Best Cross Country Skis & Gear For 2024
Author: Bert Hinkley, ski guru at Webcyclery
Last updated: November 2023
We want to make sure you absolutely love your time on the nordic track, so every year we put together a list of the best cross country skis, boots, bindings, and poles, and wax that we know will serve you well.
If you're looking for the best nordic gear for your style of xc skiing, explore this buyer's guide and you're sure to find some winners.
Best Cross Country Skis
Choosing the right ski is the first step. You’ll want to decide which style suits you best and pick a set of skis that are designed for that purpose. At Webcyclery and Webskis we sell skate, classic, and backcountry nordic skis.
There are a few concepts to keep in mind. Understanding ski flex is important in selecting the appropriate pair of skis. You should pick a ski based on your weight, your experience level, and your skiing goals. Finding the proper size is another part of the equation, and you can check out our Cross Country Ski Size Chart.
As a rule of thumb, stiffer skis are better for hard packed surfaces, and more flex is required for softer terrain. Also, stiffer skis lend to better power transfer, so skate skiers tend to look for a stiffer ski than a backcountry skier, but everything is dependent on your own individual skill level and goals.
Best Skate Skis
Fischer RCS Skate Plus
The RCS is the ski that every ski company tries to copy. It now offers Cold Base Bonding which improves wax absorption and makes for a faster ski. The RCS uses Fischer's 115 mold construction, putting as little more pressure on the tip and tail, making for a more stable feeling ski. Great on firmer conditions.
Price: $550
Sidecut: 41-44-44
Length: 171 - 191
Stiffness: medium or stiff
Weight: 1.090g/186cm
Fischer Speedmax Skate 3D Plus
This model features Fischer’s Cold Base Bonding to improve wax absorption and Gliding Sidewalls to reduce friction. When seconds matter, the Speedmax is the weapon of choice. The Speedmax uses the 610 mold construction which reduces the pressure at the tip and tail. Perfect on compact to soft snow.
Price: $825
Sidecut: 41-44-44
Length: 176 - 191
Stiffness: medium or stiff
Weight: 1.030g/186cm
Shop More Skate Skis
Best Classic Skis
Fischer Superlite Crown EF
The Superlite Crown gives excellent kick in most conditions. Outside of super icy conditions, this ski will give the most consistent kick of just about all of the skis we sell. It features Fischer's Efficient Forward technology, making it work for a huge range of skier ability and size.
Price: $299
Salomon S/Race eSkin Classic
Skin skis have become quite popular lately, and the Salomon S/Race is one of our favorites. The low-profile camber makes for an easy kicker. No quiver is complete without a skin ski.
Price: $699.95
Fischer Speedmax Classic 3D Plus 812
This is Fischer's World Cup level ski. Like the skate version, this ski features Fischer’s Cold Base Bonding and Gliding Sidewalls, making it one of the fastest classic skis you can buy.
Price: $825
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Best Cross Country Touring Skis
Fischer Spider 62
Our most popular ski, bar none. The Spider features a full metal edge, and is just small enough to fit into the track, but wide enough to let you explore out of the tracks. Features Fischer's Offtrack Crown base which makes for great kick.
Price: $289
Fischer Traverse 78
It won't fit into machined track, but this one is still lightweight and offers a little more float for those getting off the beaten path.
Price: $369
Fischer S-Bound 98
This is the biggest ski that we offer. The 98mm shovel let's you go into the backcountry and not worry about getting bogged down in the deep stuff. Features Fischer's EZ Skin system, which makes putting on skins a breeze.
Price: $439
Shop More XC Touring Skis
Best Cross Country Ski Boots
Different styles require different materials and levels of stiffness. Skate boots are designed for maximum speed, so those boots are the stiffest, while classic boots require a little more flex. Check out our top picks in each category.
Not sure what your nordic boot size is or how they should fit for best performance? Head over to our Cross Country Ski Boot Size Chart.
Best Skate Ski Boots
Salomon S/MAX Carbon Skate Boot
The Salomon S/MAX Carbon Skate Boot is a great buy for someone looking to start racing or skiing at a higher level. It’s light and fast without sacrificing too much comfort so you can enjoy honing your skills and pushing your boundaries.
Price: $399.95
Fischer Carbonlite Skate Boot
The Fischer Carbonlite Skate Boot is designed for speed. Fischer shed weight on these boots while keeping a high level of energy transfer and control. If you’re looking for a high performance skate boot without the ultra premium price tag, you’ll love this model.
Price: $499
Salomon S/Race Carbon Skate Prolink
This boot is as good as it gets. Salomon’s S/Race Carbon Skate Prolink is their top of the line model for serious racers who are looking for every advantage. It’s super light and extremely stiff for maximum speed.
Price: $839.95
Fischer Speedmax Skate Boot
The Fischer Speedmax Skate Boot is a great choice for skiers who want world class performance. These boots will give you the edge you need to compete at the highest level.
Price: $850
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Best Classic Ski Boots
Fischer Carbonlite Classic Boot
The Fischer Carbonlite Classic Boot elite performance in a thoughtful design that keeps the climate inside warm, dry, and comfortable.
Price: $359
Fischer Carbonlite Classic Boot WS
The Fischer Carbonlite Classic Boot WS is our best selling women's classic boot, offering tons of performance benefits for racing and recreation while staying comfortable and durable.
Price: $359
Salomon S/Race Classic Boot
The Salomon S/Race Classic Boot tells you everything you need to know in the name. This ultralight, World Cup ready boot offers racers killer performance at a solid price.
Price: $440
Salomon S/Lab Carbon Classic Prolink Boot
The Salomon S/Lab Carbon Classic Prolink Boot is a premium race boot that's built to the lightest standards and offers maximum control and power transfer.
