What Ski Wax Do You Buy?

dakine rub on $15

First off the most fundamental question you need to ask is: what is the base material of my ski?

If you have a lower end ski, it will have an extruded base and hot waxing this base is more or less a complete waste of time. This base does not accept/absorb wax well and it will simply sit on the top of your base, rather than in your base. The best wax for an extruded base is Maxi Glide rub on. This will last a run, maybe two but it's better than nothing.

If you have a nicer ski, typically it will have a sintered base and this is the kind of base you want to hot wax on a regular basis (once every 10 ski days or more frequently). Any universal wax will work pretty ok, but I would recommend picking up a warm wax blend, such as a base prep (Swix makes a really good one called BP88). A base prep is a couple of warm waxes blended together so that it deeply gets into the base material. It can be used on its own or prior to the specific temperature of the day.

onenerdykidFirst off the most fundamental question you need to ask is: what is the base material of my ski?

If you have a lower end ski, it will have an extruded base and hot waxing this base is more or less a complete waste of time. This base does not accept/absorb wax well and it will simply sit on the top of your base, rather than in your base. The best wax for an extruded base is Maxi Glide rub on. This will last a run, maybe two but it's better than nothing.

If you have a nicer ski, typically it will have a sintered base and this is the kind of base you want to hot wax on a regular basis (once every 10 ski days or more frequently). Any universal wax will work pretty ok, but I would recommend picking up a warm wax blend, such as a base prep (Swix makes a really good one called BP88). A base prep is a couple of warm waxes blended together so that it deeply gets into the base material. It can be used on its own or prior to the specific temperature of the day.

Too add to this, I have had good experience with Swix, Holmenkol, and Dominator. If you plan on using the ski in new snow conditions I highly recommend a graphite rub in. My current wax 'SOP' for my wider skis (not based on current conditions) is:

New skis: Warm Wax base prep (Swix Red and Yellow CH wax) followed by a hard wax prep to help strengthen the base.

Throughout the season and following new ski prep: Dominator graphite rub in, followed by a mix of Swix LF7 and LF8. If it is really warm I will use some alpha mix I still have sitting around. If it is really cold I will just run the LF7 or bum some colder stuff off someone.

I keep some F4 universal rub on wax to add if I haven't waxed in the last week or two due to schedule (skiing 2-4 full days a week)

onenerdykidFirst off the most fundamental question you need to ask is: what is the base material of my ski?

If you have a lower end ski, it will have an extruded base and hot waxing this base is more or less a complete waste of time. This base does not accept/absorb wax well and it will simply sit on the top of your base, rather than in your base. The best wax for an extruded base is Maxi Glide rub on. This will last a run, maybe two but it's better than nothing.

If you have a nicer ski, typically it will have a sintered base and this is the kind of base you want to hot wax on a regular basis (once every 10 ski days or more frequently). Any universal wax will work pretty ok, but I would recommend picking up a warm wax blend, such as a base prep (Swix makes a really good one called BP88). A base prep is a couple of warm waxes blended together so that it deeply gets into the base material. It can be used on its own or prior to the specific temperature of the day.

Too add to this, I have had good experience with Swix, Holmenkol, and Dominator. If you plan on using the ski in new snow conditions I highly recommend a graphite rub in. My current wax 'SOP' for my wider skis (not based on current conditions) is:

New skis: Warm Wax base prep (Swix Red and Yellow CH wax) followed by a hard wax prep to help strengthen the base.

Throughout the season and following new ski prep: Dominator graphite rub in, followed by a mix of Swix LF7 and LF8. If it is really warm I will use some alpha mix I still have sitting around. If it is really cold I will just run the LF7 or bum some colder stuff off someone.

I keep some F4 universal rub on wax to add if I haven't waxed in the last week or two due to schedule (skiing 2-4 full days a week)

onenerdykidIf you have a lower end ski, it will have an extruded base and hot waxing this base is more or less a complete waste of time. This base does not accept/absorb wax well and it will simply sit on the top of your base, rather than in your base. The best wax for an extruded base is Maxi Glide rub on. This will last a run, maybe two but it's better than nothing.

I use an all temp wax, I just get the biggest block the shop carries. It is fast enough for my needs and I don't really feel like spending an extra $80 or so just to beat my friends down the hill by a few seconds.

Now to thread jack, I always assumed that extruded bases needed to be waxed more often as they are easier to get dirty (and wax removes this dirt). I'm just basing it off how it seems impossible to get an extruded base as dense as a sintered base. This would provide a less dense base and in general a more imperfect surface with more microscopic "holes" in it regardless of how often you base grind. Please correct my assumptions though as I am probably missing something in my reasoning.

Also keep in mind your hot wax is only as good as your finishing work. Nothing like watching a guy spend a lot of money layering in waxes only to do a quick scrape and not bother to brush.

Thanks for the detailed responses!

The wax will most likely not be competing with Swix Holmenkol etc. quality wise. Still going to be a very high quality product, though. More than enough for most skiers' needs... But the price will definitely be lower than what's currently selling :-)

Whatever is cheapest