A solid glide wax in two temperature grades, which is the simplest useful split there is:
- F4-60C — cold, −4°C / 25°F and below
- F4-60W — warm, −4°C / 25°F and above
Two bars cover a season. That is the appeal over a five-colour ladder: less to carry, less to decide, and 25°F is a sensible place to divide since it is roughly where snow stops behaving like dry crystals.
Which to reach for: if the snow squeaks underfoot and does not clump, use the cold bar. If it packs into a snowball, use the warm one. When in doubt take the colder — too-hard wax is slightly slow, too-soft picks up dirt and is considerably slower.
F4 also comes as a liquid and a paste, which is the same idea for a quick refresh without a bench — see liquid wax and pastes and powders.
For a full temperature ladder, see Swix race wax. All ski wax.
