How to choose a cross-country skis, boots and poles

What are cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing is divided into racing, amateur and tourism. As a rule, the appointment shall be noted in the product.

1. racing (Marked Racing and Racing PRO). These skis are designed for athletes and fans wishing to develop speed indicators. It's an option for a specially prepared track.
2. amateur or pleasure (Active, Fitness). It's an option for those who are sometimes chosen to ride in the park, doing it for fun, and does not seek to record. Ski racing is slightly wider, while their production is rarely used expensive materials and technology.
3. tourist (Back Country). This skis for hunters, hikers and fishermen, people who need to move on the roadWithout slopes and trails. Such skiing pleasure is much wider, to withstand the weight of a man on the loose snow.

How to choose skis, boots and poles for a classic course

Skiing

Classic skis (designation Classic or Cl) are longer than the ridge, have a sharp and a soft toe shoe. Under block may be notches (designation TR), which prevent sliding during repulsion time. Left - ski with notches, to the right - no.

If the ski does not have notches (designation WAX), antislip effect provides a special ointment. However, newcomers will be difficult to put it correctly, so the ski with notches will help you.

To choose the size of classical skiing, add to his height of 20 cm or just raise your hand: let down his hand arm should touch the top of the ski.

It is also worth paying attention to the stiffness of skis. First determine the center of gravity: put the ski on the arm so that the two ends are in equilibrium. Then fold ski sliding face each other with one hand and squeeze 3 cm below the center of the found equilibrium. Between the skis remain suitable rigidity distance of 1-1.5 mm.

What to buy

• Skiing Nordway XC Tour, 2999 rubles →
• Skis female Nordway XC Bliss, 1599 rubles →
• Junior skis Madshus CT-90 Jr XC, 1899 rubles →

boots

Shoes for classic skis low and soft, with no special inserts, fixing the leg.

Do not buy shoes butt. If the thumb will rest on the toe of the shoe, the foot quickly freeze. It is better to take the shoes half a size bigger.

What to buy

• Ski children's shoes Fischer XJ Sprint, 4999 rubles →
• Ski boots female Fischer XC Comfort my style, 6999 rubles →
• Ski men's shoes Salomon Escape 7 Prolink, 8499 rubles →

sticks

When choosing sticks to classic skating pay attention to their length. With short, you will be uncomfortable to walk on level ground, with long - climb the slopes. Pick up the stick in its growth: output Lanyard (the place where the strap is attached to a stick) should be at the level of your shoulder.

Sticks are made of aluminum, Fiberglass and carbon fiber. Aluminum can be bent by the load. So if you weigh a lot, choose glass- and carbon fiber. The latter provides the greatest rigidity and lightness sticks. These sticks are professional athletes.

Also pay attention to the material of the handle. Stick with cork handle suitable for walking in the cold: the plug not cold hand unlike plastic.

How to choose skis, boots and poles of skating

Skiing

Ski for skating stroke (symbol Skate or Sk) shorter and have a smooth pad, since only interfere with such incisions during skierClinging to the snow and reducing speed.

To find the ideal length of the ridge skiing, add to his height of 5-10 cm.

It is also worth checking out the stiffness of skis. The gap between clenched one hand the skis should be 1.5-2 mm.

What to buy

• Ski Fischer Ls Skate, 5999 rubles →
• Ski Fischer Ls Skate Xtra Stiff, 5999 rubles →

boots

To prevent injury and unnecessary stress of the foot during the skating stroke, need additional fixation. Therefore, the ridge above and stiffer shoes classical and complemented with a special plastic sleeve.

What to buy

• Ski men's shoes Atomic Pro Skate, 12,499 rubles →
• Ski men's shoes Nordway Race Skate, 5499 rubles →

sticks

Stick to classic skating stroke length. Lanyard should be at chin level or skiers lips.

How to choose a versatile skis, boots and poles

If you want to master the classic and skating course, you can buy a universal gear.

Skiing

Universal skis (designation Combi) ridge longer but shorter than classical., Add to his height of 15 cm to determine the desired length.

As for cuts, some universal skis are replaceable middle: if you want to ride in a classic style, using notches; if the ridge, retractable nozzle with notches.

What to buy

• Ski Fischer LS Combi, 5999 rubles →
• Skis junior Nordway Active Combi Jr, 999 rubles →

boots

Boots for general purpose skis are almost indistinguishable from the classic. They are also soft and flexible, but have a plastic sleeve that supports the ankle.

What to buy

• Ski men's boots Madshus CT 80, 2999 rubles →
• Ski boots for women Nordway Alpha, 3499 rubles →

sticks

Universal fit for ski poles and classical, and of skating.

What are mounting

Now the three common types of attachments: 75 obsolete NN, NNN (NIS platform with or without it), and SNS.

NN 75 (Nordic 75)

I'm sure many will remember this fixture since childhood. This is a common metal bracket, which fixes the leg, but makes it pretty bad.

With 75 NN is almost impossible to ride the ridge course. In addition, good shoes for this mount is not released. The advantage of only low price.

