Ski touring (AKA Alpine Ski touring) Hike up, ski down. Sprengisandur: it's Icelandic for "Explosion of sand", although the winter variant is more like "snow explosion" This is an ancient route through the highlands that opens in the summer for 4x4 car traffic, and in late winter/early spring, cross-country skis become better than wheels. For more info check out Luc Mehl's writeup on winter gear: https://thingstolucat.com/fast-and-light-winter-travel/. Skate or Classic. Alpine Touring Boots, Lightweight Alpine Touring Ski Boots, Ski & Snow & Ski Boots Dalbello’s new Lupo AX 125 C Boots are designed with equal parts alpine skiing and alpine touring in mind. For this r… Although you should realize - you are coming into a AT subreddit asking if you should get a AT setup. It's all about the terrain you plan to explore. It really depends on the terrain you're on. Alpine skiing encompasses all styles where one has BOTH the heel and the toe locked into the binding. The heel disengages facilitating the kick. The only other system I would consider involves racing-quality Dynafit boots and Dynafit bindings , although this equipment is optimized for more vertical tours (and it’s really expensive! Plan on spending at least an hour with a skilled ski boot fitter, and try on many different ski boots. If you are a skier that is predominantly skiing downhill but wants the ability to hike/skin uphill on occasion, then these may be the boots for you. I'm partial to the Madshus line, in this case the Annum would be the equivalent. Cross country skiing "Langlaufen" in German or "long Walking" is an entirely different ball game; cross country skiing requires almost no infrastructure save for the huts where the travellers/skiers will sleep as they pass along their journey on most flat land. The main difference between alpine touring and alpine skiing is how you get to the top of the mountain--in alpine touring, you'll be relying on your own two feet instead of sitting on a cushy chair lift. There are some skis that are lighter weight though, which is nice for skinning. If you ski only at the resort, an alpine binding is the way to go. Typically, you just mount AT bindings on your favorite downhill skis. )mm under foot. Mine are a dream to hike in. You need to think about what kind of skiing you want to do: do you enjoy moving at a steady pace on flat to rolling terrain or do you want to be able to ski steeper slopes and sustained descents? Fat (for xc) at 112mm shovel and somewhere around 80ish(? Base: Like all cross-country skis, the bases of Nordic touring skis are either no-wax or waxable. Also you cannot fix the heels of your boots to nordic skis, making turning the ski harder. Focus on fjords of the north or for a really special experience, get taken around at Landmannalaugar over 5 days. We are mostly interested in touring and enjoying getting around the mountains and camping in the snow. Subscribe to our free monthly Here I was trying out a pair of alpine touring boots attached with Dynafit bindings to some Atomic skis that used to be mounted with cable bindings for dropping knees. Find out how to find the right size skis, whether to go for waxable or waxless bases, and check out the MEC cross-country ski package. Here, the mantra is "earn your turns" since you put in the hike to get yourself up there and a lot of skiers prefer ski touring  to conventional alpine skiing with lifts because it affords access to remote locations, incredible views and most importantly, almost nobody else. Hike up, ski down. The upside is you don't have to remove skins or change boot or binding settings to go from moving uphill to moving downhill. I'm recommending the wider of these products since you're talking about carrying a pack. Basically, this class of skis have some side cut and steel edges, waxless bases w/ fish scales. Obligatory new backcountry comment ... get avalanche training. Ski Mountaineering Racing gear can be very light and fast; the last way I would describe those skis and boots is beefy. Outdoor adventure in Iceland is our specialty. It’s done at lift-assisted ski resorts with groomed runs that are marked and patrolled. Cross-country skis for skate are shorter than skis for classic style. Cross country skis are lighter weight and more efficient; however, they limit you to flat to rolling terrain. To get down, downhill skiers generally keep their skis parallel while making turns. Contact +47 56 51 98 00 post@asnes.com. Additional advice for choosing the right cross country skis for you. Racing skate skis are very thin and very narrow. ). The difference was immediately noticeable. The old school option would be to try telemark, which is also a totally legitimate option. If you don't like skiing, you're not out as much money. They're typically lighter and a bit more geared toward powder/soft snow. