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It's surprising how often this question comes up. They should have called them "no kick wax skis". A couple of friends of mine rented some XC skis last winter. They were told "No, these are waxless. You don't put anything on them!" It was high thirties. We spent the whole day stopping every few minutes to scrape snow off their skis. It happened to me too before I knew better.
Here is a video that explains it best. It also tells what wax to use. You can get it at Amazon.
In another above freezing trip, a friend had her snowshoes cake up with a couple of inches of snow. It was shutting her down completely. She went out and bought new snowshoes, but I have found putting wax on the deck and crampons keeps snow from sticking to snowshoes.
For kick wax, no iron required! Rub on and cork in, and hit the trails. You should be able to find a starter pack like this at your local shop. https://www.amazon.com/Swix-Nordic-Pack-Klister-Pack-12-Inch/dp/B001EZ19DC.
For glide wax there are universal liquid varieties for like $15 that should suit your needs for getting started.
I recommend these. I tried them on my skate skis last week and they held them perfectly and snug. I was planning on getting a dedicated Swix or Toko clamp set with the litte D ring in the middle to clip into the biding to hold the ski in place but after trying the non-branded ones I didn't find I needed that feature. The middle clamp that holds the sidewalls together is firm enough without squishing the sidewalls. The set is also much cheaper than Swix or Toko which is the exact same as these minus branding and still made of all metal (must all be manufactured from same factory). You could get these attachments (same as Toko or Swix but cheaper) to give tip/tail more support but i found the ones on the clamps already just fine. Plus side, this clamp system works on Alpine skis also which is what they were originally designed for but work perfectly for nordic.
I've always just used this and it's never frozen. The fluids get cold, yes, but it's never bothered me. I just fill it with hot-ish water when going out into the cold and it's been fine, down to the low teens in temperature.
1) if you look up NNN skate binding on Amazon there are a number of options. It would likely be beneficial to get skate bindings as opposed to classic bindings. They are pretty similar, but the skate bindings will be a bit stiffer which is better for skating. For example, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G1C5VLH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_kAS4Fb6ZDR3CA
2) You should be able to slide the bindings on yourself, I’m sure there’s a walk through of how to do that online. The main thing is to set the back part of the binding to fit your boot size.
Don't overloook pogies as an option.
I've used the ones I got for my bike with my ski poles and they work pretty well -- the outer layer traps heat in and in most conditions I'm able to get away with just wearing a thin glove inside.
Here's one example:
Winter cycling gear is worth taking a look at.
Most general-purpose winter gear is made to be warm all the way around and will either leave you too cold from biting winds or leave you too hot once your heart rate gets up.
Cycling gear is usually made to block wind in front & allow more breathability in back
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I've also found it easier to find cheap cycling gear from China vs. dedicated ski gear.
Here's what I have at the moment for pants:
I’ve liked using these. Reasonable cost, not loud, simple, easy to do with gloves or not.
on the cheap end of the spectrum I use: https://smile.amazon.com/ROCKBROS-Sunglasses-Photochromic-Running-Protection/dp/B083JS5ZMF
Not great but they work for outdoor stuff. I use them on my run/bike life too.
Yup, I will second the insole suggestion. These insoles have transformed all my ski boots https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M71HLKP/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_1?smid=A38PQKE9DVJ09S&psc=1 . I always thought skating would cause me arch pain, but that's no longer the case.
I bought base layers at Costco, fleece and wool layers at thrift stores. If you hunt, you can find high end fleece. I splurged on a light weight wind/water resistant jacket at the end of season at a ski resort and used winter running pants until I found these pants on Amazon. Postropaky Womens Outdoor Snow... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BC88SCK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
a bicycle suspension pump is the move as they are designed to handle high pressures, have a low stroke volume, and a disconnect mechanism that causes minimal air loss.
You can build a really simple bench with some 2x4, a jig saw and bike tire air chamber for less than 20$. Most ski vise cost 100$+ (but works really well).
If you buy a vise make sure you buy one made for XC ski. Most of what you will see is made for downhill skis.
Similar problem, only I'm getting blisters all the time. I think the right shoe sticking is too think in one area on the inside and causes problems. The boot already has some lateral cushioning but I can feel the stitch thru that.
This is what I was considering trying: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07CS1XYB6/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A144LV2HP73QGT&th=1
Not sure it's a good idea. What did work for you ?
Sorry for hijacking. I've seen the vapro x-race flip up Nordic xc. Has anyone tried them or know anything about the company?
Vapro X-Race Flip Up Nordic XC-Skiing Folding Ski Snow & Ice Sports Goggles Includes 3 Lens (Black, Clear and Amber Orange) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07NGDJV28/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_C35CWJ862RN4JQ3XXEW2
Hey not sure if you’re still looking but I saw that Amazon just got a few in stock (I’ve also been searching for one).
Trustpilot gives the site 1.6/5 where 1 (not 0) is the minimum rating.
Good idea to double check these sites, especially with names product you're looking for dot com.
I’ve been wearing men’s XL long underwear, not fabulous but it works. However - for XC Skiing, I just found these on Amazon in XXL and they FIT!!! They’re stretchy…they won’t last as long as the full on downhill ski pants I’ve been wearing but I will have more range of motion.
This same company makes fleece lined yoga pants in plus sizes - I’m ordering those now to use as long underwear.
