Which ski bindings are best for walking? How to choose skis for skiing. How to choose ski equipment

They are 15-20 cm longer than the so-called skate shoes, their toe is narrower and pointed. Mastering this technique requires virtually no special training, so this style is preferable for beginners. Skate skis are shorter and stiffer than classic skis, their tips are more rounded and blunt. The advantage of this style of skating is that it allows a prepared person to develop good speed. At the same time, skating is quite difficult to master and requires a high-quality, fairly wide track.

If you haven’t decided on a style yet, or plan to ski both on and off the piste, it’s worth purchasing so-called all-mountain skis, which combine the qualities of both skate and classic skis. For walks in the forest, the best choice is walking or touring skis, which are somewhat wider and heavier, and in addition, they often have notches. In this situation, they will be more convenient, since they prevent the leg from “slipping” backwards, but it is impossible to develop high speed on such skis.

To choose the correct ski length for skating, use the formula: your height is +10-15 cm, and the poles should be slightly higher than your shoulders. The size for the “classics” is selected as follows: 25-30 cm is added to the skier’s height, and the poles should rest against the armpits.

The next parameter is the stiffness of the skis. It is selected depending on the weight of the skier, the weather conditions in which he plans to ski, and his skiing style. Skating skis should be stiffer than classic skis, so that when you push off with your foot there is a small gap between the ski and the snow, otherwise you will not be able to accelerate properly. Skiing on dry snow requires skis of less rigidity than for above-zero temperatures when it is wet. In addition, the higher your weight, the higher this indicator should be.

To select skis of suitable stiffness, experts advise doing the following when purchasing them: place them on the floor and stand on them with both feet there, boots. If you plan to skate style, a sheet of thick paper should fit freely under your skis in these places. However, you should not choose skis of maximum rigidity either. They are intended, rather, for professionals, and will spring a lot and slip during the push, which will significantly complicate skating. If your goals do not include setting new world records, then it makes sense to choose skis of medium or low hardness.

As for prices, skis for amateur skiing are slightly more expensive than tourist skis, and the most expensive of them are those intended for professionals, marked “RCS”, “RC”, “Racing” or “PRO”. The leaders in touring skiing are considered to be Madshus (Norway), Rossignol (France) and Fischer (Germany). In addition to those mentioned, trained skiers are advised to pay attention to equipment from Atomic (Austria) and Rottefella (Norway), the latter of which is a world leader in the field of bindings.

In general, the products of Atomic, Rossignol, Madshus, Fischer and the French company Salomon are the most acceptable in terms of price-quality ratio. Prices for tourist skis of these brands fluctuate, on average, in the range of 3600-7300 rubles, fitness models - in the region of 5000-9000 rubles, and classic models cost about the same. Prices for professional cross-country skis can be much higher. These models allow you to reach maximum speed, but for amateur riding, for example, Sunday walks with the family, purchasing such equipment simply does not make sense.

Cross-country skiing is divided into racing, amateur and touring. As a rule, the purpose is indicated in the product card.

1. Racing (marked Racing and Racing PRO). These skis are designed for athletes and amateurs who want to improve their speed. This is an option for specially prepared trails.
2. Amateur or recreational (Active, Fitness). This is an option for those who sometimes go for a ride in the park, do it for fun and do not strive for records. Skis are slightly wider than racing skis; expensive materials and technologies are rarely used in their production.
3. Tourist (Back Country). These are skis for hunters, tourists and fishermen, people who need to move around, without pistes or ski tracks. Such skis are much wider than recreational skis in order to support a person’s weight on loose snow.

Skis

Classic skis (designated Classic or Cl) are longer than skate skis, have a sharp toe and a soft last. There may be notches under the block (designated TR) that prevent slipping during repulsion. On the left is a ski with notches, on the right - without.

If the ski does not have notches (designation WAX), a special ointment provides an anti-slip effect. However, it will be quite difficult for beginners to apply it correctly, so a ski with serrations will be the best option.