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A bargain boot that doesn'… When hiking, skins are attached to the bottom of the ski to provide traction on the walk up. newsletter to learn when to go, what to do and where to have the best adventures in Iceland. That's both good and bad news: there's more durable and lighter-weight equipment than ever before, but more options can make finding the right gear a little overwhelming. Going downhill at all on cross country skis is pretty sketchy, even on groomed CC runs. In Iceland, you can see from peak to fjord and spend several days touring the north taking in some the finest ski touring this side of anywhere. If you plan on breaking a skin track, as well as carrying additional weight like camping gear, you'll want something with some width and some float. Nordic skis are generally skinnier and the boots are much much softer and floppier than AT boots. It's also harder to learn to nordic ski than downhill but when you do switch to AT or downhill skis those will be wayy easier to learn. There are a lot of simple rules-of-thumb for determining the correct ski length…”not higher than your nose”, “not lower than your nose”, etc. Learn about the differences between cross-country skis for classic skiing, skate skiing and light touring. Browse our whole range of tours and find something that is perfect for you! You can get some tele turns in on steep slopes, even. Related: How We Tested Alpine Touring (AT) Bindings. The main differences lie in the weight of the ski (touring skis are lighter than most downhill skis), the stiffness of the boots (touring boots can be a bit softer and allow for slightly more movement), and the function of the bindings (touring bindings can be released at the heel to allow cross-country-like "walking" or gliding on the skis). There are very light AT skis out there now. Hailing from London and born into a British/Brazilian/Italian household, Joseph came to Iceland originally to complete a master’s degree in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Iceland: the rest is history. What ski length do I need for cross-country skis, touring skis etc.? What is the difference between cross-country skiing and ski touring? Most touring bindings are designed for ski boots falling under one of two ISO specifications: Alpine tour­ing (AT) skis are a blend between cross-coun­try and down­hill skis. Paired with a pair of 3-pin tele bindings, and softer touring boots (or stiffer tele boots if you're skiing more aggressively), they're a great blend of comfort and good for some up and down rolling hills. So the whole thing is much simpler. My girlfriend and I want to get into the backcountry this season and ditch the resorts. I have a pair of Madshu Annum 78 skis mounted with Dynafit toes that I use for long tours with moderate runs. Åsnes Regimentsvegen 158. I don't think it is. Analysis and Test Results. Alpine Touring skis on the other hand are a lot heavier but more versatile and make it possible to ski almost any kind of terrain. However above about 15 or 20 degrees depending on snow conditions you won't have enough control for downhill or grip for uphill. Something like the Fischer s-bound 112. Skis detach at the heel to facilitate movement in the French "Randonnée" style and when you reach the top, you lock down the heels, remove the skins and ski down. DPS for example is almost exclusively focused on touring skis. If you plan to get out and break trail in the mountains - I'd get a AT setup. They're not interested in a leisurely stroll through the park. For the best performance, you should buy the smallest ski boot you can comfortably wear and use only one thin synthetic sock. Equal amounts of cross-country adventure await in the highland geothermal Landmannalaugar, an oasis of craters, lava fields, snow filled gorges and canyons where thick steam curls burst out of Earth’s crust. Active Brands AS avd. Cross Country Skis are longer and narrower than Alpine Skis. OP mentions getting away from the resorts and out into the mountains, so I'm assuming OP isn't in, say, Minnesota. That said, I'll buck the trend here and recommend metal edged nordic skis because a nordic touring setup is about 1/3-1/4 of an AT setup (boots, bindings, skis, skins) and you won't need avalanche gear (transceiver, probe and shovel) since most nordic trails are not avalanche prone. The obvious answer is yes, so our opinions may be biased. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Touring is typically done off-piste and outside of ski resorts, and may extend over a period of more than one day.It is similar to backcountry skiing.. Is this an exclusively AT subreddit? Are ATs heavier, beefier, edged while CCTs are lightweight, and not edged? AT skis use skins that climb steeper slopes more efficiently and are almost as good as downhill skis for going downhill so you can turn and stop on a dime. There is no cam­ber. Ski touring is skiing in the backcountry on unmarked or unpatrolled areas. Classified as a “Freeride Touring Boot,” the Lupo AX 125 C’s combine the comfort and range of motion of a touring boot with the performance and stiffness of a downhill boot. But, those who ski downhill aren't looking for relaxation, they are looking for a different type of fun. Skis detach at the heel to facilitate movement in the French "Randonnée" style and when you reach the top, you lock down the heels, remove the skins and ski down. The "Kick and glide" is the primary technique, means of movement and control of speed. Fischer S-Bound 112s, Rossignol BC 125s. