The Two Fundamental Types of XC Ski Wax
Cross-country ski waxing divides into two completely different problems: grip (kick zone) and glide (tip and tail zones). They use different products, applied differently, for different purposes.
- Kick/grip wax: Applied to the kick zone (underfoot) to provide traction on uphills. Temp-sensitive — wrong wax = slipping or clumping.
- Glide wax: Applied to the tip and tail glide zones to reduce friction and improve speed. Less temp-sensitive, more of a maintenance item.
Kick Wax (Hard Wax)
Kick wax comes in stick form and is rubbed into the kick zone, then corked smooth. It's color-coded by temperature range. The principle: colder snow has sharper crystals that need softer wax to grip; warmer snow has rounder crystals that need harder wax to prevent sticking.
Standard color coding (varies slightly by brand, but this is the international norm):
- Green: Very cold, new snow (below -12°C / 10°F)
- Blue Extra: Cold snow (-12°C to -7°C / 10–19°F)
- Blue: Cold to medium cold (-7°C to -3°C / 19–27°F)
- Violet: Transition zone (-3°C to 0°C / 27–32°F)
- Red: Near freezing (-2°C to +2°C / 28–36°F)
- Yellow: Wet conditions above freezing (use klister instead for truly wet snow)
The transition zone (-3°C to 0°C) is the hardest to wax for. Violet is the go-to, but you often need to layer: violet base with blue over for cold days, violet base with red over for warm days. Experienced waxers call this the "purple zone."
Klister
Klister is a soft, viscous wax for wet, icy, corn snow, or transformed snow (melt/refreeze cycles). It comes in tubes and is applied in a thin Z or herringbone pattern in the kick zone, then spread with a finger or paddle. Warning: klister is extremely sticky and messy.
Klister types:
- Yellow klister: Warm, wet snow above 0°C. Corn snow and spring conditions.
- Red klister: Variable wet/icy conditions around freezing (0°C to +2°C).
- Violet klister: Icy groomed tracks just below freezing.
- Blue klister: Icy conditions well below freezing. Rare but useful for glazed tracks.
Glide Wax
Glide wax reduces friction between the ski base and snow, improving speed. It's applied to the tip and tail zones (not the kick zone on waxable skis). Glide wax is either:
- Hot wax (iron-on): Melted onto the base with a waxing iron, scraped, and brushed. Best performance. Requires a dedicated iron.
- Rub-on/paste glide wax: Applied cold, buffed in. Easier but doesn't last as long or penetrate as deep.
Temperature coding exists for glide wax too (cold, universal, warm) but recreational skiers can use universal glide wax for 90% of conditions without noticeable performance loss.
Quick Kick Wax Temperature Reference
| Temp (°F) | Temp (°C) | Snow Type | Kick Wax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 10°F | Below -12°C | Dry cold powder | Green |
| 10–19°F | -12 to -7°C | Cold dry snow | Blue Extra |
| 19–27°F | -7 to -3°C | Cold packed snow | Blue |
| 27–32°F | -3 to 0°C | Transition zone | Violet |
| 28–36°F | -2 to +2°C | Near-freezing | Red / Klister Red |
| Above 32°F | Above 0°C | Wet snow, corn | Yellow / Klister Yellow |
Application Process (Kick Wax)
- Clean the kick zone: Remove old wax with wax remover and a scraper
- Check the temperature: Air temp and snow temp (use a thermometer)
- Apply the wax: Rub the stick in long strokes along the kick zone (from binding to 30cm forward and back)
- Cork it smooth: Use a cork to smooth and press the wax into the base
- Test: Ski 50m. If it slips on uphills → add more layers. If snow clumps underneath → scrape back and apply harder wax (next color colder)
- Fine-tune in field: Keep your wax kit with you for mid-day temperature changes
Waxing Gear Picks
Sources & Further Reading
- Swix Sport. "Waxing Guide for Cross-Country Skiing." swixsport.com
- Craftsbury Outdoor Center. "Kick Waxing Clinic Notes." craftsbury.com
- Åke Bäck (Nordic skiing coach). "Waxing Fundamentals." normicski.se
- Fischer Sports. "XC Ski Waxing Technical Manual." fischerski.com
- Cross Country Canada. "Waxing Clinics for Recreational Skiers." crosscountrycanada.ca
See also: Best Beginner XC Skis 2026 | Boot & Binding Compatibility Guide | Classic vs Skate Technique