Price: $580
Shop More Classic XC Ski Boots
Best Cross Country Touring Ski Boots
Fischer BCX Grand Tour WATERPROOF Boot
The Fischer BCX Grand Tour is a super comfortable, warm, and high performing off-track XC ski boot that will allow you to explore farther thanks to a breathable waterproof upper and durable materials.
Price: $249
Alpina Alaska 75 Backcountry Boot
The Alaska is Alpina’s most rugged backcountry ski boot. They’re designed to withstand harsh conditions and keep you comfortable and in control, so if you’re thinking of grand adventures, the Alaska is your best bet.
Price: $325
Shop More XC Ski Touring Boots
Best Cross Country Ski Bindings
After you’ve got your skis and boots sorted, it’s time to put them together. Cross country ski bindings are what attach your boot to your ski. You’ll want to check what style of boots and skis you have and find the appropriate match. Browse our three main categories and find the right bindings for you.
Best Skate Ski Bindings
Fischer Race Pro Skate IFP Binding
The Fischer Race Pro Skate IFP Binding is a lightweight, race-oriented skate binding that features lots of adjustability and performance-enhancing tech like Flowflex technology, which allows the binding to flex with the ski.
Price: $110
Rottefella Quicklock Skate IFP Binding
The Rottefella Quicklock Skate IFP Binding is the perfect choice for recreational skate skiers. It offers plenty of tool-free adjustability and has lots of support for good power transfer and speed.
Price: $100
Best Classic Ski Bindings
Fischer Race Pro Classic IFP Binding
The Fischer Race Pro Classic IFP Binding is a high performance setup that offers the same great tech as the Race Pro Skate binding but tailored for classic skiing. If you want to ski your best, these classic bindings are perfect for you.
Price: $110
Rottefella Quicklock Classic IFP Binding
The Rottefella Quicklock Classic IFP Binding is a great choice for recreational on-track skiers as it offers lots of adjustability and tons of support for stable control and efficient power transfer.
Price: $100
Best Off Track XC Ski Bindings
Rottefella BCX Auto Binding
The Rottefella BCX Auto Binding is a versatile setup that offers adventurous skiers plenty of control for exploring off-track areas. It's durable enough to stand up to brutal conditions and easily adjustable so you can dial in your performance.
Price: $110
Best Cross Country Ski Poles
Not sure what size poles you need? Check out our Cross Country Ski Pole Size Chart.
Swix Triac Giro CRX Pole
Swix is largely considered the best ski pole brand on the market. They’re strong, light, and stiff, and the Swix Triac Giro CRX Pole is their premium race-oriented ski pole. If you want the best, go for the Triac Giro CRX.
Price: $299
ONE WAY Storm GTX Poles
Express yourself! Choose the shaft color, basket color, and handle color and make them your own. A nice 70% Carbon shaft makes this a great all around pole.
Price: $149
Best Cross Country Ski Wax
Wax gives your skis the proper gliding capabilities that you need to have fun and ski efficiently.
That being said, not all waxes are created equal. Which wax you need is dependent on the outside temperature, humidity, and composition of the snow.
Certain waxes are better for frigid temperatures and low moisture, while others are better for warmer temperatures with more moisture.
Check out our Ski Wax 101 article for a more in depth look at the different kinds of waxes, but here are the two basic types in a nutshell: glide wax provides a slicker surface and more “glide”, while kick wax helps provide more traction.
What are the best nordic skiing brands?
One of our favorites, Fischer makes fast skis and comfortable boots. Look at the World Cup and you'll see more skiers on the podium holding Fischer Skis than anything else. Fischer skis are typically the most stable feeling skis and a great ski for beginners all the way to the World Cup.
If you have an Alpina foot, you'll never get anything else. Alpina race boots tend to run a little on the narrow side, and people LOVE them! They are some of the lightest boots on the market.
Light and fast, Salomon skis are ending up in all of our quivers, and if the boots fit, they are extremely comfortable and have become our most popular.
Vauhti is a Finnish wax company and the oldest wax company in existence. They are a pioneer in the wax industry. We carry a lot of Vauhti's liquid waxes and have been quite pleased with their performance.
Swix is the most ubiquitous pole on the market for a reason. They are strong, light, stiff - everything you want in a good ski pole.
Solda is our favorite wax brand. Solda is a small Italian wax maker that continues to innovate. Their new liquids and fluor-free waxes are testing faster and faster.
Deals, Accessories, and Maintenance
Great deals on cross country ski gear
Looking to score big on some great equipment? Check out all the gear we have on sale.
Cross Country Ski Accessories
Need a water bottle, a belt bag, or an extra pair of ski straps? Check out our cross country ski accessories and find the gear that will make your outings even more fun.
Cross Country Ski Maintenance
If you’re looking to have your skis and equipment serviced, check out our maintenance page for a full list of services we provide.
Resources & Helpful Links
Here's a list of all the resources and helpful links that we mention in this guide:
- Cross Country Ski Size Chart
- Cross Country Ski Boot Size Chart
- Cross Country Ski Pole Size Chart
- What Is Cross Country Skiing?
- How To Cross Country Ski
- Why Cross Country Skiing Is Great Exercise
- Popular Nordic Ski Areas Near Bend, Oregon
- Types Of Cross Country Skiing
- What Are Skin Skis
- Understanding Ski Flex
- Ski Wax 101
- Introduction to Rollerskiing
Rollerskis: the best summer training
Have you seen rollerskiers out on the roads or bike paths? Rollerskiing is actually the best way to train for nordic season, since you're able to work the same muscles you'll need in the winter.
If you want to learn more about rollerskiing, check out our in depth article that will tell you everything you need to know!