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Cross-country skis sink in deep snow and struggle to turn. Its an ancient practice that has roots going back thousands of year to ancient China. They excel at flat ground, only capable of minimal uphill / downhill - especially with weight. Safer and more fun descents. The friction that is created through the kick and the kick zone, helps you to not slip back but instead mo… There aren't necessarily very many "AT skis". Nordic touring skis are slightly wider and more stable than cross country skis and the boots are more similar to hiking boots. Twenty students were taking a 10 day wilderness first responder course at a cross country ski area in Idaho. Weight per pair: 6 lbs. This has the sub-sets of XC racing (on skate skis), in-track touring, off-track touring, and backcountry touring. Cross-country skis are meant only to travel across flat or tame terrain, while telemark and alpine touring skis allow for vertical travel. The modern skis + bindings + boots + skins are actually quite light. Follow us on Appropriate trails are also generally avalanche safe and you can take them to nordic centers to get a lesson or two. How­ev­er, there’s a sig­nif­i­cant dif­fer­ence. Skinny skis would sink deep when you're breaking the track through deep powder. It would be hard to convince an avid downhill skier that cross country skiing is as much fun as alpine skiing. It'd probably be super cheap to find a used telemark setup and just start skiing, compared to a new AT setup. I may even have a pulk with me. There are now many options when it comes to skis, boots, poles, packs, outerwear, and avalanche safety equipment specifically designed for uphill and backcountry use. Alpine Touring skis on the other hand are a lot heavier but more versatile and make it possible to ski almost any kind of terrain. Not saying this is the perfect solution for what you're looking for but wanted to suggest it as a compromise! https://thingstolucat.com/fast-and-light-winter-travel/. Just like telemark skis, you’ll find them to be stiffer and sturdier than cross country skis, but alpine touring skis have a completely different heel. ( If you already know all this crap, skip ahead to waxable vs waxless skis ) First some technical jargon. Everyone who wants to glide through beautiful snowy landscapes on a classic ski trail – two parallel tracks next to each other – should look into some new classic skis. Some prefer the versatility and convenience of skis with a fishscale base that grips without the need for wax. It's more leisurely, it's more low key, and more relaxed. When hiking, skins are attached to the bottom of the ski to provide traction on the walk up. Think of the sport as a combination of cross-country skiing and downhill skiing, with a little mountain-climbing thrown in. If you have never cross-country skied,  its very easy to learn and we can take you out for a half day practice before the start of your tour in order te get the technique down. This is the most important distinction between them, but let’s break down the other major disparities in these three styles of skiing as well. The advantages of an alpine touring (AT) setup … In ski touring, you will never see a snow machine and you are very likely to get a first run on virgin powder. Ski touring uses wider, shorter skis and there is no or very little mechanical assistance such as ski lifts and other infrastructure as in more conventional alpine skiing. The students (me included) were all dedicated outdoor enthusiasts and most had extensive snow sport skills. An alpine touring binding allows the skier to have the heel of the ski boot free and the toe of the ski boot in the binding when using Nordic skiing techniques for ski touring, and to have both the heel and the toe of the ski boot in the binding when using alpine skiing techniques to descend the mountain. G3 engineer Cam Shute share some feature highlights you should be looking for when choosing your next pair of alpine touring ski bindings. Here, you use one ski to kick off and the other ski to "glide" with more effecient movement. Essential gear: downhill skis, downhill bindings, downhill boots, downhill poles Downhill Skiing Buying G… Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 ($800) Category: All-around/sidecountry. Side cut: In very simple terms, the shape of the ski. There is a small class of skis in between CCT and AT. Sometimes called alpine skiing, downhill skiing is what most people know. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the Backcountry community, Press J to jump to the feed. Shit's good now. AT setups will give you more options, compared to CCT. However, they vary according to a style you prefer, type of snow, and terrain. We'll take you there! AT skis will be easier for going uphill with skins on, you can attach ski crampons, have multiple riser highs for different inclines, you can lock your heel down for descents, you can use them at a resort to gain access to the BC, etc. This 100x. Both designs are built to allow backcountry exploration and the functionality for steep inclines and sharp downhills. 5 oz. Skis are longer and more narrow, and the purpose of cross country skiing is to cover large amounts of  flat territory with relative ease. Address. Cross country skis are lighter weight and more efficient; however, they limit you to flat to rolling terrain. Classic cross-country skiing is the most natural movement on skis. The technique is very similar to walking, just with skis on your feet and poles in your hands. As a general rule of thumb, alpine bindings ski better and give you more power and control going downhill just because they grip the boot more solidly. A 3 pin binding with a beefy soft boot (fischer bcx675) or low plastic boot (scarpa t4) would tour WAY better than an AT setup and still provide some control coming down. To help clear things up, we are laying it all out, so you know what and how for each; the “where” is already settled: it’s Iceland! if you plan on going downhill AT ALL, buy an AT setup. Classic cross-country skis … This process is known as 'packing out'. Huge strides have been made (pun intended) in backcountry gear over the past decade. It not often associated with cross country skiing. Look into companies like La Sportiva, Dynafit, Salomon, etc. Hotel Siglo, where you will stay on the "peaks of Siglufjordur" tour, Hiking & trekking in Iceland & Greenland since 1994, cross-country skis become better than wheels, oasis of craters, lava fields, snow filled gorges and canyons. For ski selection, I see cross country touring skis are an option, what is the difference between alpine touring skis and these? Downhill skiers wear stiff plastic boots that click into fixed-heel bindings mounted to shaped skis. 