Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

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johral
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Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:43 pm

Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by johral » Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:21 pm

satsuma wrote:I am surprised that you are getting the advice to avoid waxless skis. If you are breaking trail, the glide isn't going to be much different with waxable or waxless skis. I don't think you have to worry about icy conditions in NE Washington, so grip is not an issue with waxless skis. It may be a liittle colder where you are skiing, but at elevation in NE Oregon, it is frequently sufficiently sunny and warm enough that temperatures will change significantly during the day, often crossing the freezing point. This could make grip waxing difficult. Using skins is OK if you have a long uphill, then a downhill, but if you are continually going up and down, than waxless skis are more convenient than skins, although grip wax is still an option.
In regards to ice, it really depends on the day. Today we had a high of 31 and all the wet stuff from earlier in the week was pretty icy. I am trying to glean what I can from all the info out there. I may end up going with the Asnes USGI Surplus skis and a set of skins. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with a waxless pair at some point as well. Right now it is trying to figure out the most economical way to get started again.

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t-$
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Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 7:29 am

Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by t-$ » Thu Dec 21, 2017 5:24 am

most economical way is cl or play it again sports. just get a setup that seems like it will work, ski the hell outta it, and then upgrade thru time. in the 4 years i have been skiing this is the first year i have any new gear, its all been used up till now and i have pretty much like everything i have had. (i will mention that i have gotten really lucky with used boots up till now.)

get the skis first and then maybe splurge on some boots that will work with existing bindings. you could get away with less than 200 easy for the whole thing, even with new boots. yes, it may not be perfect for you, but it will work and then you will know what kind of skis you might like after you have gotten out a few times. or if you even want skis or if you say screw all this and go with snowshoes!

another note on wax, if you want economical, then a waxless is for you. you can easily spend 100 bux on a very minimal wax regime. and that will only cover most situations. so if you go waxless you will spend 15 on some spray glide and thats it. much more economical, imo.



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lilcliffy
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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
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Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by lilcliffy » Thu Dec 21, 2017 9:44 am

t-$ wrote: just get a setup that seems like it will work, ski the hell outta it, and then upgrade thru time.
This is so true.

Hard to know what questions to ask and how to receive and interpret any advice until you have some significant miles on the snow.
you can easily spend 100 bux on a very minimal wax regime. and that will only cover most situations. so if you go waxless you will spend 15 on some spray glide and thats it. much more economical, imo.
My off-track kick wax system only relies on two waxes. I do keep a third soft wax in my kit- but I only use it as a very LAST resort. I try to reserve very soft kick waxes for true late winter/spring skiing when I know that the warmer snow temperatures are not just a result of winter thaw.

$20 worth of kick wax, a scraper and a cork is all you need to get started.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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t-$
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Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by t-$ » Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:43 am

hey!

i hate to beat a dead horse, or seem like i am arguing. but this is the one thing about the xc ski industry that really sticks in my craw. wax is the only real "consumables" segment that they can make money on, and boy do they exploit it. i get it from a companys standpoint, but from the consumers standpoint, it sux big swix.

lc, i most often agree with what you have to say, and your advice has been invaluable. but if you have no waxing stuff at all, then a 2 wax system (i'm talking decent wax) will run 25-36 usd in my area just for a green and violet. add 8 for a cork, yes, that's what they cost at a store as im sure you know! i haven't used a real ski scraper always just repurposing other scrapers, but a new one of those if you need it was 10 bux last month. so we are at 42-54. there is no glide wax here. thats another 10 for the cheap stuff. so now an easy 50+.

then, the salesperson will try and convince you that you need a binder wax (which i tend to agree with), so add another 12 at least. $62. plus tax, which may not apply in all areas i suppose.

and the cost at the most popular ski shop in alaska??!! forget it! but i realize that isn't a fair comparison due to cost of living to most places. just sayin'....

anyways, sorry. i'm just hyped up on caffeine and bored :lol:



