All ski waxes reduce friction differently on your skis and snowboard bases in different temperatures.
Warm temperature ski wax is softer and adheres easily to the porous bases of your skis and snowboards. Because of this it lasts longer and is not easily worn away. This is good for dealing with wet granular snow in warmer conditions. But this would not be good for dealing with snow in cold and dry conditions.
Cold temperature wax is harder and does not adhere as easily to the porous bases of your skis and snowboards. This means this wax will need to be applied more often as the dry sharp snowflakes scrape the bases it wears off faster.
In colder conditions the snowflakes are not wet or granular they are dry, pointed and jagged like a perfect looking snowflake. These sharp snowflakes would stick to this softer warm wax creating friction from drag and slow you down.
As you ski or ride in cold temperatures the pointed and jagged powdery snow scrapes along your porous bases creating friction slowing you down.
Cold temperature wax works by smoothing out the microscopic porous basses by filling in small gaps in allowing you to polish the surface smooth. This reduces drag and increases their performance.
Find out more about ski and snowboard wax and waxing tools on our Frequently Asked Questions Page.
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