Nordic backcountry skiing is cross country skiing off the groomed track. Think woods roads, snowy fields, rolling trails and gentle descents, the kind of day where you cover ground more than you chase steep turns. The gear has metal edges, a little more width and sturdier boots than track skis, but it is still built to kick and glide with a free heel.

It is a great way to explore in winter without the weight of an alpine touring setup, and it opens up places a resort never reaches.

Skis: width and base

Width is the first decision. Skis in the 50 to 70 mm range stride and glide well on packed trails and flat ground. Skis in the 80 mm range and wider float in soft snow and turn more easily on the way down, at the cost of some glide on the flats.

The base decides how you climb. A waxless pattern, often called fishscale or crown, grips with no prep at all. Some skis add a short skin zone for steeper climbs, and full climbing skins add the most grip of all. Waxable bases can glide and grip beautifully when you wax them right for the day.

Ski type	Width	Feels like	Best for
Light touring	About 50 to 65 mm	Fast stride and glide	Packed trails and long distances
All-around nordic BC	About 65 to 80 mm	Balanced glide and control	Mixed terrain and woods roads
Wide nordic BC	About 80 mm and up	Floats and turns	Soft snow and longer descents

Boots and bindings

Nordic backcountry boots are taller and stiffer than track boots, so you can steer a wider, heavier ski. Your boot and binding must use the same system. The common ones are NNN BC, Rottefella's newer Xplore system, and the classic 75 mm three-pin norm, which also works with many telemark-style boots.

Lighter boots feel better on long, flat days. Taller, stiffer boots give more control when you add speed and turns. If you plan to ski mostly downhill-oriented terrain, a sturdier boot is worth the extra weight.

Building the right setup

Start with where you will ski. If most days are on packed trails with gentle hills, go narrower and lighter. If you want to explore fresh snow and ski down more than you glide, go wider with a stiffer boot. Then size the skis to your weight and the conditions you expect, and match the binding to your boot.

Browse our cross country skis, boots and bindings, or read our telemark gear guide if you want to go free-heel with more downhill power.