Get your cross-country skis trail-ready with this waxing guide
25/2/2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Siri Schubert
Cross-country skis need care. Here’s how to wax them properly and what to be aware of when you’re doing so.
Waxing your cross-country skis may be a bit of a drag, but it’s absolutely essential. If you don’t do it regularly, the coating on your skis will get damaged. Instead of gliding smoothly over cross-country trails, your skis will feel like they’re sticking to the snow. And their once shiny undersides will take on a tired, greyish hue.
If that happens, you’ll know it’s high time you gave them some TLC. Since a fair few changes have taken place in the world of solid and liquid waxes in recent years, I decided to consult Martin Scheiber, a qualified cross-country skiing instructor, passionate outdoorsman and mountain guide in Ötztal.
When should you wax your skis?
There are numerous rules of thumb. Some say you should do it once you’ve covered 40 kilometres on your skis. Others say you should do it every night. In actual fact, there are two key dates that are important to bear in mind. First, the run-up to your first ski trip of the season. Second, the period just before you retire your skis for the summer. In both of those instances, you should definitely wax your skis to protect the coating. Hot wax is best, as it penetrates deep into the pores and forms the basis for any future treatments. It’s also applied using an iron, but I’ll get to that later.
During ski season, how often you wax your skis will depend on the snow and the distance you’re covering in kilometres. If the snow veers between being slushy and icy, its crystals can rub off the wax more quickly. When this happens, you might need to wax your skis before or after each day on the trail.
Cross-country skiing expert Martin Scheiber says the condition of your skis’ coating is also a good indicator of when they need waxing. If areas of greyish discolouration appear – however small – it’s time to give your skis a wax treatment. Let’s face it, it’s better to do it too early than too late.
Things to be aware of when waxing your skis
Depending on your needs, there’s a wide range of products for preparing your skis. Some of these products are made by Toko, a Switzerland-based company that’s specialised in producing ski wax for almost a century.
Toko says all of its waxes are fluorine-free. Fluorine compounds (PFAS), incidentally, are an example of harmful «forever chemicals». According to research conducted by the Swiss institute EMPA, these chemicals are increasingly being found on cross-country ski trails – even after waxes containing fluorine were banned in competitive sport. With this in mind, it’s all the more important for recreational skiers to use waxes that are free of harmful PFAS.
Which is the best wax to use?
Some cross-country skiers use wax to try to get the very best out of their skis’ gliding properties. Others just want their ski prep to be as simple as possible. If you belong to the second group of skiers, Toko’s universal wax is probably right for you.
For a speed boost on the trail
However, if you’re keen to enhance your performance, go for a wax that best suits the outdoor temperature. The colder and firmer the snow, the firmer your wax should be.
For impromptu waxing
Hot wax is still considered the go-to waxing option, but it’s time-consuming to apply. That’s why I use the Toko All-in-One Wipe & Brush when I want to freshen up my skis’ coating on the fly. Our expert Martin recommends it too.
Martin’s not as keen on express waxes, which you apply from a shoe polish-style tube with a foam head. Mostly because they don’t offer long-lasting protection. «They’re more suited to giving you peace of mind than protecting your skis,» he says.
An extra for traditional cross-country skis
If it’s traditional cross-country skis instead of skating skis you want to wax, you should treat the kick zones with a special anti-ice spray instead of wax to prevent them from icing up.
Equipment you’ll need to wax your skis
First things first, you’ll need something to hold your skis in place. The best way to do this is with a vice for cross-country skis, like this one from Toko.
You’ll also need a copper or copper-nylon brush. I use the All-in-One kit, which includes a double brush.
If you’re using hot wax, you’ll need an iron. I used to use an old clothes iron I had down in the basement, but that’s not ideal. Experts recommend using a waxing device with good heat control and a base plate optimised for spreading wax.
You’ll also need a Plexiglas scraper to remove excess wax. And a pen to get the wax out of the grooves. A special fleece cloth is ideal for cleaning, but kitchen roll’s fine if you’re in a pinch.
If you fancy making things easier and don’t want to order all these products separately, this starter set might be up your street.
A step-by-step guide to waxing cross-country skis
Once you’ve got your skis clamped into a vice, your first step will be to get rid of any old wax residue and dirt. To do this, thoroughly brush off the coating and wipe it down with a paper towel. If your skis are especially dirty, you could also use wax cleaner, but Martin says that isn’t usually necessary. When you stop seeing traces of wax and dirt on the paper, you’re ready for the next step.
Hold the hot wax to the iron until it melts, then let the wax drip onto the ski coating. Side note: you don’t need to skimp on the wax. Set the iron to the temperature indicated on the wax packaging.
Once you’ve dripped the wax onto your skis, run the iron over the coating from front to back to distribute the wax evenly. You don’t need to apply pressure – the weight of the iron will do the job. As you’re doing this, make sure the iron isn’t too hot and that you’re working quickly, especially at the thin ends of the skis. If you see smoke, you definitely need to turn down the iron. Too much heat will damage your skis’ coating.
After 20–30 minutes, once the wax has cooled down, you’ll need to scrape it off with a plastic scraper to get rid of any excess material. Ideally, you should do this until your scraper’s barely picking anything up. For the grooves, you’ll want to use a pen.
All that’s left to do after that is give your skis a little texture. A copper brush is good for giving them a thorough clean. Run it firmly down the ski from front to back, then do the same with a nylon brush for that final finish. And voilà, your cross-country skis should be gliding again like new.
Header image: Siri Schubert
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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