Madshus, Rossignol or maybe something else? New to XC

[lowangle al]

Skiing with light boots is very condition dependent, for touring and turning. When the trail gets hard packed I'll switch to plastic. Plastic boots= "more fun more of the time." T4s can be had for about 370.00 US dollars.

[connyro]

Skiing with light boots is very condition dependent, for touring and turning. When the trail gets hard packed I'll switch to plastic. Plastic boots= "more fun more of the time." T4s can be had for about 370.00 US dollars.

Agreed. Versatility is king for the type of skiing OP has described above. Additionally, light plastic boots with low cuffs are always warm and waterproof and comfortable when fit correctly in all types of snow conditions.

[Manney]

Plastic, leather… it’s more about speed, forces. How the boot supports the ankle. Whether the ankle really needs help or the skier just needs to strengthen their ankles. Long lines don’t generate big forces. 20 mph well within the limits. Gotta crank up speed and tighten lines before a plastic boot is needed. Most ppl use plastic boots as a crutch. It’s easier for ppl without ankle strength. Not a problem for regular runners, hikers, skiers.

[connyro]

... Most ppl use plastic boots as a crutch. It’s easier for ppl without ankle strength. Not a problem for regular runners, hikers, skiers.

Have you skied a light plastic telemark boot? Which one and in what context? It has nothing to do with "ankle strength" or "needing a crutch."

[Manney]

Skied lots of boots. Had a set of Lange plastic ankle boots. Lived in plastic boots from 5-22. Wtf do you think plastic boots do other than support the ankle? And don’t say sole stiffness. That doesn’t help in tele… gets in the way dropping the knee. Helps in a hard carve, speed and tight lines. Helps in moguls, highly dynamic skiing where it’s easy to get caught out. Backcountry touring? Makes me laugh. Come on guy…

We all ski, go to hills, trails etc. We see unskilled skiers use the fanciest shit. We see skilled skiers on ancient gear. Rear entry boots (whee did those go), long skis that look like tourers, taking no prisoners. It all comes down to ability, not gear. Only need enough. Don’t need T3s for some slushy walking trail behind the house.

[connyro]

... And don’t say sole stiffness. That doesn’t help in tele… gets in the way dropping the knee. Helps in a hard carve, speed and tight lines. Helps in moguls, highly dynamic skiing where it’s easy to get caught out. Backcountry touring? Makes me laugh.

Lol. so your answer to my question is "no." The above response indicates that you dont know what you are talking about. Gosh, you skied in alpine boots for a few years so that makes you and expert of xcd or backcountry skiing? Give me a break. Alpine racing experience is a narrow window into the big world of skiing, so quit trying to throw that around as some kind of trump card. There's lots of fun and effective ways of sliding on snow and there are lots of great skiers who do it differently than you.

[lowangle al]

Skied lots of boots. Had a set of Lange plastic ankle boots. Lived in plastic boots from 5-22. Wtf do you think plastic boots do other than support the ankle? And don’t say sole stiffness. That doesn’t help in tele… gets in the way dropping the knee. Helps in a hard carve, speed and tight lines. Helps in moguls, highly dynamic skiing where it’s easy to get caught out. Backcountry touring? Makes me laugh. Come on guy…

We all ski, go to hills, trails etc. We see unskilled skiers use the fanciest shit. We see skilled skiers on ancient gear. Rear entry boots (whee did those go), long skis that look like tourers, taking no prisoners. It all comes down to ability, not gear. Only need enough. Don’t need T3s for some slushy walking trail behind the house.

What plastic telemark boots have you skied? Maybe you tried it a time or two, but probably never though.

It has nothing to do with ankle support for me, T4s don't restrict ankle movement like a "ski boot" I have full range of motion, just like in heavy leather. I've said this many times. What they do is make a solid connection of the boot upper to the sole and give your foot solid and rigid support. What I get from this is predictability. When I put pressure to the boot, I know it's going to get to the ski. This solid support around your foot also elliminates most of the deflection that you get from irregularities in the snow.

Manneu,You take what you know from your past skiing experience and incorrectly apply it to back country nordic skiing. You are a big mouthed blowhard that should stick to subjects that you have experience with.

[lowangle al]

It has nothing to do with ankle support for me, T4s don't restrict ankle movement like a "ski boot" I have full range of motion, just like in heavy leather. I've said this many times. What they do is make a solid connection of the boot upper to the sole and give your foot solid and rigid support. What I get from this is predictability. When I put pressure to the boot, I know it's going to get to the ski. This solid support around your foot also elliminates most of the deflection that you get from irregularities in the snow.

What you can take from this RysKus is that even after you are an expert with 30 or 40 years of experience on light gear you will still be humbled, or possibly hurt by poor conditions that could have been fun with the T4.

[RysKus]

Anyway My current choice is:

Madshus Panorama M78 (or M68)
Rottefella Xplore bindings
Alpina Alaska Xplore boots

I hope it will be stiff and responsive enough just to learn how to ski on telemark skis.

[Manney]

Really need plastic boots and Voiles for this?

What you and connyro post makes me think of ppl who start skiing without any instruction. Play around a bit early in life. Certainly never qualify as instructors or compete. Return to it later. Much later in life. Find it… hard. So buy a bunch of shit. Then add more shit when that doesn’t work. Now on a shit search for life. Evangelists for the plastic shit path. Each year gets lamer, lazier, more gear, more tall tales. You don’t need T3s and Voile objectives for what you’re skiing. You said it yourself, it’s slowing you down. 3.5 mph is slower than walking…. Old chronic scrawling home from the VFW go faster than this. Better off without the skis. Post holing the path. Be better exercise. It’s not like skiing at that speed is exciting.

What you can take from this RysKus is that even after you are an expert with 30 or 40 years of experience on light gear you will still be humbled, or possibly hurt by poor conditions that could have been fun with the T4.

You’re not reading what the guy said. He has kids that he may pull. So younger, probably fitter. No some old boomer worried about falling and breaking a sweat… or hip. Less gear, more scope for skill. Body is the crucial element, not the gear. The gear just has to ~ work for the conditions. Hardly Alpine.