Switch from Annum/Guide/M78 to Asnes Kongsvold?

[mca80]

I've taken my new NATOs out once, with 5 or 6 inches new snow. It's amazing how the tips just plow the snow away. I can't say they are fast and as for efficiency I need more tests along with other skis, but I definitely had fun and thought highly of them. Will he interested to see how they perform in a foot of new snow.

[lilcliffy]

I went out for an hour today in my Annums and was reminded that the soft tips can be annoying to break trail with in deep snow, rising too much at the tips while the midfoot slogs through. IIRC, you have mentioned this in the past stating how much more efficiently your Combat NATO's break trail in the deep. I've never tried the Combat NATOS, but I do have some 200cm USGI's that I'd like to compare to my Annums in these current conditions we have. Would you say that if I prefer the USGI's, I'd really love the NATOs? I'm not sure how similar the USGI is to the NATO. If such a ski took less effort to go on the flats with, I think I'd happily trade the turning radius.

Yes- testing your 200 MT68 (USGI) skis against your 195 Annum would be an excellent comparison-
If you prefer the deep snow trail-breaking and stability of the MT68 vs the Annum- you will LOVE the Combat NATO-
The Combat NATO is just as stable as the MT68 (despite the narrower waist), but has a number of major performance advantages-
- MUCH lighter
- more flexible tip and tail
- more sidecut
- more manageable camber

While the MT68 is superb on the flats-
the Combat NATO is superb in the flats, but blows the MT68 away on hills- both uphill and downhill-
and the lighter weight makes them so much more manouverable and manageable→ kick turns; step turns; jump turns.

The Combat NATO also has the X-Skin insert for difficult snow and pulling weight.

AND- the Combat NATO has a very long glide zone + tension and camber underfoot- making them decent XC skis on all snow- including hardpack. The Combat NATO is a decent XC ski on all snow conditions- but becomes high-performance in deep and layered snow.

The Combat NATO is easy to turn- but, it does have a wide turn radius- and it cannot really be pressured hard and "bent" into tighter turns like you can with a ski like the Nansen.

The Combat NATO is universally a better balanced xcd ski than the Annum- but, the Annum has a narrower turn radius. (However much I have enjoyed the Annum in its ideal conditions- it has always truly sucked otherwise...)

The Kongsvold might well offer very similar performance as the Combat NATO? The Kongsvold is wider, with more sidecut- objectively should offer a tighter turn-
but, I would completely destroy that ski without steel edges...