What to buy

• Mounts for ski NN 75 →

NNN (New Nordic Norm)

This anchorage is composed of the two guides (flexors) located at a distance
from each other, and a rubber stop.

There are two variants of fasteners: automatic and manual. Automatic mounting NNN latched if you just click on the shoe bracket. In the case of mechanical arms will have to open the cover, and after installing the boot to close it.

However mechanical fixing more reliable: it can not detach accidentally, such as during a fall. In addition, if you are planning to ski in the warm weather, water trapped in the automatic mounting, can freeze and lock it tightly.

attaching also differ in the degree of rigidity. If the rubber stop NNN white mount is designed for hard riding, if the green - for softer. Black stops are suitable for a standard riding, and red - for soft.

If you prefer skating course, choose a mount with white or green bands. If the classic - with black or red.

To install the NNN on skis, you need to find the center of gravity and drill holes for mounting. However, there is a more simple and convenient method of installation: special NIS platform.

Nordic Integrated System (NIS) was developed in 2005 for NNN bindings. Ski, adapted to the NIS, equipped with a special plate on which is installed fastener. Skis do not need to drill, to have sufficient attachment of the guide plate and snap the.

Fastening easily installed and removed, eliminates search ski center of gravity and can be used with different pairs of skis.

What to buy

• Mounts for ski NNN →

SNS (Salomon Nordic System)

This mount with one large and two guide brackets. SNS attachment also divided into automatic and mechanical.

Unlike NNN, at SNS only three levels of stiffness. They are marked with a numerical value and color. For the classical course should choose to mount stiffness flexor 85 (yellow) to the ridge - 115 (red), and for universal use - 95 (pink).

As for convenience, stability and lateral stability, the difference between SNS- and NNN-mounts low.

Most shoes for cross-country skiing are designed for a certain type of attachment. So, first choose shoes that are ideally sit on the leg, and only then suitable to them mounting.

Due to mounting NIS NNN easier to install, but the SNS are more stable: due NNN platform are higher than the SNS, screwed screws. On the other hand, a higher position increases the thrust force. In general, both the attachment and used by amateur and professional athletes.

What to buy

• Mounts for ski SNS →

What materials to choose

Skiing from a single timber or glued layers of wood are disappearing. In modern models also use wood, but, as a rule, it consists of a core, and the sliding surface is made of plastic.

If you are used to ski with a sliding surface made of wood, plastic may seem inconvenient due to the impact. More slippery plastic and, unlike wood, are not "ruffle" the friction of snow.

However, with proper lubrication of plastic skis it is possible to avoid kickback. With regard to the advantages of plastic skis are more durable and unlike wood, allow to ride at temperatures above zero.

According to the method of manufacture skis divided into Sandwich and Cap. The first is a multiple bonded layers of plastic and wood, the second - wood core with monolithic plastic cover.

For cheaper ski core made of wood with air channels. In the professional and higher-end is a wooden cell or is based on an acrylic foam with a mesh of carbon and glass fibers, lightweight polyurethane foam with carbon fiber and fiberglass inserts (Polycell technology) Densolite foam or other lightweight synthetic materials.

The sliding surface is made of different types of plastic. For cheaper options used extruded plastic, for the more expensive option - a high versatile plastic.

Who uses many new technologies and materials, which retain the ease of skiing and at the same time provide strength. However, all of this affects the price.

Therefore, if you are a beginner, it is worth to try conventional skis with a core of wood or foam material Densolite and the sliding surface of the extruded or high molecular weight plastic. Price of ski depends on the brand and range from 2000 to 8000 rubles.

On which brands pay attention

Among the famous Russian producers - STC factory. She makes and racing, and amateur skiing Sable, fiberglass ski poles.

Professional model - with honeycomb core and the sliding surface 2000 PTEX (carbon fiber) and amateur - wood core and plastic coating. Ski Cap made by technology and are sold at very reasonable prices.

Among the foreign brands (whose products are often produced in the Russian factories, including STC) is quite popular Austrian ski manufacturer Fischer and equipment.

Fischer produces men's, women's and children's professional and amateur skiing, use a combination of materials like wood core with basalt fibers Air Tec Basalight. Fischer skis can be bought at the price of 5000 rubles.

No less famous French brand Rossignol ski equipment, the production of which are located in Spain and in the Ukraine. Cheapest amateur skis with a core of light wood and the sliding surface of the plastic can be bought for 5 500-6 000. Almost all skiing this brand are equipped with NIS platform.

The third brand of the rankings - a Norwegian company Madshus. Amateur skis the brand made by Cap technology with wood core with channels braid of glass and carbon fiber and plastic sliding surface. The cost of the cheapest ski of the brand - 3 000-5 000.

At about the same price range, the cheapest amateur Austrian ski brand Atomic, and the French company Salomon. Cheaper models are Salomon core of dry foam Densolite and a sliding surface with the addition of graphite, are more expensive professional - honeycomb core and the sliding surface with the addition of zeolite.

Each brand developing their technology: lighter cores, the addition of various minerals to improve the slip, changing the geometry of the ski. Therefore, it is best to focus on the purpose of skiing (for a course, for pleasure or sports) and the presence of a suitable for you the length and stiffness.