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lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
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: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by lilcliffy » Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:09 am

I replied to this post in the grip wax thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1790&p=21183#p21183
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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satsuma
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Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by satsuma » Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:44 pm

johral wrote:
satsuma wrote:I am surprised that you are getting the advice to avoid waxless skis. If you are breaking trail, the glide isn't going to be much different with waxable or waxless skis. I don't think you have to worry about icy conditions in NE Washington, so grip is not an issue with waxless skis. It may be a liittle colder where you are skiing, but at elevation in NE Oregon, it is frequently sufficiently sunny and warm enough that temperatures will change significantly during the day, often crossing the freezing point. This could make grip waxing difficult. Using skins is OK if you have a long uphill, then a downhill, but if you are continually going up and down, than waxless skis are more convenient than skins, although grip wax is still an option.
In regards to ice, it really depends on the day. Today we had a high of 31 and all the wet stuff from earlier in the week was pretty icy. I am trying to glean what I can from all the info out there. I may end up going with the Asnes USGI Surplus skis and a set of skins. Who knows, maybe I'll end up with a waxless pair at some point as well. Right now it is trying to figure out the most economical way to get started again.
For us, it's been an unusual year--alternating rain and snow in the mountains. I'm not excited about skiing on rain crust on top of 30 inches of ungroomed snow.



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lowangle al
Posts: 2731
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Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
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Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.

Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by lowangle al » Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:51 pm

t-$ wrote:hey!

i hate to beat a dead horse, or seem like i am arguing. but this is the one thing about the xc ski industry that really sticks in my craw. wax is the only real "consumables" segment that they can make money on, and boy do they exploit it. i get it from a companys standpoint, but from the consumers standpoint, it sux big swix.

lc, i most often agree with what you have to say, and your advice has been invaluable. but if you have no waxing stuff at all, then a 2 wax system (i'm talking decent wax) will run 25-36 usd in my area just for a green and violet. add 8 for a cork, yes, that's what they cost at a store as im sure you know! i haven't used a real ski scraper always just repurposing other scrapers, but a new one of those if you need it was 10 bux last month. so we are at 42-54. there is no glide wax here. thats another 10 for the cheap stuff. so now an easy 50+.

then, the salesperson will try and convince you that you need a binder wax (which i tend to agree with), so add another 12 at least. $62. plus tax, which may not apply in all areas i suppose.

and the cost at the most popular ski shop in alaska??!! forget it! but i realize that isn't a fair comparison due to cost of living to most places. just sayin'....

anyways, sorry. i'm just hyped up on caffeine and bored :lol:
I think if more people skied waxable skis xcd would be more popular.

t$ are you in Ak.?



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lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
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: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by lilcliffy » Fri Jan 12, 2018 5:34 pm

lowangle al wrote: I think if more people skied waxable skis xcd would be more popular.
Hmmm.... :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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fisheater
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Location: Oakland County, MI
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Occupation: Construction Manager

Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by fisheater » Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:26 pm

lilcliffy wrote:
lowangle al wrote: I think if more people skied waxable skis xcd would be more popular.
Hmmm.... :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:
I think if waxbles were more common, there would be a lot more people skiing my local trails. I bet Nordic trail skiing would be way more popular, if retailers had been selling waxables, rather than pushing the easy button.



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lowangle al
Posts: 2731
Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
Favorite Skis: powder skis
Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.

Re: Looking for BC XCd Ski Recommendations

Post by lowangle al » Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:01 pm

fisheater wrote:
lilcliffy wrote:
lowangle al wrote: I think if more people skied waxable skis xcd would be more popular.
Hmmm.... :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:
I think if waxbles were more common, there would be a lot more people skiing my local trails. I bet Nordic trail skiing would be way more popular, if retailers had been selling waxables, rather than pushing the easy button.
Exactly, and they would be paddling more canoes than Kayaks too.



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