Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

I am not familiar with current XC ski gear. It came to my radar, that some folks use NNN bindings and combi boots with the narrowest metal edge skis, such as MR48 or M44.

All I find are combi boots for juniors. What are the current adult size combi boot options that give notable stiffness, decent warmth and low weight? I have considered the M44, but am lost with what kind of binding and boot to choose. How does the control compare to BC boots?

Also if someone can give me pointers on choosing the length (stiffness) in this ski model that'd be great. Been skiing the MR48 in 210 and while it is somewhat stiff, it works great when I have my pack on and when I can use wax to adjust the grip. I weigh in at about 70 kg.

I am kinda sad that there is no waxable M44, but perhaps adjustable bindings will give enough options with this setup. I felt that the MR48 even with XP binding and Alpina Pi Tech boots was not light enough to keep a good K&G technique up for long, but it would not have to be that much more lightweight.

It doesn't seem like the M44 itself is that much more lightweight compared to MR48, but the boots and bindings may give me the excuse to try this ski... also it would work better in tracks for sure

Grateful for any tips

The other option I am kinda looking forward to is, if the Alpina Pioneer Elite Xplore boot will be available at some point. XP binding would not fit the M44 so then it would limit options to T50, MR48 or TN59 (past season with waxable base). Depends how much the boot weighs if these would be viable options. Would not be as track-oriented, but more BC applicable I would imagine

Theme wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:31 am

What are the current adult size combi boot options that give notable stiffness, decent warmth and low weight?

Alpina, Rossi, Salomon, Fischer and Madshus. The really expensive ones ($500usd and up) will have a lot of carbon fiber and weigh virtually nothing. The cheapest ($200, $250+... not exactly "cheap") will still be lighter than average BC boots. Many have thermo-moldable liners that are plenty warm enough for me (I have "inexpensive" Rossis), but when I ski nnn it's usually in tracks and going at a good pace and not -30 out, so. If I were goofing around with lots of inactivity or off trail or whatnot I think I would prefer my bc or 75mm boots for warmth. They will all provide decent lateral stiffness in the sole, the expensive ones with carbon sole much more so. The ankle cuff obviously supports ankles for skating. I have done some tele turns on a 43mm Fischer Superlite and it is definitely difficult and very different.

Also, for speed and/or endurance, the lighter weight compared to bc boots is definitely noticeable.

I have the Fischer RC5 Combi and are happy with them. They are much stiffer and more supportive than the Fischer Control boot, that felt very similar to the Combi Jr. boots my sons have. New models might be different though. Fischer also has RC3 Combi and RC1 Combi, as well as the OTX Adventure, so they have several alternatives, but I have no personal experience with any of them.

My wife has the Madshus Fjelltech and seems satisfied with them. Madshus also have the Race Speed Universal and Endurace Universal boots.

As mca80 writes, Alpina, Rossignol and Salomon have combi boots, but I also see Atomic has some. So there are many alternatives.

My brother in law uses skate boots and that might also be an option unless you go for the stiffest/most high end. You could also go NNN-BC on such skis, but if you are after adjustable binding to adjust grip on skis with integrated skins, then it is no option. Good luck.

I know that on his Antarctic speed record recently Vincent Colliard used an Alfa combi boot (maybe the Combi Advance GTX?) and the Åsnes MR48. 50km a day for 22 days straight, so they must have been decently durable.

Interview with Vincent Colliard at https://explorersweb.com/on-the-new-ant ... -colliard/.

I use the Madshus Endurace combi boot and have had good luck with it here in Norway. My wife switched to the Madshus Race Speed combi last year when she destroyed her previous Endurace boots (heavily heavily used them before they gave up the ghost) and was a little disappointed in the loss of ankle support from the different velcro enclosure/shape of the upper boot.