Xplore binding for in track skiing? | Advice for big boy ski selection

[fgd135]

Don't burden yourself with heavy xcd gear for in-track use, as you will never really get the full benefit of skiing in machine set trails. Get specific gear for that purpose; maybe a good supportive combi boot, which would be stiff enough for some skating and supportive for classic skiing; and a dedicated set of skate or classic skis, or both. You don't need to have most expensive, high end skis, but spend money on good boots.
Keep in mind that this type of nordic gear, skis boots, bindings, and esp. poles, are somewhat less supportive and more fragile than backcountry or even touring gear, but the benefit in speed and grace on the tracks overcomes these issues.
I've certainly broken my share of skis and even boots over the years...not to mention skate poles.
With a few hours of quality instruction, and lots of practice, your classic and freestyle skills can improve dramatically over the course of a season, and you'll be glad to be on equipment that allows you to reach your full potential. Or something like that. These skills will augment your backcountry skiing techniques, give you more options for traveling efficiently .

[cludwig]

Don't burden yourself with heavy xcd gear for in-track use, as you will never really get the full benefit of skiing in machine set trails.

I decided to go this route. I'll be skiing with my son who has Fischer junior skis and thus he is set up to be track oriented as well for this season. So my priority is to match his capability in gear for now.

I ordered a pair of Alpina Alaska XP boots, but they were too small and I didn't like the tight toebox (now available for a good price in the TeleTurnAround section). I have a pair of Alfa Skaget's on order. I also ordered a pair of MR48's going for the widest track ski possible for good stability and flotation. I took a lesson at the end of the season last year, and found that the narrower track skis they set me up with sunk in to the softening snow in the tracks in the afternoon so I went wide and long for better flotation, even in the tracks.

I have the breidablikk which is combat NATO without edges (for safely skiing with dogs) at 200cm for my 180lbs. Really a great ski for trail breaking and skiing soft UT powder. Handles OK on packed snow but the real joy is in soft snow.

I suggest the asnes falketind (new "xplore" branded model) at the max length of 196. Similar profile to S-98 with more length and sounds like a bit sturdier flex. This length doesn't show on the asnes website anymore, so maybe hurry on a pair!

The max length for the Breidablikk is 200cm while the Ingstad is available in 205 and the Combat NATO comes in 210cm.

I've emailed Asnes to see if they dropped the longest size in the FTX. The FTX in 196 is on my short list for a wider ski, but I'm also not ignoring this advice:

I am still thinking that a 195 Ingstad BC is going to be more stable in deep snow than a 196 FTX- due to the tip and tail rocker of the FTX...
And- if so- a 205 Ingstad BC even more...
And- the 210 Combat Nato even more...

My plan is to standardize on the XP binding, but hold off on buying a wider turning ski until next year. I do have the 210cm USGI available to me if I decide to venture off trail this year. Don't know which wider turning ski I'll try for next season. It would be the combat NATO if the price were more reasonable, but that is just because I have a thing for the old school Olympic sport of Military Patrol that morphed into the biathlon. That, and I like reading about the Winter War. So, the Combat NATO is pretty cool to me for purely nerdy reasons. That FTX is also cool looking though...

The FTX in 196 and the NATO in 210 have the same width under foot and about the same surface area. The difference in support would be down to stiffness under foot and differences in the tip and tail design.

I'm gonna need a bank loan and another ski rack on the garage wall before this thing is decided.

[Stephen]

@cludwig
FTX 196cm on sale here for the next 4 hours or so (340.40 EUR):
https://varuste.net/en/p110743/åsnes-fa ... [6]=209718

For some reason, 196 is not listed on Asnes’ US website, but is on their Norwegian site:
https://www.asnes.com/produkt/falketind-62_xplore/
I don’t think Asnes has dropped the 196 length.

[wabene]

Mr Wig
If you're planning on the Explore bindings for the MR48 I'm not sure they are the best for in track use. The binding clamp is wider than the boot and may drag, I could be way off base on this. Another factor is if you decide on the skin version of this ski I would want an NNN binding that has the ability to slide fore and aft to adjust for conditions on your fixed hairy patch.
Considering you are larger and concerned about float the MT51 is a similar option. A cheaper option is the Madshus Fjeltech M50 which I like very much and use in the tracks all the time.

You are right about the toe box on the Alaska, just too narrow for me and a bummer because I like the boot. With the rubber rand I wouldn't want to try to stretch it. The Alfas, which are spendy, and Crispi boots have wider toe boxes. Love my Crispis!