This is one of the best threads in a while. Super interesting to read what you all actually ski and for what use cases! Much better than people debating stuff :) Could be some selection bias here but interesting to see so few Xplore bindings in this thread, given how often they are discussed and see...

Have similar experience other northern US folks above, for utilitarian bang for buck I love my waxable USGI Asnes 210cm skis (different than Combat NATO) with a beefy NNN-BC boot. They are great at breaking trail in deep powder. While they’re heavy and tiring to herringbone you can always extend the...

Good to hear @Capercaillie ! I’ll have to try that wax next time I’m trying to not clump on fresh wet snow.

I do love a good warm snow kickwax, really fun when you get it right. T-shirt and bomb kick is tough to beat on skinny skis!

To the OP, surprised to hear that 25 F is a tough spot. Usually 25 F is excellent on swix blue - unless the snow is wet slop that fell at 30-32 F. If the latter case you’re in the notoriously difficult area to kick wax for and what racers often use “zero” skis for. As laymen xc skiers that need to k...

Ha, while I agree with you that generally gear is overrated over ability, some of this is just not true, so wouldn’t want anyone not familiar with groomed track skiing to be fooled. “Slightly slower on the flats”. Have you ever tried skate skiing on a groomed deck on BC skis? I have regularly skied ...

MountainGoat , I thought I'd mention in reply to your original question that I started out tele skiing on Alipina Alaska NNN-BC and Asnes Falketind XC skis, similiar to what fisheater has mentioned. I did this because I was in a similar sounding situation as you, in that I had the Alpina Alaskas, h...

I recently purchased the Alico Ski March from Telemark Pyrenees. I gather from others on this forum that these are not identical (?) to the UK surplus Alico Ski March boots. Anyways, for the ones I bought, I purchased a size 42 - I wear a tennis shoe size US 9, sometimes 8.5 in US boot sizes (for bo...

Great, thanks for bearing with my naivety and confirming what I thought!

Dusting off a really old thread because I have a related question: I am setting up my first set of 75mm telemark skis. I'm motivated by increasing my ability to handle varied snow conditions (resort / chopped powder / ice / deep powder) over my FT62+NNN-BC+Alaskas setup. I'm sticking with leather bo...

I’ve had same experience. I’m learning on light tele equipment with NNN-BC and I while I admit that my technique is a work in progress, small variations in snow conditions seem to change my abilities to drop a knee a lot. (Non icy groomers -> easy, consistent powder -> easy, pushed around heavy sno...