax. Best Selling Iron-On Wax. "
I never ski on indoor snow, but I thought I would try some wax and see how it compared to candle wax. To be honest I only read the part which said "Universal. Very versatile wax."
I will of course probably put a further layer of "not wax" or some other liquid wax on top. (maybe both as I still have some of both)
I do not think this will give me great speed, but it might protect the base of the ski better in most conditions.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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For me, Holmenkol Beta Red as well.
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Bigtipper, am I right in saying that you are skeptical about the benefits of waxing, or is that an unfair summary?
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Bigtipper, Try hot waxing with purple klister in comparison.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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frenchst, I would not say skeptical, more that I question the value for money factor in the different forms of wax available to your average recreational skier. The only way to see if there is any value in paying more for wax is to try it and see.
I guess it really depends on the skiing conditions, and how and where you ski. If you are going to be skiing over rocks regularly, then your base will get scratched and gouged and so will need waxing more frequently.
If you are waxing frequently anyway, then it should not bother you whether you use candle wax or more expensive wax. In fact you will have a preference for candle wax as it is cheaper.
If you ski on well manicured pistes, and your skis rarely get a scratch on the base, then perhaps candle wax is not required as you will not be waxing very often. However, the flip side of that coin is that waxing will not be required so frequently, so candle wax will probably suffice and last longer.
I just cannot see why it costs 10x the price for the same weight in candle wax as it does for ski wax. It probably is a volume issue, but the economics of it and the additives are not that expensive. There must be a huge profit margin!
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Bigtipper, I've seen the 'skiing over rocks' argument a little here but I'm not convinced that is where the argument lies (if I'm understanding it correctly, of course!) If we (literally) ski over rocks or rough terrain with light snow cover, our bases will get damaged whether we've waxed them with expensive Swix race wax or vanilla candle wax! To me, the argument should lie in whether or not candle wax would glide as well as ski wax and excluding the additives that repel water and reduce friction (enter bog-standard wax company drivel here) then I don't see how candle wax will have the same benefits as ski wax. In my view, not only would it last less time but you would lose the benefits of proper ski wax.
I do quite a lot of skiing on the "aggressive man-made snow" on the indoor slopes and I can certainly feel when my skis are dragging on their back bottom and need waxed (which happens reasonably often taking into account the amount of hours I get in and how sticky some uplift tracks can get!) Having tried some universal stuff, it's not as quick or as 'glidey' as, for example, a Holmenkol Red (that I've mentioned above) and neither last as long as Holmenkol's Indoor Wax (other indoor wax brands are available, to be very BBC.  )
So taking into account that more expensive waxes seem to glide better (from my own experiences), and more specialised waxes (i.e. Indoor) last longer, I don't see how candle wax would add any benefit other than to be cheaper. I doubt it glides as well or lasts as long. For the extra expense, I'd rather be more confident in the ability of my wax to a) glide and b) survive!
I'm tempted to try candle wax myself as a little tester. I'll get a strawberry variant and pretend that it's Holmenkol red.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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For fat skis, essential to wax well or you get overtaken by the bloke with the appalling hat on the long flats on the way home from your epic day, and who the F=== wants that?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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At the risk of doing a Spyderjon advert - I've used his recommended waxes - Dominator Zoom Lime Universal Wax & the purple base prep.
Are they any good? Well - the only comment I can make is I've been using them for several trips and I generally find my skis glide as well or slightly better than the others I ski with. Often most of them are on rental skis so maybe not quite as lovingly prepared as mine 
Having a universal wax makes the choice easy - didn't notice any great difference in performance over Christmas in 3V between the days when it was -15C and the day it was +6C.
They also seem to survive a weeks skiing OK especially if the snow is good.
Of course, I also give 'em a dose of Zardoz most days so maybe I'm just a marketers dream and I love the snake oil...
But it seems to work so I keep doing it!
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Gadge, Some racers stick a bit of Zardoz on before waxing, seems to help with the end of the week glide.
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You know it makes sense.
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Skiing on unwaxed skis is like driving around on flat tires.
Racers wax there skis every daily and thats for trainning, racing is a different story.
Learn to service your skis it takes little effort and will pay you back.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Gadge, I use exactly the same as you i.e. Dominator Purple Base Prep plus Universal Lime and a final topping of Zardoz. To be honest I don't notice much difference in the glide from when freshly waxed to when I can't be bothered after a week or two. But the bases seem to stay in great condition over a long period of time, so I keep using it. I've wondered about simply using Zardoz alone as a lazy compromise. Anyone gone down that route?
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Poster: A snowHead
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uktrailmonster, I use Notwax as a top up every day when I'm away. Keeps the wax going for a week but I still wouldn't leave it any longer without applying more. I'll think twice about using Notwax with skins though 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I find after a week the edges of the skis start to look a little dry (even with the Zardoz) so I always wax after a week. If I was lucky enough to be skiing for more than a week at a time I may have to put them in a shop
Interestingly - My OH's skis always go dry at the edges quicker than mine which I presume is 'cos she skids her turns more than I do (she's only been only been skiing 3 years) - anyone else noticied this?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Mine never seem to go dry... I do use Zardoz under the wax, and when I wax them I keep reheating them and ironing the wax back in for an hour or so before scraping and brushing. It really seems to saturate the bases. I then top up with the liquid each day, the bases are still slick after 6 days of heavy skiing.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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codyaitch, Datawax has it listed as a top-up on the go (yellow for warmer, wetter snow and red for colder stuff.) Would work as a travel wax too I'm sure.
Can't beat a hot wax.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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FAQ
Found it gives a helluva good glide compared to my previous experience on a 'universal' wax. As such, I've stuck it ever since and no, I'm not on commission from Holmenkol. 
