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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
    Winter Camping and Activities
       Backcountry Skis, wax or not?
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Date/Time: 05/03/2024 08:52PM
Backcountry Skis, wax or not?

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
Lailoken 11/26/2017 02:34PM
Thanks to all for the advice!
Pinetree 11/21/2017 09:47PM
quote WildDog: "On my waxless backcountry skis and on my HOKs I usually apply some Swix F4 Paste Wax to help at temperatures that are hovering just around freezing to keep the heavy wet snow from sticking and or building up. I also think it helps at colder temps a bit when you (inevitably) ski through slush - I also bring a putty knife to scrape slush off of skis."


Swix F4 Paste Wax is great stuff.
DanCooke 11/20/2017 07:14PM
I skied wax Epoke 900's 3 pin for 36 years, Switched to no wax Mashus Annum's 109mm tip 78 waist and 95 tail Steel edges and 3 pin binding and wish I had done all my off trail skiing sled hauling with them. I float over the slush that swallows others, good bite to haul sled.
For non hauling days with a light snow over a hard crust a wax ski is hard to beat.
Soledad 11/20/2017 02:48PM
I had used waxable skis for the last 8-10 years in the BWCA, and last year I bought a pair of Madshus BC 50 waxless skis and am much happier. Just less to futz with out there.
WildDog 11/20/2017 01:28PM
On my waxless backcountry skis and on my HOKs I usually apply some Swix F4 Paste Wax to help at temperatures that are hovering just around freezing to keep the heavy wet snow from sticking and or building up. I also think it helps at colder temps a bit when you (inevitably) ski through slush - I also bring a putty knife to scrape slush off of skis.
Mnpat 11/19/2017 08:40PM
Frozen slush scrapes off easier on waxable skis. I bring a second pair of skis at least half the time when camping. One pair of each. When it's transformed, icy, or warm out I use waxless skis. When it's cold out waxable. Softer skis help if you are pulling a heavy sled.
Lailoken 11/19/2017 02:42PM
I wax on classic and skate, and really think so much better, that would never consider waxless - but wondered with backcountry/bwca/winter camping, does the variety of conditions and inabilty to re-wax negate value of waxing and waxless best option? never winter camped yet, so open to all thoughts here, thanks