Greetings, I am new to the club, but not new to XC skiing. I have done my research on ski brands and models for XC trekking with gear and it seems the ski of choice for this purpose may be the Asnes Amundsen. I intend to either haul a pulk( which I formerly did with snowshoes) or support a back pack. Seeing how I'm not looking for any downhill performance/sophisticated turning on downhill, and my speed and efficiency will be compromised, do the glide advantages of wax outweigh the ease of daily maintenance (waxing)? I have always waxed with XC, but never used skis for trekking with gear, though I definitely want to start. Is it your opinion that the artic type expeditions would be using Wax or Waxless? I appreciate there are skins for both designs when extra grip is required. Would love some input here from the more savvy skiiers.
My best
Why choose wax over waxless for hauling a pulk?
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Rideperfect
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:28 am
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Crayefish
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2021 6:10 am
- Location: Netherlands
- Ski style: Pulk hauling and Alpine
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Gammes
- Favorite boots: Alfa Outbacks
- Occupation: Part time adventurer
- Website: https://the-gentleman-explorer.com/
Re: Why choose wax over waxless for hauling a pulk?
For pulk hauling you need skins, which attach more easily/securely to waxable skis. Hence why nearly all pulkers tend to use waxable skis, even if they don't actually use grip wax on them.
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lilcliffy
- Posts: 4286
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: Why choose wax over waxless for hauling a pulk?
Yes-
and I am not aware of any waxless-scaled ski that would reliably offer enough traction to pull a fully-weighted sled...
Objectively, one could use/add grip wax- on cold snow- to the point that one could pull a significant amount of weight- but, that would require kick wax over the entire ski base- which would completely kill any glide...
Last edited by lilcliffy on Sat Jan 27, 2024 9:43 am, edited 2 times in total.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
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Rideperfect
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2024 9:28 am
Re: Why choose wax over waxless for hauling a pulk?
Thank you very much for responding. I appreciated you sharing your knowledge.
My best
My best
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lilcliffy
- Posts: 4286
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: Why choose wax over waxless for hauling a pulk?
I am no expert-
but, in my limited experience- the ideal is for a kicker skin to offer enough traction to pull the sled/pulk- so that you still get some glide- especially on the tail of the ski.
Regardless- personally- I wouldn't go on a multi-day expedition- pullying weight- without full-length skins as well.
but, in my limited experience- the ideal is for a kicker skin to offer enough traction to pull the sled/pulk- so that you still get some glide- especially on the tail of the ski.
Regardless- personally- I wouldn't go on a multi-day expedition- pullying weight- without full-length skins as well.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.