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Cross
Country Ski Boots & Bindings
Cross country ski boots and bindings
have evolved a long way since there inception. Traditionally, cross country ski
boots was nothing more than a pair of hiking boots attached to skis with clamp/heel
strap retention system. They evolved to a 3 prong system to the basic step in
bar clip and now we have the modern day Salomon Profil system. In the beginning
the first cross country ski bindings and even some now you have very little or
poor edge control. Edge control is the ability to maneuver downhill, downhill
cornering, cornering and climbing efficiently. With some ski bindings you'll notice
that the ski slides out underneath you as you try to do any of the preceding maneuvers.
With a good cross country ski boot/binding combination you'll expend less energy
controlling your skis and more time just enjoying the outdoors. In addition to
that you'll spend more time upright on your skis instead of lying down in the
snow. So when you look for a ski boot/binding system you want to find something
that is comfortable, provides the appropriate support and offers the best transfer
of energy to the skis without sacrificing control or efficiency. Even though some
boot/ binding systems look very similar to one another, there is a pretty big
difference when you go out to use them. At the Bikeway Source we've taken out
the guesswork when it comes to boots and bindings. We've tried out every cross
country ski boot/binding available and you'll only find various Salomon bindings
on our own personal skis. What kind of skiing are you going to be doing?
Did you get a pair of skate, classical or combination skis? There is a boot for
every occasion. Skate boots offer up more lateral support and have a higher cuff
for more efficient energy transfer and control. Classical boots allow for proper
flex to achieve an optimal kick. If you are looking to do a little bit of both,
a combination boot (Skiathlon) can offer the best of both worlds. A boot with
enough support to skate in, but enough flex to kick in. Although the Skiathlon
boot is certainly not the best boot for skate or classical, it's good enough to
do both in. While you can do classical in a skate boot, it won't be very fun or
efficient because of how stiff the boot is and you would not be able to skate
in a classical boot because there is not enough lateral support. Depending
on how much you ski and what your goals are wil l help us determine what kind
of boot and binding system you will need. Or perhaps you already have skis and
you want to upgrade your boots and bindings. At the Bikeway Source we have appropriate
boots and bindings for the occasional skier to the aspiring racer.
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