Cross Country Ski Boots buying guide

As the winters are approaching, it is high time to gather all your skiing equipment. You can only enjoy the thrill of gliding on the snow with proper gear and equipment.

Proper cross country ski boots provide adequate support to your feet and allow you to enjoy a smooth skiing experience. These boots will enable you to experience the beauty of mother nature in a relaxed and calm manner.

But, it is crucial to select the best fit for your feet. An ill-fitted pair of skiing shoes will not only hinder you from enjoying the sport but can also lead to some severe unfortunate accidents.

While making a purchase, you must consider the material of the shoe, sole type, durability, flexibility, weight, and other additional properties to find the best option. Gathering detailed and correct facts on all these factors can become a tiresome job.

On the contrary, referring to an extensive guide will allow you to access all the information under one roof. By evaluating all these factors, you can quickly strike down the best product for your skiing expedition.

Let us first get a brief introduction to the product.

What do you mean by cross country ski boots? What are the benefits of the product?

A pair of cross country boots are considered to be one of the essential skiing gear for cross country skiing. The primary purpose of using these boots is to tighten the ski binder around your toes, and it allows your heels to be free so that you can have better control over your movement while walking or running on snow.

Different types of cross country boots are available in the market coming up with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Classic models are suitable for traditional methods of cross country skiing as they are thinner and lighter. For skate style, it will be better to use skate boots for cross country skiing that can manage extreme stresses. Combi styles take all the best features from both of the shoes to make sure you can move freely on the snowy trail.

It is imperative to get comfortable cross country boots, which will protect your feet from blisters. You must check for the right fit of the shoes so they will stay in the right place, but you have enough space inside the boots for wiggling the toes.

What is the need to read a buying guide before purchasing a pair of skiing shoes?

With different brands presenting their products in the market, you can not just blindly pick any pair of shoes. You have to consider various aspects of the product to invest your money in a suitable choice.

A buying guide incorporates all the necessary information on different characteristics that vary the usability and performance of the product. With all these details under your possession, you can quickly funnel down the best product and make an informed decision.

So without any further delay, let us dive into this comprehensive guide.

Types of cross country ski boots

Classic cross country boots

Both the beginners and advanced level skiers are allowed to wear this type of ski boots. If you are a beginner, you should give importance to how to keep the feet warm. They also provide your ankle and heel with maximum support. So you can easily choose these boots for your winter holidays.

When it comes to the experienced skiers, they have classic style boots that are lightweight. The liner is also thinner than the beginner's model, so you will not feel hot. Also, the heel counter is stiffer enough to transfer more power.

The camber can distribute the weight, which supports you to move effortlessly. Some skis are also designed with "fish scales" to increase the transaction.

Skate cross country boots

Skating ski boots are different from the classic models in terms of ankle support and sole. If your skating techniques require twisting forces, you should go for these boots. Skate skiing is not similar to classic skiing, so your ankles have to hold up more pressure.

Therefore, the ankle brace of skate boots is not only higher but stiffer as well. Usually, the ankle brace is designed with carbon or plastic materials.

Skate boots do not have softer soles like classic boots. So you can get more power to kick off with the stiff sole completely. Also, the camber of the skate skis is flatter, and thus it can match the weight of your body perfectly.

Combi cross country boots

Combi boots come up with the best features of both classic and skate models. So, if you want to enjoy skate and classic skiing with the same boots, you should buy this type of ski boots to perform well. It will help you to save money and provide the highest support for both types of skiing.

As the combi boots have the qualities of classic boots and skate boots, they have a high brace for better ankle support. It is very useful to keep your ankle in the right place to stabilize your movement. On the other hand, the softer soles of these boots are appropriate for a diagonal run.

Rollerski boots

Some cross country boots are used for roller skiing. It will be an excellent decision to have the roller ski boots if you want to run on the roller skis except for the skiing season. It will help you to keep your feet cool without getting too hot during your exercise in the summertime.

Having the roller ski boots with NNN bindings will be very useful for hotter conditions as they are lighter and well-ventilated. When you use your cross country boots for roller skiing, they may end up being damaged and torn. So you must take care of them properly and store them correctly to make sure they will last long.

Things to deem about while selecting an appropriate Cross Country Ski Boots

Flex

You can measure the stiffness of the cross country ski boots with flex. It also determines whether it will be difficult to flex the ankle or not. Generally, the flex range of each boot varies from 50 to 140. Here 50 is for very soft, and 140 indicates extremely stiff.

However, it closely depends on the manufacturers, so you must check it properly before buying your boots. Therefore, it is better to look for the flex ratings beforehand to compare the stiffness of the ski boots in a significant way.

