Total newb, looking for advice.

[Woodserson]

Your height and weight, I wouldn't even look at a 210 anything. Length will vary considerably wit the ski, but for what you're doing, in general, more like a 195-200 something or other would be much more suitable.Going against the tide here, but I'd probably skip over the Fischer's entirely, favoring something with more grip capabilities. If you're going to go for waxables, then maybe... but they tend to have more of an in track sort of bias ( though I haven't skied more recent incarnations).
I'm more in agreement with the old 99's, or better still, old Karhu XCD-GT's, as a better option, for all round conditions.

You can certainly cover ground and go "fast" on a long, shallow patterned ski, in good, groomed conditions... but you can also find them highly unfriendly under more variable conditions.

I agree completely with your length recommendation of 195-200 but the new (?since...2011?) Fischer BCX E99s have the translucent “Offtrack Crown” which is long, positive, and thus quite grippy. Paired with the “Nordic rocker” which shortens the gliding surface I find them to be totally adequate. I’m not sure if you’re referencing the older Fischer patterns, maybe? Or maybe you’re more leaning towards the shorter compact geo skis?

[fisheater]

I just want to reinforce ski length in this context is more about weight than height. I am 5’ 9” tall, but I weigh in at 190 +. My Gamme is 210, I have grip and glide. I wouldn’t want it any shorter. If the snow is a little firm underfoot I can turn them as well. In softer snow it is more step turning.

[River Drifter]

Thanks guys!

How much science, experience, and special tools are the involved in mounting bindings?

I’m an average DIYer with a fairly stocked wood shop in my garage. Is this something I can handle, or do I need special tools and experience?

[spopepro]

You can totally do this all yourself with patience. The only challenge is not drilling through your bases so a press with a stop, a stepped bit, or an adjustable countersink bit (my choice) will work.

The hardest part is dealing with all the advice here around where exactly to mount them.

[bgregoire]

The hardest part is dealing with all the advice here around where exactly to mount them.

The easiest way around that is just to install pins on balance point. Find the installation manual for your binding are you should be good to go.

Instead of a stepped bit, which would be better, I just duct tape a stopper on my standard drill bit.

[fisheater]

What he said, except I use electrical tape

[satsuma]

Two things I disagree with here :
a) Some older models of Fischer E-99 (crown) did not climb well. I also did not like the older MG pattern on Madshus waxless skis. I don't know about more recent models.
b) I would recommend a NNN-BC Manual over the Auto (I own the latter); but my experience with the BC Auto is that it is not problematic if kept lubricated with silicone or bicycle lubricant.

As indicated here, there are different models of skis that are traditional length(typically a maximum length of 210 cm) which were traditionally sized by height) and compact skis (typically a maximum length of 190 or 195 cm) which were traditionally sized by weight. The traditional length is faster if one can compress the center of the ski to climb--ie it will require you to develop some skill for classical XC skiing. You are relatively light and should use a ski on the short end of the weight/height chart recommendation--probably 195 cm. A waxable ski would also be faster, and might be a good choice if you ski in temperatures consistently below about 28 deg. F, but you would need to learn to wax for grip.

I personally use a compact ski in 190 cm length (Alpina Discovery), but I am shorter than you and considerably heavier. The shorter ski lengths are easier for me to snowplow. The Alpina Discovery (68) and Alpina Control Edge do climb well, but are probably slower on flats than an E99. An interesting new ski I saw is the Sporten 64 skin skis, which I think have both a waxless pattern and integrated skins like some of the newer Fischer skis. The Sporten models are also compact skis. A 175-179 cm length would probably be correct for you in compact skis.

[River Drifter]

There’s very little climbing in what I do, which makes my Karhu Metas a real drudge. On flats they are like a heavier snowshoe.

I did see a set of Atomic Mountain BC 191 that I considered. They are waxable with a metal edge, but I’m thinking I might want to stick with something a bit faster for the flats. I am going to stick with NNN BC also.

Thanks!

[fisheater]

I have come to XCD from a downhill background. I wanted to ski trails to short downhill slopes to trail to downhill, and so on. Well I found out I have a lot more trail days than downhill days. So I decided to try a waxable ski on the cheap, a USGI ski by Asnes, sold by Coleman Army Surplus of Pennsylvania. I’m in southeast Michigan, but I have been able to ski on wax every time I’ve been out over the last 4 or 5 years on wax. Those USGI are a nice ski, but I thought I wanted something better. It came down to a Fisher E-99 or an Asnes Gamme 54. I bought the Gamme and I am very pleased.
SE Michigan has Nordic skiing however not a large following. Locally available equipment is limited to the recreational market, and some skate skis. Snow has been sparse this year, however I am on a 3 weekend in a row run. I have also had several other times out. The snow depth has not allowed me to ski my single track trails, but I have an area with paved gravel trails that is hilly. While I’m not a really good cross country skier at all, I have done nothing but fly by people. It’s almost if we are doing different sports. The Gamme is also much faster than the USGI. I also find the 54 mm underfoot Gamme is more stable than the wider USGI on packed uneven trails.
I really recommend a ski in this class Gamme/E-99 for backcountry trail skiing. They are very capable on hills and flats. Best yet, even though I am not a great cross country skier, I sure go fast on my Gamme!

[Cannatonic]

my voice is actually coming from a time machine channeling the late 1970's...that should put everything I say into context! All men were given 215cm XC skis and 205 for the women.

aren't we talking about basic XC skis here? 150 pounds? I'd still say 205cm. We're not making turns here...we're trying to float on BC snow? But it's not worth agonizing over the length - a few different lengths will come in handy in the long run. 200's might be good for consolidated snow when longer skis don't grip so well.