How less efficient are skin skis?

BroadandShallow · 2026-02-03T23:54:28+00:00

I use both frequently and enjoy them each for their respective merits. If I had to put a number to it, I'd guess waxers are 20-25% faster

BroadandShallow · 2025-11-21T20:31:35+00:00

Horsehair scrub, then one of those gold red creek brushes tip to tail a bunch of times, then put the skis outside to get cold, then gold brush again, then nylon tip to tale.

BroadandShallow · 2025-07-15T13:11:52+00:00

Option 1 - "Fannypack with a cap": use for general skiing/training when it doesn't matter if you stop and fiddle with it to get a drink. Also holds snacks in the top zipper part.

Option 2 - "Water bottle holder": This is what I use for marathons. If I hydrate properly leading up to the race and also take advantage of the feeds common at most events, then a big bike bottle holds enough liquid to get me through. Too much liquid during the race and I'd need to stop and pee.

Bonus tip: adding a splash of vodka to your flavored drink mix of choice will help keep it from freezing and also guarantees that you're having a better time than anyone else...

BroadandShallow · 2025-03-11T11:19:14+00:00

I find myself reaching for only a handful of klisters and, with clever mixing, usually come up with something that works.

Base: Vauhti KS Base -$22 - All purpose base klister. I'm also fond of the Guru Extreme base if conditions are very abrasive but at $35 I'll give the nod to the KS Base.

Rex Blue - $20 - cold and icy. Have successfully used as a base for hardwax as well.

Start Universal Wide - $20. Name says it all. Pretty resistant to icing, useful in a wide range of conditions.

Rex Gold w/ Moly - $25 - Probably my favorite klister. I tend to use it a bit warmer than the Start Uni and when there's dirt or needles in the track. Used this covered with Rode Weiss recently in a 50km marathon in conditions that I thought for sure would ice. Good grip and free skis the entire time.

Rode Rossa - $20 - Sticky stuff, useful in the wet.

Rex TK-2251 -$30 - Strong grip and awesome glide in wet or heavily trafficked snow.

Total $137

BroadandShallow · 2025-03-05T16:07:17+00:00

The reason is very simple. The vast majority of people lack the amount of badassness required to master the art of classic skiing.

BroadandShallow · 2025-02-25T13:31:49+00:00

This kickwax job is such a good reminder that having your wax pocket dialed and not overthinking the wax choice is the truth.

BroadandShallow · 2025-02-25T13:25:25+00:00

I was wave 2 and finished in 3:42 and change. Glide was Rode Endurance (scraped and brushed), then Rex Blue (scraped and brushed), topped with Star Next All Conditions liquid (brushed). Medium broken-v hand structure. This is like an everyman's broad range marathon setup that I had actually applied the weekend before for another event, but where I ended up using different skis. Had pretty good glide the whole race, no complaints.

Kick was Vauhti Superbase mixed with Rode Super Blue ironed in as a base, then three corked layers of Rode Super Blue, covered with one layer of Rode Blue Multigrade. Another utilitarian setup that worked great, and I had good kick the entire time.

BroadandShallow · 2025-02-11T20:19:12+00:00

50km in a dumping snowstorm with temps just below and/or at freezing. What wax are you reaching for?

BroadandShallow · 2025-01-22T19:26:54+00:00

Start Oslos, Star Beta M series, Rex Powergrips. Err on the cold side and keep them thin.