If you are a beginner or intermediate skier, softer flex will be appropriate for you. Softer flex comes with better comfort, so the novice skiers can use them efficiently. But the boots used by experienced skiers are responsive and work efficiently, but they are not as comfortable as the previous one.

Fit

The right fit of the cross country boots is crucial for the skiers, which means you must check the fit properly when you are buying the shoes. You should make sure that the shoes are not too tight or too loose for your feet.

A snug fit of your cross country boots will be beneficial for skiing. You may find that the tip of the toe is not touching the front of the ski boots. You have no need to worry about this because it has nothing to do with the performance.

But, if your foot is not in the proper place, it will affect the power transfer. With a perfect fit for your heel, it will be easier to transfer more power to the ski without any hassles. You should check that your effort is not going to waste.

Liner

The liner of the ski boots is found inside the boot shell and around your feet. The comfort of the cross country ski boots depends on the thickness of the liner. A thicker liner makes the shoes more responsive and helps to hold up the warmth of your feet.

Thinner liners are useful for beginners and intermediate level skiers for better comfort.

1. Heat moldable

If your boots are made up of heat-molded lines, you can use them effectively in colder areas to keep the feet warm.

2. Foam injection

Some liners are available with custom fits that are designed with foam. But these liners are not commonly used as the heat moldable liners.

Insole

The insole of the ski boots is placed underside of the shoes to support your feet. It is recommended to replace the in-built insoles of the cross country boots you are buying with better quality insoles or custom insoles. The main aim of using the insoles is to provide comfort and support in power transmission, so you should choose the insoles accordingly.

1. Custom insoles

Custom insoles have the exact shape of your feet. There are different ways to have a custom insole. One of them is to take a mold of the feet and use it to create the footbed. With a 3D scan, it will be better to have a solid footbed made up of EVA foam.

You can get the most appropriate fit with the custom insoles. However, you just need to invest more.

2. Heated insoles

As the name suggests, heating elements are used in making heated insoles. You are able to connect the insoles to a battery that will make the feet warm. Moreover, it will enhance your comfort while you are skiing in extremely colder conditions.

Size

You must look for the right size of the cross country ski boots because without choosing the right size, you can have a snug fit. Thus it determines the efficiency of the shoes greatly. If you buy the best quality boots, it will disappoint you with the performance when you fail to pick up the correct size.

You should check that your feet are not able to move inside the boots. Otherwise, it will lose energy, and you will not have much energy to transfer. You can consider your regular shoe size when you are about to buy your ski boots.

When you keep the new shoes out of the box, it may seem a little bit stiffer. Nevertheless, you will get the shape of your feet after the break period.

Insulation

Another critical factor to be considered while buying the cross country ski boots is insulation. Excellent insulation property is highly required for the cross country boots.

During cross country skiing, you will be spending a long period of time on the snow. So what you need to do in the first place is to hold up the warmth of your feet.

Therefore, most of the boots are designed with insulation, including Thinsulate protection. Also, there are several other options available for insulation, which can effectively increase the warmth of your feet.

Waterproof

Needless to say that your cross country boots must be waterproof, and the importance of this waterproof feature is very significant for these boots.

When you are using any type of skiing gear for long hours on the snowy trail, they will get drenched inevitably. Similarly, if your ski boots are not waterproof, your socks will become wet quickly, which will cause discomfort while skiing.

So the boots designed with a waterproof outer layer will be advantageous to protect you from that particular discomfort. Commonly, waterproof boots are available at a higher price, but if you can afford to pay a little extra, in the beginning, you will not have to worry for the next few years.

In general, cross country skiing is considered a fair-weather sport, so many manufacturers do not give much importance to the waterproof features. You must be careful while buying your boots to avoid different problems in the future.

Buckles

You should not overlook the style of buckles as they play a significant role in holding up the cross country ski boots tightly. Typically, these boots are designed with four buckles. Two of them wrap your foot, and others are placed around the shin.

Usually, the styles differ depending on the manufacturers and boot styles, but most of the boots are equipped with an arm that reaches over the hooks.

1. Micro adjustment

If you want to increase or decrease the buckle's length, you have to turn the hook anti-clockwise or clockwise, respectively. Thus you can adjust the tightness of the buckles.

2. Oversized buckles

In order to provide additional support and strength to the boots, some of the manufacturers use oversized buckles in the shoes.

3. 3D buckles

With 3D buckles, it is very effortless to adjust them as per your preference as they are able to be moved.

4. Straps

Besides buckles, straps are also very essential for cross country ski boots. You will find the velcro strap at the top of the ski boots that are used to keep your shoes tighten around the legs.

