I use a traditional wooden toboggan for my winter trekking for both nostalgic reasons and photographic appeal, and, due to a time crunch last year, coated the bottom with paraffin wax. Needless to say, it didn't hold up well after we put several miles on it. Has anyone has found a more durable alternative-- perhaps a good x-country ski glide wax that functions well over a broad spectrum of temperatures and withstands a considerable amount of friction?

I coated the bottom of my wooden toboggan with pine tar, and then added standard XC glide wax. Seems to work fairly well, even the pine tar alone is ok after the glide wax is gone.

Thanks! Being a bit inexperienced in these matters, I coated the old wooden sled with three coats of polyurethane and then caked some paraffin on the bottom pretty thick. I should have opted for the pine tar-glide wax duo.

quote hubben: "Thanks! Being a bit inexperienced in these matters, I coated the old wooden sled with three coats of polyurethane and then caked some paraffin on the bottom pretty thick. I should have opted for the pine tar-glide wax duo. "

I'm no expert but I think your mistake was the Poly...!!!?
Nothing for the wax to "stick" to anymore.

Thanks for the response, Doughboy. I imagine a pine-tar coating maintains the original topography of the toboggan or creates its own crevices, small holes, ridges, etc. that are required for the wax to stick. The polyurethane is pretty smooth-- especially after three coats. Wonder if I could rough it up a bit with some fine sand-paper and then determine whether or not the wax would adhere better.

Was the poly "sticky" on the snow?
A woodworking friend said it should have been better...?
I mentioned wax on skis and then thought, that is for the "traction" of the kick stroke???
As always, I have no idea what I am talking about and just trying to provoke thought...lol