To choose the size of classic skis, add 20 cm to your height or simply raise your hand: the lowered palm of your outstretched arm should touch the top of the ski.

It is also worth paying attention to the stiffness of the skis. First, determine the center of gravity: place the ski on your hand so that both ends are in balance. Then fold the skis with the sliding side towards each other and squeeze with one hand 3 cm below the found center of balance. There will be a distance of 1–1.5 mm between skis of suitable stiffness.

What to buy

Boots

Boots for classic skis are low and soft, without special inserts to secure the foot.

You shouldn't buy boots back to back. If your big toe rests on the toe of the shoe, your foot will quickly freeze. Better take boots half a size larger.

What to buy

Sticks

When choosing poles for classic skating, pay attention to their length. With short ones, it will be uncomfortable for you to walk on flat terrain, with long ones, it will be uncomfortable to climb slopes. Select poles according to your height: the lanyard exit (the place where the strap is attached to the pole) should be at the level of your shoulder.

Poles are made from aluminum, fiberglass and carbon fiber. Aluminum ones can bend under load. So, if you weigh a lot, choose glass and carbon fiber. The latter provides the greatest rigidity and lightness of the poles. These poles are used by professional athletes.

Also pay attention to the material of the handle. Poles with cork handles are well suited for walking in cold weather: cork does not get cold on the hand, unlike plastic.

Skis

Skis for skating (designated Skate or Sk) are shorter and have a smooth last, since with this type of skiing the notches only get in the way, clinging to the snow and reducing speed.

To find the ideal length for skate skis, add 5–10 cm to your height.

It is also worth checking the stiffness of the skis. The gap between skis compressed with one hand should be 1.5–2 mm.

What to buy

Boots

To prevent injury and excessive stress on the foot during skating, additional support is needed. Therefore, skate boots are taller and stiffer than classic ones and are supplemented with a special plastic cuff.

What to buy

Sticks

Skating poles are longer than classic poles. The lanyard should be at the level of the skier's chin or lips.

How to choose all-mountain skis, boots and poles

If you plan to master both classic and skating, you can purchase universal equipment.

Skis

All-mountain skis (designated Combi) are longer than skate skis, but shorter than classic skis. To determine the required length, add 15 cm to your height.

As for knurling, some all-mountain skis have a replaceable center: if you want to ski in a classic style, use knurling; if in a ridge, remove the nozzle with notches.

What to buy

Boots

Boots for all-mountain skis are almost no different from classic ones. They are just as soft and flexible, but have a plastic cuff that supports the ankle.

What to buy

Sticks

For universal skis, poles are suitable for both classic and skating.

What types of fastenings are there?

Three types of mounts are now common: the legacy NN 75, NNN (with or without NIS platform) and SNS.

Surely many remember this mount from childhood. This is an ordinary metal brace that fixes the leg, but it does it rather poorly.

With the NN 75 it is almost impossible to skate. In addition, they don’t make good boots for this mount. The only advantage is the low price.

What to buy

NNN (New Nordic Norm)

This mount consists of two guides (flexors) located at some distance
from each other, and the rubber stop.

There are two options for such fastenings: automatic and mechanical. The automatic NNN mount snaps into place by simply pressing your boot onto the shackle. In the case of a mechanical one, you will have to open the lid with your hands, and after installing the boot, close it.

However, the mechanical fastening is more reliable: it cannot accidentally come loose, for example, during a fall. Additionally, if you plan to ski in warm weather, water that gets into the automatic binding may freeze and cause a permanent blockage.

Also, the fastenings differ in the degree of rigidity. If the NNN rubber stop is white, the mount is intended for hard riding; if it is green, it is intended for softer riding. Black stops are suitable for standard skating, and red ones for soft skating.

If you prefer skating, choose bindings with white or green rubber bands. If classic - with black or red.

To install NNN on skis, you need to find the center of gravity and drill a hole for the mounts. However, there is a simpler and more convenient installation method: special NIS platforms.

