HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CROSS-COUNTRY SKI BINDINGS?
Cross-country ski beginners looking for their future equipment or all-terrain enthusiasts ready to renew their gear, in either case, choosing the right cross-country ski binding is above all about adapting it to your discipline, your level and your budget. Just like skis, there are a variety of models, each with its own specificities. Follow our advice.
To each cross-country practice, its binding
Classic, skating or touring, everyone can discover the mountains in their own way. Cross-country disciplines bring together several approaches to gliding. The most classic one is still the one we remember when we talk about cross-country skiing. It is practiced in dedicated areas, in the heart of nature, close to the resorts. Two rails are laid out to gline with 2 slim skis on. This will require correspondingly thin cross-country ski bindings.
More sporty, skating is a more dynamic gliding discipline. It made its appearance a few years ago and seems to be gaining ground. It allows you to explore the snowy fields without constraints because it does not require any rails. On the other hand, the track must be groomed. On the binding side, we are then looking for a product that is always thin, but above all light enough to keep the pace without getting worn out.
Finally, cross-country touring is similar to ski touring as its aim is to access more remote sites, all in a true spirit of freedom. To venture into the backcountry, you'll need wide skis, close to those used in freetouring, and therefore cross-country ski bindings that are equally wide and sturdy.
THE BRAKES
The purpose of brakes is to slow down a lost ski during a fall. To keep equipment as light as possible, some cross-country ski bindings lack them. Others will need to fit cross-country touring "fat" skis, so it's worth checking the width of the brakes when buying.
The different types of bindings in cross-country skiing
A veritable range of bindings is available to you. Making the right choice isn't that easy. Especially since the choice of a cross-country ski binding will have to fit your skis and boots.
Some skis may come with an IFP plate, or even NIS (less common). These plates, are inspired by alpine bindings, i.e. attached to the ski. The binding will then slide into the plate. The heel piece and the toe piece are connected by this plate, which lifts with the boot in "walking" mode. One of the advantages of a sliding binding is that it is adjustable. This means that it will be easy to lend or resell your cross-country ski equipment, as the next user will be able to adjust it to their shoe size. On the other hand, cross-country ski bindings with plates are particularly heavy compared to the new generations of cross-country bindings. They are therefore not recommended if you are a beginner or if you plan on high ascending elevation outings.
Instead of an IFP or NIS plate, you can opt for screw-in bindings (which we mainly find at Salomon & Atomic). This will require drilling your skis to insert the bindings. At this point, there is no turning back. However, if you are going to be the sole owner of these skis, then a screw-in binding will give you lightness and performance. Generally called "dynafit" after the first brand to offer this system, the screw-in cross-country ski bindings engage with a spike system at the front of the boot. The heel is therefore completely free. Nevertheless, you will also need suitable boots.
ADJUSTING YOUR SKI BINDINGS PROPERLY
Adjusting your cross-country ski bindings allows you to customise the release of the boot. It is therefore a safety feature that should not be overlooked. For this, we rely on the DIN setting, a table of values indicated according to your weight, height and level of practice.
Cross-country ski binding standards
When talking about cross-country skiing, a point on the standards available is necessary. Indeed, several brands share the market, with different norms and standards. The major difficulty is to choose compatible equipment.
There are 4 main standards: SNS and NNN, which are the oldest, Prolink and Turnamic, two versatile standards.
The SNS standard is one of the pioneers in this discipline. It is compatible with Salomon & Atomic. Note that there is a "SNS Pilot" version that includes the same brands but requires shoes that are specifically "Pilot" compatible. This system is designed for beginners in particular (but not only!) and offers more guidance. Please take into account that this standard is about to disappear in the next few years.
The NNN standard is the counterpart of the first one, but includes the rest of the brands. Choosing a NNN model therefore means leaving yourself more room for manoeuvre.
More recent, the Prolink and Turnamic standards aim to give every enthusiast the maximum choice in terms of boots and skis. With the Prolink standard, developed by Salomon, you will be able to use this cross-country ski binding with all the other brands mentioned above. Similarly, Turnamic normed bindings are compatible with all other standards except for SNS.
Then we realise that the SNS, although it's one of the original standards, is the less versatile of cross-country ski bindings, as it is mainly used for the Salomon brand.
In the world of cross-country skiing, the variety of models, norms and standards makes your head spin. Choosing the right cross-country ski bindings requires taking a close look at your practice and expectations, making the right compromises and finding the right ones within your budget.
THE THREE KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR CROSS-COUNTRY SKI BINDINGS:
- I choose my cross-country ski binding according to my practice
- I make sure my equipment (ski, binding, boot) is compatible
- I adjust my bindings to remove my boots safely