At LCN we like to provide products to skiers in our area that are hard to find. Swix might be at every other shop in our area and perhaps we don’t have to offer their VP hardwaxes. Except that they’re so nice and we have our favorites in the line!
Don’t assume the VP waxes are always better than the venerable V line. V40 Blue Extra and V45 Violet Special still are race worthy, especially in new snow. The VP waxes do perform better in older or mixed snow; also, they tend to work well at lower temperatures than stated on the tin (especially true of the “warmer” waxes).
We think VP series is a good choice for those who desire race level performance but want to stay with one brand. LCN thinks of the VP waxes as parallels to Rode, with Rode favored for new or falling snow and the VP for older snow. The standout is VP65 which is remarkable and doesn’t have a test equivalent in other brands - in our test ladder, VP65 sits between Rode VXPS and Toko Yellow.
VP30 Light Blue. This is a Swix cold weather wax we would stack up against our favorite Rode, especiallyy in older well machined snow. -New Snow 16°C to -8°C (3°F to 18°F) / Old Snow/-20°C to -12°C (-4°F to 10°F)
VP40 Blue. Another wax worth testing on race day compared to V40/Blue Extra. Handles surface moisture better than V40, especially at the colder end. New Snow -10°C to -4°C (14°F to 25°F). Old Snow/ -14°C to -5°C (7°F to 23°F)
VP45 Purple/Blue. Old V45 Violet Special could be super fast in new snow even in the fluoro era. VP45 can run even colder and is better in older/settled snow. New Snow -5°C to -1°C (23°F to 30°F) / Old Snow -8°C to -3°C (18°F to 27°F)
VP50 Purple. V50 has been race worthy for those wanting to stay with Swix, VP50 can run colder and handles surface moisture better and is a better choice overall. New Snow -3°C to 0°C (27°F to 32°F)/ Old Snow -6°C to -1°C (21°F to 30°F).
VP55 Dark Purple. This is another VP wax that is often better in all conditions compared to the older V55 Red Special. New Snow -2°C to 1°C (28°F to 34°F)/ Old Snow 5°C to 0°C (23°F to 32°F)Zero conditions with glazed tracks and mixed crystal type, smear VP55 on top of KX40S klister.
VP60 Purple/Red. New Snow -1°C to 2°C (30°F to 36°F)/ Old Snow -4°C to -1°C (25°F to 34°F).
VP65 Red/Black. This is a must have! Has a niche not equaled by other brands. Great by itself but outstanding as a cover over hardwax and klister. In high humidity and glaze can run surprisingly cold. New Snow 0°C to 2°C (32°F to 36°F)/ Old Snow -4°C to 0°C (25°F to 32°F).
VP70 Yellow. For sticky situations. New Snow 0°C to 3°C (32°F to 37°F)/ Old Snow -1°C to 2°C (30°F to 36°F).
At LCN we like to provide products to skiers in our area that are hard to find. Swix might be at every other shop in our area and perhaps we don’t have to offer their VP hardwaxes. Except that they’re so nice and we have our favorites in the line!
Don’t assume the VP waxes are always better than the venerable V line. V40 Blue Extra and V45 Violet Special still are race worthy, especially in new snow. The VP waxes do perform better in older or mixed snow; also, they tend to work well at lower temperatures than stated on the tin (especially true of the “warmer” waxes).
We think VP series is a good choice for those who desire race level performance but want to stay with one brand. LCN thinks of the VP waxes as parallels to Rode, with Rode favored for new or falling snow and the VP for older snow. The standout is VP65 which is remarkable and doesn’t have a test equivalent in other brands - in our test ladder, VP65 sits between Rode VXPS and Toko Yellow.
VP30 Light Blue. This is a Swix cold weather wax we would stack up against our favorite Rode, especiallyy in older well machined snow. -New Snow 16°C to -8°C (3°F to 18°F) / Old Snow/-20°C to -12°C (-4°F to 10°F)
VP40 Blue. Another wax worth testing on race day compared to V40/Blue Extra. Handles surface moisture better than V40, especially at the colder end. New Snow -10°C to -4°C (14°F to 25°F). Old Snow/ -14°C to -5°C (7°F to 23°F)
VP45 Purple/Blue. Old V45 Violet Special could be super fast in new snow even in the fluoro era. VP45 can run even colder and is better in older/settled snow. New Snow -5°C to -1°C (23°F to 30°F) / Old Snow -8°C to -3°C (18°F to 27°F)
VP50 Purple. V50 has been race worthy for those wanting to stay with Swix, VP50 can run colder and handles surface moisture better and is a better choice overall. New Snow -3°C to 0°C (27°F to 32°F)/ Old Snow -6°C to -1°C (21°F to 30°F).
VP55 Dark Purple. This is another VP wax that is often better in all conditions compared to the older V55 Red Special. New Snow -2°C to 1°C (28°F to 34°F)/ Old Snow 5°C to 0°C (23°F to 32°F)Zero conditions with glazed tracks and mixed crystal type, smear VP55 on top of KX40S klister.
VP60 Purple/Red. New Snow -1°C to 2°C (30°F to 36°F)/ Old Snow -4°C to -1°C (25°F to 34°F).
VP65 Red/Black. This is a must have! Has a niche not equaled by other brands. Great by itself but outstanding as a cover over hardwax and klister. In high humidity and glaze can run surprisingly cold. New Snow 0°C to 2°C (32°F to 36°F)/ Old Snow -4°C to 0°C (25°F to 32°F).
VP70 Yellow. For sticky situations. New Snow 0°C to 3°C (32°F to 37°F)/ Old Snow -1°C to 2°C (30°F to 36°F).
