Cross-country skiing is one of my favorite ways to get a full-body workout during the winter, and I love finding new trails through the Cross Country Ski Areas Association. I suppose that it’s partly in my blood, since my mother grew up in Finland and had to cross-country ski to school (uphill both ways). She grew to love it again as an adult and passed that love on to me.
Nothing beats gliding over a frozen lake and feeling the sting of the crisp wind on your cheeks. Not a thing but blue sky above and the powder before you will give you that thrill. In this guide, we’ll glide you through how to choose your cross-country skis this winter, from the types of skis available to how to choose the length and bindings. That way, no matter what brand you’re looking at, you can choose the perfect pair for you.
Types of cross-country skis
There are so many great ski brands out there, so for now, let’s break down the types of cross-country skis. There are three primary ones to be aware of, including touring skis, backcountry skis, and skate skis. Here’s the breakdown:
Touring skis
Perhaps the most common cross-country ski is the touring ski. This type of ski is great for groomed trails where you’ll be skiing in tracks. Its width is narrow enough to allow for speed while being wide enough to provide stability. Groomed tracks are about 70mm wide, so touring skis are narrower than that. Fischer, Rossignol, and Salomon are all going to be solid brands for your cross-country ski purchase.
Backcountry skis
If it’s a rugged adventure you’re after, a backcountry ski is the way to go. These skis are wider to help you glide over deeper snow. They also have metal edges for extra purchase as you descend icy terrain. If blazing your own trail and enjoying the quiet of pristine wilderness sounds good, go with a pair of backcountry skis. But if you’re unfamiliar with the sport, I’d stick to the touring skis on groomed trails until you’re comfortable with your technique.
Skate skis
If you like going fast, you might be interested in skate skis. Skate skis are shorter in length and are used on groomed trails. They get their name from the skating motion you make as you use them. Skate skis are great if you’re looking to turn a day of skiing into a workout. If you’re not sure that your conditioning is up for it, check out our guide on the best cardio workouts to prepare. But as with any sport, how fast you go and how much you challenge yourself, is entirely up to you.
Best cross-country ski length
Cross-country skis have camber underfoot. This means that the ski is curved in a frown shape, with the tips and tails touching the ground. When you’re not standing on the ski, the middle of it will be off the ground. This curvature will help you glide easily over the snow. A single camber means that there’s a subtle, gradual arch in the middle that makes it easy to carve smooth turns. A double camber, on the other hand, has a bit less flex and will allow you to glide smoothly.
When you’re climbing uphill, your body weight should depress the center of the ski giving you purchase so you can ascend. You’ll notice a fish-scale pattern or sometimes special material in the middle section of the ski. Its purpose is to grip.
For this reason, when choosing a cross-country ski, you’ll use your weight more than your height to determine length. If your ski is too short, you won’t get the glide you want. If your ski is too long, it’ll be difficult to climb with. Every company is slightly different, so refer to the size chart for the brand you’re considering. One other thing to note, if you plan to go on multi-day trips, hut trips, or snow camping, you’ll be carrying extra water and gear. If you’re right in the middle of two sizes, and thinking of making multi-day trips, size up!
Best cross-country ski bindings
Cross-country ski bindings, as the name implies, bind your boots to the skis. The bindings are attached to the skis, and you clip your boots into them. There are a few different styles, so here’s a brief overview.
- NNN: NNN Stands for New Nordic Norm. An NNN boot has a bar on the toe. This corresponds to a clip on the binding that you’ll fit that bar into. That’s how your boot will stay affixed to the ski throughout the day. NNN is the most common style of binding, and if you’re getting a touring ski, this is most likely the style of binding (and boot) you’ll need.
- NNNBC: BC stands for backcountry. Because backcountry skis are wider, backcountry bindings and boots are also wider. This provides more stability as you navigate that backcountry terrain. If you’re getting backcountry skis, be sure to also get a backcountry or BC binding and boot. Because the bar is wider, a NNN BC boot won’t work with a regular NNN binding, so you want to make sure these match.
- SNS: SNS (Salomon Nordic System) is a special type of binding and boot combo only made by Salomon. If you go this route, make sure both the binding and the boot are SNS.
- 75mm/3-Pin: This style of binding was the traditional way that folks attached their boots to their skis. A chunky piece at the toe of the boot is clamped into the binding. Again, just make sure that your boot and binding match. This style isn’t made as much anymore, so you won’t see it as often as NNN.
What is a plate?
There’s a good chance you’ll be buying your cross-country skis with the bindings already mounted. All you need then is a pair of ski boots that match and a set of poles. Sometimes, though, you might just be buying the ski or ski with a plate. A plate is a piece of plastic that’s used to mount the binding to the ski. The good news is that this mounting process is super easy. The bad news is that some bindings work with some plates and not with others.
If your ski comes with a plate — represented by acronyms like IFP (Integrated Fixation Plate) or NIS (Nordic Integrated System) — you’ll just want to make sure the binding you’re buying can be mounted to this plate. Pop into your local outdoor store or REI to make sure everything is lined up.
While you’re there, confirm the boots you’re looking at will work with your setup. At the end of the day, the main thing is compatibility. The whole system, from the ski to the plate to the binding to the boot, needs to be compatible. Though it might seem like a way to save money or to get something in your size, trying to attach your NNNBC boot to your SNS skate ski just isn’t going to work.
Choosing the perfect skis for you will depend on your experience level, as well as what terrain or ski style you hope to perform. Whether you decide to glide along trails with touring skis or skate skis or break your own trail with backcountry skis, we hope you enjoy your time in the snow this season.
