If your kick wax grips well at first but wears away too soon, start with the binder layer. Base Wax helps the wax for the day's conditions stay attached to the ski. It is especially useful on abrasive tracks and longer outings.

When to use it

Apply it to the kick zone of waxable classic skis, then cover it with a suitable Rex Original hard kick wax. Base Wax is a binder, not a stand-alone wax for a particular temperature. Choose the top layer for the snow and temperature.

The current formula can be rubbed on without heating. For a liquid binder that also works underneath klister, consider Liquid Base Klister.

Apply it without an iron

1. Remove old grip wax with a suitable scraper and wax remover. Let the kick zone dry.
2. Lightly roughen the measured kick zone and remove the dust. Keep away from glide zones and skin inserts.
3. Rub on a thin layer of Base Wax and work it firmly into place with a synthetic cork.
4. Apply the day's kick wax in thin layers, corking each layer smooth. Test the skis before adding more.

Tools and finishing

You need cleaning supplies, a tool for roughening the kick zone and a cork. This method needs no waxing iron, glide brush or extra topcoat. Solid Base Wax has no liquid drying stage.

If grip is still poor

Slipping from the start: check the top wax, wax thickness and kick zone. More binder will not correct an unsuitable top wax or an overly stiff ski. Grip fades during the outing: check cleaning and how well the binder was worked in. Snow sticks to the wax: remove the ice and reassess the softness and thickness of the top layer. A binder cannot stop an unsuitable top wax icing up.