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X-country binding and skin suggestions

Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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I'm really stoked to get into cross country skiing and want to use my existing gear if possible.

Setup:
Rossi Alias 120's
Rossi Smash 7
Rossi Xelium 100

I'd like an aggressive downhill and I'm not partial to skin material, or weight as I'm just getting into it and want to run this on this cheap.

I saw lots of used stuff, but am worried about lengths on skins and compatibility for my bindings.

What all would you guys/gals suggest?
 

Mike Thomas

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Are you looking to get into AT skiing? Climbing uphill then skiing down in 'alpine like' gear? The terms 'x country' and 'cross country skiing' have very different meanings to what it appears you want to do. The gear you currently have is 100% alpine ski, you need more than just skins in order to 'alpine tour'. You'll need a new binding or a binding insert like the 'Alpine Trekker' along with skins. For actual c.f. skiing you need all different gear entirely,
 
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Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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Are you looking to get into AT skiing? Climbing uphill then skiing down in 'alpine like' gear? The terms 'x country' and 'cross country skiing' have very different meanings to what it appears you want to do. The gear you currently have is 100% alpine ski, you need more than just skins in order to 'alpine tour'. You'll need a new binding or a binding insert like the 'Alpine Trekker' along with skins. For actual c.f. skiing you need all different gear entirely,
Right, I definitely mean cross country, sorry! Just starting my journey.

I'll be trekking up some steep parts, but it'll be mostly relaxed stuff. Would those bindings work for telemarking as well?
 

Analisa

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Right, I definitely mean cross country, sorry! Just starting my journey.

I'll be trekking up some steep parts, but it'll be mostly relaxed stuff. Would those bindings work for telemarking as well?

The "cross country" and "steep parts" are the pieces that are at odds with each other. Is the terrain you're looking at flat or would it be more similar to a downhill ski run at a resort?
 
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Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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Crap, I was afraid of that. So I either have to pick flat, or hilly binding wise. Got it. I'll start mostly flat (100 feet elevation gain per mile), but will look into dropping more money if I get into it and will want a telemark compatible at that time. So cheap and flat for now binding wise with all my existing alpine gear. :)
 

Analisa

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I'd get a really basic classic xc ski setup. They're pretty easy to find used or on sale. One of the popular XC ski routes out here has a steady grade gaining a little under 500ft per mile, so even as a beginner, if you're starting at 100ft per mile, you should be more than fine without skins.

If you love it, look into tele and alpine touring options. But keep in mind that it's expensive no matter how cheap your boots/bindings/skis are - a digital beacon, collapsing aluminum shovel and avalanche probe are a much more important investment. Same goes for avalanche education. Friends have managed fine enough on beat up, heavy setups they got for $300-400, but everyone tends to put at least $600-700 into the safety gear & education.
 

Doug Briggs

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Cross Country: Flat means little to no turning thus a very lightweight boot and binding may be used. Typically a lighter, narrow ski, too. This precludes using your current alpine gear.

Alpine Touring: Hilly means a stronger boot and binding setup is needed for the up and the down. This would mean a new binding or binding adapter (ala Alpine Trekker) and climbing skins.

Telemark: telemark bindings require telemark boots to work with them. They don't work with alpine boots.
 
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Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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Right, I'm starting in my backyard down Eagle Valley, so I'll definitely be game for the avalanche gear as soon as I leave that bubble. Thanks for all the help!!!
 
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Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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So would this be a good
I'd get a really basic classic xc ski setup. They're pretty easy to find used or on sale. One of the popular XC ski routes out here has a steady grade gaining a little under 500ft per mile, so even as a beginner, if you're starting at 100ft per mile, you should be more than fine without skins.

If you love it, look into tele and alpine touring options. But keep in mind that it's expensive no matter how cheap your boots/bindings/skis are - a digital beacon, collapsing aluminum shovel and avalanche probe are a much more important investment. Same goes for avalanche education. Friends have managed fine enough on beat up, heavy setups they got for $300-400, but everyone tends to put at least $600-700 into the safety gear & education.
So these would actually kinda work??
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ALPINE-TOU...233007456245?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
 

cantunamunch

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No. Those are completely non functional for cross country. They are extremely dated for alpine touring.

100 feet per mile?

You want this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpina-NNN...:RFgAAOSwlINcRq0b:sc:USPSPriority!20817!US!-1

Look inside your sneaker for your Euro size. Do NOT, EVER, buy XC boots based on US sizes.

This
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fischer-Ne...495391?hash=item28787303df:g:yo4AAOSw1lxce0r7

and this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/madshus-CT100-190cm-Touring/222651567708

and this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Swix-Trail...756018?hash=item2a7d88fcb2:g:i1sAAOSwABNcXInk

Your total cost for a starter kit should be well less than $200. Leave all your alpine kit at home, except for your spring gloves and your spring layers.
 
Last edited:

Analisa

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Those are Fritschi FT88s from the 1980s. I don't know much about their boot compatibility because they're literally ten years older than I am, but I wouldn't trust my knees with them a bit. They're pretty much the first ever AT binding and so much progress has been made on safety and performance, especially within the last decade.
 

cantunamunch

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To recap: Since you're breaking your own trail and *not* skating yet, go with NNN-BC boots and bindings, mounted on a waxless nordic ski.

You *can* learn to tele on a setup like that, but it requires larger moves than with burlier gear.

Here's a little inspirational video:
 
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Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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Those are Fritschi FT88s from the 1980s. I don't know much about their boot compatibility because they're literally ten years older than I am, but I wouldn't trust my knees with them a bit. They're pretty much the first ever AT binding and so much progress has been made on safety and performance, especially within the last decade.
Great feedback. I'm a retrofitter whenever possible, but these made the exceptions list. :)
 
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Cuse

In the parking lot (formerly "At the base lodge")
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Location
Eagle, CO
No. Those are completely non functional for cross country. They are extremely dated for alpine touring.

100 feet per mile?

You want this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpina-NNN...:RFgAAOSwlINcRq0b:sc:USPSPriority!20817!US!-1

Look inside your sneaker for your Euro size. Do NOT, EVER, buy XC boots based on US sizes.

This
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fischer-Ne...495391?hash=item28787303df:g:yo4AAOSw1lxce0r7

and this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/madshus-CT100-190cm-Touring/222651567708

and this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Swix-Trail...756018?hash=item2a7d88fcb2:g:i1sAAOSwABNcXInk

Your total cost for a starter kit should be well less than $200. Leave all your alpine kit at home, except for your spring gloves and your spring layers.


Great help! I'm 5'10" and 185, so I'll have to keep poking for boot sizes for my EE foot, etc., but great starter links! Huge help and much appreciated. Happy shredding.
 

cantunamunch

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Alpina make wide-to-very-wide boots, seriously look at the tongue tag in your sneakers for the correct size.

Fischer, Rossi and Salomon might have generous insteps but tend to be narrower and with longer toes.
 

Eric267

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I do a good bit of the type of touring you are looking to do right out the back door here in Tahoe with my dog. Something like this is what your looking for with nnn bc boots and colapasable poles.

A metal edge means you will have better grip when the snows not soft and you can cruise snowmobile packed fire roads at decent speeds. Next step up after this is to go full tele

https://www.rei.com/product/140132/fischer-outback-68-crown-cross-country-skis-with-bindings?
 

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