I’m sure these are warm enough while you’re moving, will probably bring a rain shell to put on over these for standing around - IF I can find a full zip rain pant - trying to find pants that you don’t have to pull over your boots is as difficult as finding plus size ski clothing. Gahhh!
If you DO find something you love, DM me!! Would love to know what works!
P-Tex repair kit! Pretty easy DIY, not too expensive. Rather affordable actually!
RaceWax Ski P-tex Base Repair Kit: 10 ptex, Metal Scraper, 3 3M Buffing Pads https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044VZ9NO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3X6APAAENV86Y67C0T75
I'm actually planning a trip for this season to Blue Lake. I will do the first couple of miles on skis, then at the Rawah Wilderness boundary it gets quite steep so I will switch to snowshoes which are compatible with my NNN BC boots. Trail climbs steeply from there, too steep for kicker skins, but you might do it with full length skins. Then I'll switch back to skis when it levels out. (repeat)
The trouble with Blue Lake Trail is it's very popular and quite narrow much of the way, so snowshoers tend to stomp out a trench that takes up the whole trail. Your skis are pretty much locked into it much of the way. So coming back on the steep parts you would be straightlining at maximum speed wherever the trench wants to take you.
Another one is Lake Agnes Trail. Same situation, easy for the first couple of miles then (I think) it's too steep for kicker skins. I've done the whole thing on snowshoes but haven't gone all the way to the lake on skis, so not sure. The Coloradoan had an article about skiing the entire trail with one person on AT gear and one on XC gear, and the XCer was having a lot of trouble because of the steepness.
This season I finally have full length skins so I might try either one of those on just skis. Not sure yet.
I'm terrified of mounting my garmin to anything besides my wrist because I'm afraid I'd lose it.
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That being said, if you're using an elemnt maybe something like thisso it's not jutting too far out?
On further investigation the skis I linked to are definitely downhill. What about these ones, are they considered "skate":
Thanks! What kind of label maker are we talking about? The old-school embossing kind? Or the little computer that prints the label?
Salomon Vintage SNS. These thrift store finds were all over this subreddit last season, as people corona-searched for something to do outdoors.
Unless you get lucky on eBay, cheapest solution is remount with a low end three pin. If you get boots at the same time, you might be able to mount yourself by putting in the front center screw, then lining up the heel of the boot with the ski to mark the other two holes for drilling. Position the boot front to back the same as it would be using your antique Salomon bindings before you remove them. If it were me I would epoxy the screws in.
I've been skate skiing at night using an 400 lumen energizer headlamp in conjunction with this unit here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WT78KX1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_Wnk7FbSYHGYH3
Its super bright and the battery lasts forever. My only complaints are you occasionally have to adjust it now and then and the beam shape could be more round instead of a rectangle. But it works great while going fast on varying terrain and because of its placement on my chest my heavy breathing doesn't fog out my vision. Could it be better? Yes. But it's totally acceptable and for the price I could buy a new one every week if I had to (I tend to break/lose things a lot lol).
The reason I don't do it is I don't have a ventilated outdoor waxing shed. Just my kitchen.
If you're a recreational skier like me, why take the risk? I was able to find Easy Glide here recently, which I prefer over F4 for ease of application, but the bottles I got don't say "Fluor free" as shown in the pic.
/u/NordicWool did not mention Easy Glide, so I think we can assume one application lasts for hundreds of kilometers and pretty much makes hot waxing obsolete. ^^^^jk
Toward the end of last season I started making my own glide wax with half by weight mineral oil and microcrystalline wax (Amazon). Dirt cheap, non-toxic, and I just rub it on/in with a rag.
The jury is still out though on how long it takes to rub off. I usually reapply store-bought glide wax after every trip anyway. I'll find out this season.
There are commercial rub-on waxes you can just buy, which is what inspired me. I'll bet those are thick oily/waxy pastes just like my homebrew, and about as durable.
I'm ever so embarrassed to admit, I suffer from the cold hands problem. Never my feet though, just my hands. I just use these from my mountain bike. Looks weird but crazy warm especially if you throw a HotHands in there. If I put my bare fingers inside, it feels like a slightly cool room in my house, which is weird on a blisteringly cold day.
One thing I noticed is you need a way to keep them from being dislodged from their place on your grips as your arms move, so I run a short length of paracord through the zipper with a drawstring keeper zipped on the outside of the zipper. Then I can slide it in or out to keep tension against my pole grips. My hands are in and out of there all day checking my GPS etc. so it's good for the fabric to have some stiffness as the neoprene does, so you can get back in quickly.
If I ever get into serious "back country" "earn your turns" skiing where you have to put on and take off your skins for every run, I will try those with my Gore-Tex cold weather MTB gloves, so I never have to touch anything with bare skin.
Best pole grips to use with them are my old timey Scotts because they hold the neoprene away from my fingers and keep a warm air space around them.
Did you get the harness locally and the same shop didn't have everything else? We have a local pet supply shop that sells everything you need in the same sectio. As long as you have an appropriate harness and bungee lead, I think you could improvise a belt. Or just get one from Amazon. Sorry, not sure on the brand we have, but the belts we have are similar to this jogging belt: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MD0EZBK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OfU8BbY32PT3H
Yeah, I had the same problem. Anything above freezing and it will ice. I use Easy Glide on the ski bases every time. I didn't want to clog up the skin fur with a liquid wax, so I rub it with a piece of candle. Front to back in the direction of the fur, like you pet a cat. Has worked 100% since I started waxing that way over a couple seasons in all kinds of warm sticky snow.