Choose the right skis

Ski equipment is a complex world of different brands, features, and designs. Consider renting equipment so you know it is suited your activities and you avoid spending a lot of money on items that may only be used for a week each year. On this page, we have gathered information to help you choose the right skis for your winter activities.

For simplicity, we divide them into four main groups:

• Cross-country skis for skiing on groomed tracks.
• Touring skis for ungroomed terrain and the mountains.
• Telemark skis for ski mountaineering with a free heel.
• Randonnée skis for alpine ski mountaineering.

Cross-country skis

Cross-country skis are narrow, lightweight skis designed for skiing on groomed tracks. They are not suitable for the mountains where there are no tracks. Skating skis on spring snow crust can be a way to move quickly and easily, but only if you are an experienced skier.

Touring skis

Touring skis with a width of 50-60 millimeters provide stability. The skis should have a waist, meaning they are narrower in the middle. This makes them easier to control and turn. Steel edges offer safety on harder snow, facilitate turning, and make the ski stronger.

A touring ski should, just like a cross-country ski, have a camber, or double camber. This means that when you stand with equal weight on both skis, there is an air gap under the middle part of the ski. When you put your weight on one foot, the ski presses fully against the ground. It is in this middle part that the skis are waxed for grip or have a grip zone that provides traction without wax. When you stand on both skis, you glide on the front and rear parts of the skis. When you press down on one ski, you get grip and can push off.

It is important that you have a camber that matches your weight and skiing ability. If the camber is too stiff, you won’t be able to press it down and won’t get any grip. If it is too soft, you will have less glide possibility and the wax will wear off much faster. When testing the camber, remember that you are likely to have a backpack with you on the tour, meaning you will weigh several kilos more.

Touring skis for the mountains should also have steel edges to provide grip on hard-packed snow on sloping mountainsides. Wide, long forest skis without steel edges work well in deep snow on flat ground but are less effective on wind-blown mountain slopes.

Telemark skis

Telemark skis are designed for turning. They are not suitable for regular touring, but there are skis that combine touring characteristics with features that make them easy to turn. These skis are usually a bit wider than traditional touring skis and have a shorter and softer camber.

A ski designed specifically for telemarking does not have a camber. This makes the ski easier to press into the snow, facilitating turns. In recent years, telemark skis have become shorter and wider, which also requires stiffer and taller boots. Consequently, the possibilities of using this equipment for touring have decreased.

Alpine touring equipment – randonnée skis

Alpine touring equipment for ski mountaineering, also known as randonnée equipment, consists of alpine skis with special touring bindings that allow the heel to be released when climbing uphill. Broadly speaking, users and thus the equipment can be divided into two categories: the weight counters and those who focus on the skiing experience. The first category prioritizes low weight, with specially adapted boots and bindings, and they accept somewhat reduced stability on the descent in order to have an easier ascent. The second group opts for sturdier boots, stronger bindings, and wider skis to achieve more stable skiing on the descent.

Ski waxing or not?

Plastic skis that you wax yourself for grip provide better glide, but if you are not experienced with waxing, you can choose so-called waxless skis. This does not mean that you can completely forgo waxing. All skis need to be waxed to glide well and to prevent drying out. The waxless zone also needs protection, usually with a spray wax that is suitable for the material in the waxless zone. Ask where you rent or buy your skis.

An alternative is the wax tape that has become popular in recent years. It is easy to apply and works in a wide range of snow conditions. However, re-waxing with tape requires some effort and is not something you do while in the mountain.

More dedicated telemark skis are usually only waxed for glide and are complemented with climbing skins for grip. The same applies to randonnée skis for alpine ski mountaineering.

Climbing skins

Today, climbing skins are usually made of synthetic materials rather than animal skins. They are adhered to the underside of both skis to help you ascend steep terrain more easily. When the ski is pressed into the snow with downward and backward pressure, the hairs on the skins stand up and grip the snow. When you push the ski forward, the hairs lay down again, allowing the ski to glide. Once at the top, the climbing skins are removed before the descent.

People who do ski mountaineering and alpine touring naturally have climbing skins in their equipment, but even those on more traditional mountain tours can greatly benefit from a pair of narrow climbing skins. They allow you to easily make simpler ascents, are very helpful if you are pulling a sled, and can be used to gain traction in particularly challenging waxing conditions. There are also skis with short climbing skins under the grip zone. These are sometimes called “kick skins” or “fellesystem” by some manufacturers. They are an excellent alternative to waxless touring skis.

Ski boots

Stable ski boots provide a comfortable skiing experience, and a torsionally stiff sole makes it easier to control and turn the skis. However, if the boots are too rigid or too high, like some telemark boots, they are not suitable for touring. A roomy and carefully fitted leather boot or a textile type reduces the risk of blisters and keeps the foot warm. Avoid light, soft cross-country ski boots for mountain tours.

Bindings

A sturdy binding provides stability to the ski boot. When choosing bindings, consider whether you can repair them if they break while out in the mountains. If you conclude that you cannot, you should choose a different binding, and consequently, likely a different boot that fits the new binding.

Poles

The poles should reach up to your shoulders and have steel tips to penetrate crust and ice. A comfortable grip and adjustable wrist straps are also important for comfort and effective stakes with the poles. A touring pole should also have a large rim to prevent it from sinking when the snow is soft and deep. It is a good idea to bring an extra rim and an extra telescopic pole per group if you are traveling long distances. If you fall on the pole, it can break.

More tips for you

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