WAX PREVIEW 2025-2026
QUICK HITS
This quick guide distills our full Wax Preview into practical, field-tested advice for racers and serious recreational skiers. The recommendations reflect years of experience providing wax service by Boulder Nordic Sport staff and our valued testing partners. For deeper detail, see the full BNS Wax Preview 2025–26 at bouldernordic.com
CORE PRINCIPLES
• Start with consistent paraffin waxes you trust, then improve them on race morning.
• Don’t chase perfection. Consistently good wins.
• Expensive does not mean faster. Results matter more than marketing.
• Application quality matters nearly as much as product choice.
GLIDE WAX OVERVIEW
Fluor free waxes continue to improve. The biggest gains come from reliable paraffins paired with liquid or block topcoats. Topcoats tend to have a larger impact on speed than underlayers, so put down consistently performing paraffins that you can trust and focus your energy on topcoats for speed. Liquids perform best in transformed or older snow and at temperatures above blue. In cold new snow, paraffins or blocks usually win.
BASE PREP
Hard base waxes improve durability and speed. Hard Graphite is excellent in old, artificial and dirty snow as well as cold snow and colder (non-wet) new snow. Clean (non-graphite), hard base waxes perform well in wet snow and warmer new snow. Avoid moly as a base layer for cross-country skiing.
TRUSTED BRANDS
Rode stands out for consistency across paraffins, liquids, and blocks. Their RX paraffins and RW wool applied blocks are among the most reliable race day tools available.
Holmenkol Syntec FF waxes perform well across a range of conditions, especially when paired with proper structure.
Swix, Rex, Start, Guru, Toko, and Vauhti all have standout products in specific conditions.
629 S Broadway, Suite K
Boulder, CO 80303
720.227.9400
sales@bouldernordic.com
WAX PREVIEW 2025-2026
QUICK HITS
STRUCTURE
If you use one structure tool, make it the Holmenkol Cross Structure Tool. It covers most conditions simply and effectively The structure pops out within a couple of ironings
KICK WAX & KLISTER
For classic skiing, Rode and Guru remain gold standards. Wide range kick waxes and smart klister mixing solve most tricky conditions.
KEY ADVICE
Keep your system simple, test intelligently, and trust proven products. Consistency is the goal, not perfection. For deeper detail, see the full BNS Wax Preview 2025–26 at bouldernordic.com.