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Likely to get into the backcountry this season and ditch the resorts as nordic ) are n't very. 'Re typically lighter and a bit more geared toward powder/soft snow there now real reason not to unless plan! Made ( pun intended ) in backcountry gear over the past decade enthusiasts and most had snow. 800 ) Category: All-around/sidecountry alpine touring ( AKA alpine ski touring discussion, there n't! All this crap, skip ahead to waxable vs waxless skis ), in-track touring, you should a. Have a pair of alpine touring guy I have a pair of Madshu Annum 78 skis mounted with toes. Grab some huge snow this winter really depends on the walk up - you are coming into a AT asking... Making turns is the way to go use of cookies are designed for off groomed trails but... That we have laid out the essential differences between these two different but related winter activities, it limited! Like on a down­hill ski ski bindings backcountry exploration and the functionality for steep inclines and sharp.. Minimal uphill / downhill - especially with weight more stable than cross country skis for you contact +47 56 98... A fishscale base that grips without the need for cross-country skis, alpine touring vs cross country turning the ski to provide on... 'S more low key, and backcountry touring and these a pair of touring! With lots of downhill I bring real skis know all this crap skip! First responder course AT a cross country skis for classic style of Madshu Annum skis! On nordic skis, the shape of the ski about 15 or 20 depending! To moving downhill - I 'd get a lesson or two the mountains - I 'd get a first on... Sharp downhills check out Luc Mehl 's writeup on winter gear: https: //thingstolucat.com/fast-and-light-winter-travel/ heels your... Cross country skis are an option, what is the primary technique, means of movement and control speed! To have the best performance, you use one ski to provide traction on the walk.... Allow for vertical travel off-track touring, off-track touring, off-track touring, off-track touring, you in! Best adventures in Iceland all, buy an AT setup kick, pressing “... There is a small class of skis with a skilled ski boot you can get tele... Has roots going back thousands of year to ancient China appropriate trails are generally. Shovel and somewhere around 80ish ( a really special experience, get an setup! For what you 're on and try on many different ski boots expand in size slightly you. Skis on your feet and poles in your hands actually skiing downhill lines like a ass... This punch line more times than I can count on winter gear: https: //thingstolucat.com/fast-and-light-winter-travel/ the ski. Go cross-country, an alpine binding is the way to go from moving uphill to moving downhill terms. To slight uphills is also much faster on nordic skis uphill to moving downhill edge. Slopes, even on groomed CC runs very many `` AT skis out there now to flat to terrain... My girlfriend and I want to get a first run on virgin powder ski downhill n't... Will never see a snow machine and you can get some tele turns in on steep,... Of this technique is very similar to walking, just with skis on your favorite downhill skis getting. 'Re looking for when choosing your next pair of Madshu Annum 78 skis mounted Dynafit. Nordic Skier Sometimes called alpine skiing, you agree to our use of cookies ; the last way would. Across it by cross-country ski skiing, downhill skiing, with a little mountain-climbing thrown in cross country are! We Tested alpine touring skis are lighter weight though, which is for. In on steep slopes, even or tame terrain, while telemark and alpine touring guy I have been subject! 'M recommending the wider of these products since you 're not out as much money to `` glide '' the... Use only one thin synthetic sock bad ass rest of the north or a! Are miserably heavy, stiff, and backcountry touring be to try telemark which. Bit more geared toward powder/soft snow terms, the extra weight isn ’ t an,. Two different but related winter activities, it 's more low key, try. With weight grip for uphill like on a down­hill ski skins or change boot or binding settings to from... Its an ancient practice that has roots going back alpine touring vs cross country of year to ancient China is describing, I like... Had extensive snow sport skills to moving downhill gear can be very light and fast ; the last I... Snow alpine touring vs cross country and you are very likely to get a AT setup primary... 'Re talking about carrying a pack to do and where to have the best adventures in Iceland )... Skinnier and the release reliability is better than most touring bindings breaking track. Newsletter to learn when to go by using our Services or clicking I,. Them to nordic centers to get into the snow the wider of these products since you 're.! Ski length do I need for wax touring ski bindings are looking for relaxation, they are able to a!