The Nordic Integrated System (NIS) was developed in 2005 for NNN mounts. Skis adapted for NIS are equipped with a special plate on which the binding is installed. There is no need to drill the skis, just slide the mount along the guide plates and click into place.

The mount is easy to install and remove, eliminates the need to search for the center of gravity of the ski and can be used with different pairs of skis.

What to buy

This is a mount with one wide guide and two brackets. SNS fasteners are also divided into automatic and mechanical.

Unlike NNN, SNS has only three levels of severity. They are marked with a numerical value and color. For a classic move, you should choose bindings with a flexor stiffness of 85 (yellow), for a skate - 115 (red), and for universal use - 95 (pink).

In terms of comfort, stability and lateral stability, there is little difference between SNS and NNN mounts.

Most cross-country ski boots are designed to fit a specific type of binding. Therefore, first choose boots that fit perfectly on your feet, and only then choose the bindings that fit them.

Due to NIS, NNN fasteners are more convenient to install, but SNS are more stable: due to the NNN platform, they are higher than SNS screwed on with screws. On the other hand, a higher position increases the force of the push. In general, both mounts are used by both amateur and professional athletes.

What to buy

What materials to choose

Skis made from solid timber or glued layers of wood are becoming a thing of the past. Modern models also use wood, but, as a rule, the core consists of it, and the sliding surface is made of plastic.

If you're used to skiing on wood skis, plastic may feel uncomfortable due to kickback. Plastic is more slippery and, unlike wood, does not “ruffle” when rubbing against snow.

However, with proper lubrication of plastic skis, it is quite possible to avoid kickback. As for the advantages, plastic skis are more durable and, unlike wooden skis, allow you to ski at above-zero temperatures.

According to the manufacturing method, skis are divided into Sandwich and Cap. The former are several layers of plastic and wood glued together, the latter are a wooden core with a monolithic plastic cover.

For cheaper skis, the core is made of wood with air channels. In professional and more expensive ones, it is a wooden honeycomb or made on the basis of acrylic foam with a mesh of carbon and fiberglass, lightweight polyurethane foam with carbon and fiberglass inserts (Polycell technology), Densolite foam or other lightweight synthetic materials.

The sliding surface is made from different types of plastic. For cheaper options, extruded plastic is used, for more expensive options, high molecular weight universal plastic is used.

Nowadays, many new technologies and materials are being used that keep skis light and at the same time provide strength. However, all this affects the price.

So if you're a beginner, it's worth trying a regular ski with a wood or Densolite foam core and an extruded or high molecular weight plastic skid surface. The price of such skis depends on the specific brand and ranges from 2,000 to 8,000 rubles.

What brands to pay attention to

Among the well-known Russian manufacturers is the STC factory. It makes both racing and recreational skis, the Sable, fiberglass ski poles.

Professional models have a honeycomb core and a PTEX 2000 (carbon fiber) sliding surface, and amateur models have a wooden core and a plastic coating. Skis are made using Cap technology and are sold at very affordable prices.

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

Fischer produces men's, women's and children's professional and amateur skis, using combined materials such as a wooden core with Air Tec Basalight basalt fibers. Fischer skis can be purchased at prices starting from 5,000 rubles.

No less famous is the French ski brand Rossignol, whose production is located in Spain and Ukraine. The cheapest amateur skis with a light wood core and a plastic sliding surface can be bought for 5,500–6,000 rubles. Almost all skis of this brand are equipped with the NIS platform.

The third brand from the rating is the Norwegian company Madshus. Amateur skis of this brand are made using Cap technology with a wood core with channels, glass and carbon fiber braiding and a plastic sliding surface. The cost of the cheapest skis of this brand is 3,000–5,000 rubles.

Around the same price category, the cheapest amateur skis are from the Austrian brand Atomic and the French company Salomon. Cheaper Salomon models have a core made of dry Densolite foam and a sliding surface with the addition of graphite; more expensive, professional models have honeycomb cores and a sliding surface with the addition of zeolite.

Each brand develops its own technologies: lighter cores, adding various minerals to improve gliding, changing ski geometry. Therefore, it is best to focus on the purpose of the skis (for what purpose, recreational or sports) and the availability of a suitable length and stiffness for you.

