Nordic Touring Skis

Recent Nordic Touring Ski Reviews

Fischer Spider 62

If you're looking for an excellent set of XC skis, I recommend the Fischer Spider 62's. These skis can be used on groomed XC trails and especially off-trails. The full metal edge will give you the grip you need while in the backcountry trails, indeed. Well, here goes, my review of my Fischer Spiders XC skis. I recently picked them up at REI Outfitters in Troy, Michigan. As a matter of fact, I picked them up the day after Michigan was dumped on by the first major snowfall in 2017! When I walked into… Full review

Fischer Spider 62

Excellent skis for track or light back-country. I've been xc skiing since I was a kid growing up in Michigan—50 years! I love these skis. With full metal edges, they are perfect for skiing on snowmobile tracks or in light powder. They have a nice side cut for easy turning, and are slender enough to use in classic tracks on the golf course as well. I can even skate with them! I let a friend who is fairly new to xc skiing use them once, and she immediately bought a pair. Same thing for my sister. Full review

Salomon Snowscape 7

These are the perfect beginner's skis. They're durable without being too heavy. They slide well and you don't have to worry about waxing (time and money saving). They're good for several different skiing situations. This was really my first season skiing. In the past I've rented skis for the once or twice I would go out in a year. These skis do resemble those that many places may rent.  They're very easy to use. Waxless: One less thing to learn when you're just starting out. Good Balance: Slightly… Full review

Altai Skis Hok

True to their description, these are a cross between x-country skis and snowshoes and just might be the right choice for many for winter travel in the front and backcountry. I rented a pair if these from a local shop to give a whirl. I rented 125's that were mounted with BC NNN bindings, I happened to have a pair of boots that worked so off I went. They were easy to maneuver with, they climb nicely, and on the way out I shaved a lot of time off versus snowshoeing.   I did go down a couple a couple… Full review

Atomic Skintec Classic

A very simple, functional product. Atomic has nailed it here. Great kick, good glide, and no maintenance! Not a lot to say — they do what the manufactures says they do. Plain and simple. Full review

Atomic Skintec Classic

I went out for the first time on these skis a few days ago. I'm a recreational skier and on the trails almost daily, mostly using waxable skis. I found the Atomic skis great for grip on a fairly icy track, good glide, but watch out for lichen in the track. I do know that if a ski is waxed with klister the same can happen. I was very careful when first going over windfall on these skis. All seemed good; they did glide over windfall so I stopped worrying. Almost finished my loop, I hit some old man's… Full review

Madshus Epoch

Versatile off-trail xcountry ski. This ski is identical to the Karhu XCD 10th Mountain. This ski is marketed as a hybrid between a telemark and a xcountry ski.  Perhaps the best way to review this ski is by comparing it to its two siblings: the Madshus Eon (Karhu XCD GT) and the Madshus Annum (Karhu XCD Guide). First of all, from my perspective, all of these skis are designed to be first and foremost off-trail, classic kick and glide xcountry skis. Yes, they do have a progressive sidecut; they… Full review

Madshus Eon

Versatile and efficient off-trail xcountry. This ski is identical to the Karhu XCD GT. This ski comes in either a waxable base or a waxless base. I currently use the waxless base. These are well designed off-trail xcountry skis. I have skied several hundred kilometers on my current pair, with no problems. Although this ski is marketed as a hybrid between a telemark and a classic xcountry ski, it truly excels as an off-trail classic kick and glide ski. Yes, it does have a progressive sidecut; it… Full review

Madshus Annum

Ultimate off-trail xcountry ski: trail breaker/deep snow. I have been an avid nordic skier for over 30 years. My everyday skiing has always been off-trail, backcountry, kick and glide xcountry; on rolling terrain with the occasional steep climb and descent. For most of my years I have always assumed that something as fat as the Annum is really a telemark ski and have reserved them for that use alone (with 75mm telemark bindings). (In recent years I have only needed telemark gear a couple of times… Full review