- Grip waxes - are intended only for classic-style skiing and they prevent skis from skidding. These are divided into hard riser waxes and klisters.
- Hard riser waxes - suitable for freshly fallen snow or older, fine snow.
- Klisters - good on wet, melting snow or frozen, coarse or wet snow.
- Glide waxes - they are applied on the entire surface of the skis, including the scales. This reduces friction and increases downhill speed.
Temperature
Most waxes are designed for a certain temperature range. Cross-country waxes are divided into blue, red, and universal. Blue is for temperatures well below freezing and red is used for warmer days, but each manufacturer has different temperature ranges. Universal waxes usually have a wider temperature range centering around the freezing point (e.g. 10° C to -3° C).