30.11.2017

The modern market offers many options for skis that have different purposes and performance characteristics. This article is for beginner athletes who find it difficult to understand the wide range of skis for walking.

What are touring skis?

These skis are designed for hiking. Unlike alpine skiing, touring skiing involves a higher load and uses a larger group of muscles during running. They differ from sports ones in a more affordable price. You need to select the dimensions of your skis based on your own height.

The skis have an optimal width to ensure maximum stability on the surface and do not require an attached ski track. The design does not require additional lubrication or maintenance. Touring skis are categorized by skiing style and are typically designed with a slight flex to provide compression under the block. Even the most inexpensive recreational skis will last a long time if they are chosen correctly.

The characteristics of skis play an important role in the process of playing sports, since they are responsible for human comfort and safety. Wearing the wrong ski will ruin your enjoyment of using it and can also lead to injury. Sometimes people buy into a brand and choose expensive branded skis that absolutely do not meet the skier's requirements.

When choosing skis for walking, you should be based on the following indicators:

1. Quality

Pay attention to the quality of construction. It should not have any flaws or bends along the skis. The product must be resistant to mechanical stress. Otherwise, the very first trip to the ski slopes may result in product failure and new financial costs.

2. Parameters

Many manufacturers indicate the weight and height of the person for which this design is intended. If there is no such data, then you should adhere to the following rules:

• The length of the skis is calculated using the formula: human height + 10-20 centimeters. This is necessary to ensure stability on the surface and easy descent and ascent;
• Weight. Domestic manufacturers, as a rule, offer inexpensive ski options for people weighing up to 80 kilograms; if you weigh more, then you will have to choose a more expensive model.

3. Price

The cost of skis depends on the class and technical characteristics of the design. For

Winter is coming. In some places snow has already fallen and covered the ground. Almost everything is ready for skiing through the winter snow-covered forest. Almost everything except the skis themselves! After all, you need to buy them first, and not make a mistake in choosing. We will tell and show you how to choose the right skis for walks in the winter forest in this article. Read our tips, watch videos and photos, and buy skis for yourself and your child wisely!

Sports stores will not always be able to give you the right advice on how to choose skis. Sellers want to sell goods and get their money. Therefore, we carefully study the tips to get joy all winter from buying and skiing.

Selecting skis by height.
The very first thing you should do is choose the right length skis. And you can do this based on your height.
If you are going to ski in a classic way, which is more acceptable in the forest, then you need skis that are 25-30 centimeters longer than you. If you prefer to skate, then you need short skis that are 10-15 centimeters larger than your height. This is due to the skating technique. After all, the longer the skis, the more difficult it is to skate on them.

Never buy skis that are smaller than your height or on the same level as you! Even if you liked them, they are discounted and the seller recommends them! You won't enjoy skiing with these skis!

Selecting skis by weight.
Yes, your weight also plays a very important role when choosing skis. How to choose skis by weight? To do this, just take a regular sheet of paper with you to the store. When you have chosen skis according to your height, these skis need to be placed on a flat floor. After that, you stand on them in the places where you will have your boots. When you get up, slide a piece of paper under your skis. If the sheet passes, that is, the skis are not pressed tightly to the ground, and you can spring on them, then these are your skis. If the skis are pressed tightly to the floor and the sheet of paper does not pass through, then you need more elastic skis.

Keep in mind that firmer skis that are appropriate for your weight will make skiing easier and more enjoyable. If the skis are completely pressed to the snow, then your move will be difficult and your glide will be weak!

Choosing skis with or without notches?
Here everything depends only on your skiing ability. If you are confident and know how to ski, then skis without notches are suitable for you. And if you are afraid of falling and have poor skiing skills, then take skis with notches.
The notches are needed to prevent the skis from slipping and rolling back down the mountain.

But keep in mind that the notches on the skis will slow down your progress. Notches stop sliding. And it will be more difficult for you to move forward!