Buying Nordic skis can be confusing to say the least. You have classic cross country skis, combi skis, skate skis, backcountry skis, and touring skis. And then there are all the bindings systems, such as SNS-Pilot, NNN, 3-pin … Unless you have a master’s degree in XC ski terminology, you’re SOL.
We thought we’d build on the Backcountry.com cross country ski buyer’s guide to shed some light on probably the most confusing area: binding systems.
TIP: If you’re buying cross country gear for the first time, we highly recommend that you purchase your boots and bindings at the same time. That’s the best way to ensure compatibility. Don’t know what Nordic style is right for you? Check out the XC ski guide.
These pages are just a primer. We recommend brushing up on the basics here, then going to a XC shop in your area to see what everything looks like and talking with some local experts.
New Nordic Norm (NNN) for Classic, Skate, and Touring/Classic
Classic, skate, and touring/classic NNN bindings are characterized by a single slot at the front of the binding where your boots click in. You mount NNN bindings like alpine bindings: drill directly into skis and screw into place.
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* The binding’s name should tell you if it is classic, skate, combi, or touring. If it doesn’t, slap the manufacturer.
NNN-BC
NNN-BC bindings are designed for predominately off-trail use, compared to NNN touring/classic, which are designed for mostly on-trail and some off-trail use. NNN-BC bindings accept a wider and thicker boot bar for increased stiffness and strength. They mount directly onto the ski, have a wider profile to accommodate fatter skis, and do not work with NIS skis.
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Nordic Integrated System (NIS)
A few years ago, leading Nordic ski brands like Rossignol, Alpina, and Rottefella collaborated to create the Nordic Integrated System, which is supposedly lighter, more stable, and more efficient than NNN. You can only use these bindings with cross country skis that feature the NIS mounting plate; they will not work with drill-and-mount Nordic skis. NIS bindings have the same single bar that NNN bindings use, so you can use any NNN boot with NIS bindings.
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Salomon Nordic System (SNS) Profil
Salomon and Atomic are the main brands that use the SNS Profil system. You can use these cross country ski bindings for either classic or skate skiing. Boots that are compatible with SNS Profil bindings have a single bar at the very tip of the sole. These bindings are Salomon’s recreational- to expert-level binding. These bindings are not compatible with SNS Pilot boots.
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SNS Pilot
Unlike the other bindings systems, SNS Pilot bindings have two slots for the boot bars. This extra axis adds stability and reduces ski motion when you kick, which makes SNS Pilot the binding of choice for many elite racers. Salmon and Atomic use the SNS Pilot bindings and have engineered them to be their top-of-the-line bindings.
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SNS XA
To confuse things even more, Salomon has come out with an SNS backcountry binding, the SNS XA. These more robust bindings are only compatible with SNS XA boots and are specifically designed for backcountry touring. One look at the Salomon X-ADV 6 Backcountry Boot, and you’ll know what we’re talking about. Think of the SNS XA as the Salomon equivalent to the NNN-BC boots/bindings.
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3-Pin 75mm
Can someone say “Old School?” The 3-pin 75mm bindings were the industry standard for years until NNN and SNS came onto the scene. This system is the granddaddy of telemark skiing. You line up your boots with the three pins in the bindings, then lock down the toe with a bail. On modern telemark bindings, you’ll find a cable that goes around your heel for stability. You can use leather style boots like the Alpina Blazer Touring Boot with the original bail setup, or step up to modern telemark boots like those from Garmont or Black Diamond.
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Tags: backcountry skiing, cross country ski bindings, cross country ski boots, cross country skiing, xc ski gear
[...] For more information about the XC binding systems, check out Nordic Skiing Binding Types. [...]
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SNS Pilot boots ARE compatible with SNS Profil bindings. I use this combination and it works quite well.
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D said:
>>SNS Pilot boots ARE compatible with SNS Profil bindings.
My response to that is, SORT OF.
The second pin on the SNS pilot boots actually pushes down on the Profil bindings a few millimeters. This causes the boot to deflect slightly, as if you were stepping on a very small stick. You can see it if you look closely, but I doubt that people even notice it. I’ve been using Pilot boots on profil bindings for about a year now. I’m wondering if the binding will ever break from the constant tapping of the bar to the plastic? So far so good…
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I agree with ‘sort of compatible’,
There is actually a small deflection of the boot, caused by the second pin pushing on the binding. I was afraid of the binding being broken or, even worse, by the boot being broken….
So I engraved a smal notch on the binding (with a cutter is fine enough) where the second pin pushes, and the problem is solved!
It’s a pretty rough solution but in my mind it’s much better than having something broken…
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Thanks, this was helpful.
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My wife was given a pair soloman xc boots nsn? single bar across tip of sole but narrow groove in heal maybe quarter inch wide or there about
What have we got
thank you
bondjamesbond21@live.com
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