The good straps help you get the right fit with added flexibility and comfort to get the best performance without any issues.

5. Strap width

Usually, stiffer ski boots come with wider straps that are missing in the softer boots. Wider straps work significantly to provide better support to your upper legs.

6. Fastening style

Some boots are equipped with systems to tighten the straps where some other models have come up with some other fastening techniques instead of velcro straps.

Binding compatibility

If you are looking for the best pair of cross country ski boots, you must consider the shoes' binding to make sure that it is compatible enough for use. Many people out there have reported incompatibility, which can impede the flawless performance of the shoes.

However, you must keep in mind that the binding compatibility is a factor that depends on the style of your cross country skiing. You must make your choice according to the skiing techniques.

Along with New Nordic Norm (NNN), Nordic Integrated System (NIS) is commonly used in bindings. However, these bindings are not so appropriate for extreme terrain, you can consider them for off trailed and groomed trailed skiing.

There are some other available bindings, including Nordic Norm Backcountry(NNB), 75mm 3-pin, etc. which are wider and bulkier, so they are not suitable for in-track skiing. But due to their strength, they can be used in groomed terrain effectively.

Furthermore, you can go for the Salomon Nordic System(SNS), which works compatibly with SNS ski boots that offer you more freedom than NNN bindings.

Support

You will expect a lot of support from your ski boots. But you have to consider the terrain of your skiing beside your cross country skiing techniques so that you can find the best support for your ankles and legs.

Diagonal skiing is easier than skating because skating causes more strain on the joints. Put simply, if you go for the basic ski boots, you may not find the stiffness and protection you want.

Therefore, you should plan the trip very carefully to make sure what type of gear you need the most and what will be helping you in the best possible way. It will be better to select your ski boots accordingly.

Cushioning

When you are going skiing you should get prepared so that you will spend long hours on the snow. If you are an experienced skier, you will understand the importance of cushioning in your cross country ski boots. But for the novice skiers, it must be a matter of concern.

After some time, you will feel that your heels and ankles have started to sore if you do not use a boot with proper cushioning. Always bear it in mind that cushioning ensures the comfort of the shoes you are choosing to have.

You should search for such boots that are designed with soft surfaces that will effectively help you to reduce the pain and fatigue. The best quality boots come with the minimum discomfort so you can use them for an extended period of time and enjoy your skiing hassle-free.

Last

Last is termed used in skiing that refers to the foot shape. Previously, the ski boots were made in such a way that they would be able to fit with various shapes of the foot. These models were appropriate for different shoes, including narrow, wide, low volume, high volume, etc.

Nowadays, manufacturers are more likely to design different boots that go well with different shapes of the foot.

So what you need to do is look for the best ski boots models that will fit your foot shape precisely.

Sole length

Although sole length does not have any impacts on the fit of the cross country boots, you should not take it for granted while choosing a model for you. It is to be remembered that the sole length of the shoes affects the ski bindings in a significant way.

Sole length is determined by measuring the distance between the heel and the toe, which can change from person to person. If you fail to choose the right sole length, it will definitely not hold the binding properly.

You will find the sole length on the boot's side, and it is measured in millimeters. Also, You can seek the help of a technician to adjust the binding accurately.

FAQs

1. What is the optimum size required for country ski boots?

The apt size of country ski boots is the same as your normal shoe size. The best way to judge that is to wear them and then, check for the right size. Also, you can buy one size smaller so that you can wear country ski boots a little tight but perfect for getting the best fit.

2. Can't my regular boots work just fine?

No, we recommend choosing country ski boots that impart both the warmth and comfort to provide the right flexibility while skiing. These ski boots are essential to enable the movement of your body easily without any problem.

3. Why is insulation an essential factor while buying country ski boots?

Insulation helps a skier to feel warmth in the feet while you ski through the snow. Mostly all these boots come with Thinsulate protection that guards your feet against all the weather conditions accurately.

4. Is it essential to check binding compatibility?

Yes, every skier needs to keep an eye on the bindings on their skis. It is necessary to know this so that you can select the boots depending upon your style of cross country skiing.

Final verdict

Gliding through the snowy mountains and reconnecting your soul with the mesmerizing beauty of nature is one of the best ways to enjoy the wintertime. The cross country ski boots present an efficient way to go for long and relaxing skies while keeping your feet warm and comfortable.

In this guide, we have listed out all the necessary pointers to deem about while selecting an ultimate product. Wrap your mind around all the aspects and arm yourself with the best pair of shoes and enjoy your skiing expedition.