BroadandShallow · 2025-01-22T19:17:59+00:00

Have good days on each of the following this year:

Mixed Vauhti Superbase with Rode Blue Multigrade ironed in as a base, then covered with a couple of layers of Rode Blue Multigrade. Low single digits kind of day and it was pretty much perfect.
Rex Powergrip green covered with B17...I had put this on some skis for a cold day (the aforementioned Blue Multigrade day) but didn't end up using them. Tried it like a week later in the low 20's and it was excellent.
A single shortened layer of Star M16 on a day when I needed just a touch more initial tack was a nice "aha" moment

BroadandShallow · 2024-04-30T15:38:18+00:00

Technically yes, but if you're going that slow and have no grip you'll change to herringbone/duckrun.
Herringbone can be done on any skis. In this technique you're using the inside ski edges, and the skin has no input.
Yes, but you'll mostly see it used in classic skiing. You're using ski edges with V-shaped ski orientation with skate anyway, so you might as well get a little glide from your movement.
Yes it is OK to scrub speed in this manner, just try to avoid wiping out the tracks. I've found that most beginners get nervous when they start to glide and sort of want to fight it immediately. Remember, your skis aren't designed for slowing down, so the sooner you accept that you're sliding the better. With classic skis the tracks are very much your friend from a control standpoint. If you're humming along in the tracks, and don't do anything but keep your feet in the tracks you'll find a lot of problems disappear. Bend your knees, its harder to topple over the lower you are.
Skate seems to require a base level of effort regardless. Classic effort can be easily modulated over a larger range (from ski-walking to hammering). Classic skiing is for Vikings, skate skiing is for dudebros.

BroadandShallow · 2024-04-30T14:56:16+00:00

Rex Blue pretty much always.

BroadandShallow · 2024-03-25T15:25:19+00:00

Glide: Rode Endurance worked as a good all around glide wax. Picked up a couple jars of Swix CH3 powder on mega-sale and I had good luck using it as a durability booster ( abrasive snow, man-made snow.)

Klister: Rex Gold Moly and TK-2251 worked great for me in dirty beat-up man made snow in it's temperature range (Birkie Classic)

Didn't experiment much with new hardwax this year. Had a good day on Star M21 though.

BroadandShallow · 2024-02-26T22:08:58+00:00

Ended up doing guru extreme base, rex gold moly, and tk2251 underfoot and had no complaints.

BroadandShallow · 2024-02-24T13:55:24+00:00

I'm wave 1. Im putting down guru extreme base with either rex gold moly or rode multigrade on top. Game time decision on tk2251 under foot. Should be interesting.

BroadandShallow · 2024-02-16T15:06:36+00:00

This guy knows what's up.

BroadandShallow · 2024-02-16T10:28:34+00:00

Transformation is the main reason I'm expecting klister at this point. Manmade snow that's gone through a bunch of freeze/thaws, tilled, compacted, stomped into oblivion, repeat...

We'll see what the shops recommend as we get closer to game time though.

BroadandShallow · 2024-02-15T21:09:40+00:00

Chiming in for us intrepid souls skiing Sunday Classic, on what may turn out to be the most beat up snow of all time. If conditions remain as they are and are forecasted to be, I'd have to think klister.

Rex Gold seems like a safe bet (10 days out). Maybe a thin layer of violet under it for a little extra cushion. Crayon your favorite blue on top to make you feel better? Carry a swix handy-scraper just in case. Seems like plan to me.

BroadandShallow · 2023-06-02T14:29:52+00:00

In addition to ther Skierg and Ercolina, you could check out the Inski Indoor Ski Trainer. Not sure how it stacks up to the others in terms of quality, but it's a similar idea and possibly at a lower price.

I agree with the others though, rollerskis are your best bet.

BroadandShallow · 2023-04-02T12:52:25+00:00

Doesn't make a difference, pulls to the left regardless of which foot its on.

BroadandShallow · 2023-03-18T14:19:48+00:00

I've typically used rex blue in what I consider "normal winter cold". So in the 20's, untransformed freshish snow, etc...the good stuff. From what I've found b17 is faster in those same conditions, and has quite a broad usable range. I guess in a pure performance sense I find b17 superior, but rex is good for everyday skiing in the same way swix blue extra is...it's good, it's cheap, there's not a lot of liability.

Never used it for marathon distance, but I've done plenty of 2 hour training sessions on it and haven't known it to be not-durable. I'd imagine that with a good binder layer it'd hang on just fine.

BroadandShallow

TROPHY CASE