Åsnes NOSI 76 Ski Review

[Woodserson]

There are two different skis now, the Nosi 76 Xplore https://www.asnes.com/produkt/nosi-76-xplore/ and the Nosy 76 https://www.asnes.com/produkt/nosi-76-lett-toppturski/. Maybe two different constructions or at least two different internals as both seem to be cap skis and the weight for the 180 is the same. Tough to say without touching them.

[lilcliffy]

If I interpret the reply that Theme received from Asnes correctly- the "new " Nosi 76 Xplore is the same as the Nosi 76?

[telerat]

It is a bit strange that Åsnes shows both versions on their website. The Touring section on asnes.com also show Rabb 68, so Nosi is a natural expansion of that type of ski. They also have two new touring skis that only shows up on the Norwegian version of the site.

The dimensions and weights of both versions are identical, but as stated the new Xplore version also comes in 188 cm. A longer ski length will be more suitable on longer and less steep tours, when distance is priority instead of descents, and then also better suited for use with Xplore or 75mm instead of tech bindings. Asnes states Nosi's focus is descents though. The new version has a central groove, so it will be more directionally stable when skiing across firm snow. I saw the black Nosi in videos from Åsnes this spring and would guess they are selling out the old version now and it will disappear later.

The two versions look very similar to me and I think the slightly higher camber on the new Xplore version below may be due to the difference in picture size, but it is hard to compare without overlaying them:

[lilcliffy]

Ah- so the Nosi 76X has a track groove? Cool.

Request to Asnes→ If this is now a Nordic touring ski- please switch from the Access Skin insert to the Skin-Lock/X-skin insert so that we can use are standard kicker skins with it.

[stenu]

I am new here so first: hello from Helsinki, Finland!

I have had Nosis in 172 cm since last spring. I have also those old white and blue Storetinds in 180 cm. I have been skiing with those mainly at Finnish and Swedish fells up north and also some resort skiing with Storetinds here in the southern Finland. In addition I have also OAC XCD BCs for nearhood pow hunting at smaller Southern Finland hills. I ski all thise skis with 75 mm Alaskas & Rottefellla Super Tele Cable or Voile Cable bindings. I used to have old Alico Doubles but they were too heavy and the fit was not good for my feet.

I have had some difficulties in turning with Storetinds in the heavier wind packed pow stuff that we usually have in Lapland. I also wanted the shorter 18 m radius of the 172 Nosi because I wanted it to be purely a fun xcD ski. Therefore I went one size down with the Nosi. Compared to Storetind Nosi is much less stiff and because of the generous rocker it is a very turny ski. Therefore they could have been manageable even in the 180 cm lenght but it is also possible that the longer lenght would have preferred stiffer boots.

I doubt that Åsnes has sold that many pairs of Nosis to be used with AT bindings/boots and therefore they have changed the recommended use for that ski. I ski also with AT gear (I have been alpine skiing since 80’sad done it a lot). I would say Nosi is too light and soft for AT kind of downhill skiing. I could guess that most Nosis have been sold to be used as xcD skis and therefore they have just re-branded it, changed the layout and added the groove.

Ps. There is no difference with the inserts. I have been using exclusively the same 58 mm mohair X-skins that I use with the Storetinds.

[stenu]

Winter -24/-25’s xcD season started at Kilpisjärvi in the ”arm” of Finland. Nosi 172 with Alpina Alaska and Rottefella Supertele Cable. I like that combination a lot. Short Nosi floats better than my wife’s (10 kg lighter than me) 180 cm Falketinds. It is also much easier to turn in Scandianvian type slightly heavier pow. No remarkable difference on the approach or climbing with 60 mm mohair X-skins. Upper slopes where very hard packed, even icy at some places. Despite of Nosi’s width it was somehow manageable also there. Atleast not worse compared to Falketind.

[Theme]

What good fun @stenu ! Great to see new folks on the forum

I actually just ordered the Nosi Xplore in 180cm. Have the Rabb 180 as well and have had 188 Falketind. Going to be a fun time doing comparison. Driving these with Xplore system. Sounds excellent by what you are describing of the skis!

We have a few Alpina boots and the Fischer XP boot also just arrived. Super stiff and will probably drive the ski very well, although I enjoy the light weight of the Pi Tech too.

We have 60mm skins with tip attachment, 150 cm long. Idk if this is overkill or not enough, but having skied the FTX with 58mm x-skin I just didn't find it grippy enough myself. Might just end up using kick wax too.

I'll be doing a short tour up there, 20.-24.01.25 and hope we see some softer snow too lurking in the woods near Ruka until then, hoping to see this snowfall continue to allow skiing off tracks

[Musk Ox]

Winter -24/-25’s xcD season started at Kilpisjärvi in the ”arm” of Finland. Nosi 172 with Alpina Alaska and Rottefella Supertele Cable. I like that combination a lot. Short Nosi floats better than my wife’s (10 kg lighter than me) 180 cm Falketinds. It is also much easier to turn in Scandianvian type slightly heavier pow. No remarkable difference on the approach or climbing with 60 mm mohair X-skins. Upper slopes where very hard packed, even icy at some places. Despite of Nosi’s width it was somehow manageable also there. Atleast not worse compared to Falketind.

Awesome! We've skied here! We got our car stuck when SOMEONE related to me by marriage drove it into a 'free parking spot' near the lake that was actually bottomless snow at the beginning of the snowmobile route/ski trail and we were saved by a passing Norwegian with alpine rescue gear practicing for Everest.

[stenu]

Theme, hope you like your Nosi.

We are now at Ylläs. Two days of snow fall with heavy winds here. I have skied knee deep pow on some closed lower slopes (not enough snow on the upper slopes). Yesterday three hours lift assisted skiing with the Nosi. Super fun on the lower angle groomed slopes too if there is any soft snow on top of the groomed surface. Leather boot telemark learning curve was progressive.

A short clip from day before yesterday on the closed slopes: https://www.flickr.com/photos/91776472 ... datetaken/. 30-50 cm pow, no base at all. Some stones and a little bit bumpy ground under the snow so skiing was slightly scetchy. A little bit too short stance and some ugly double poling, but I did not fall and I am getting better every day. I have enjoyed beeing again a beginner with this XCD thing. It is rewarding to learn new skills after having been some 40+ years on all possible kinds of Alpine skis.

We just ordered 60 mm wide and 140 cm long tip attached race skins for pure yo-yo skiing on the steeper slopes. Tip attached skins are also easier to operate with the gloves on. Removing X-skins with the gloves is really hard or impossible. Otherwise I like X-skins a lot and their climbing capacity on flat skis like Nosi is actually quite good.

6 days of skiing behind already and I have not yet touched my AT gear. Just pure Nosi fun

Musk OX, haha, luckily you got help!