Cross country ski boots and bindings have evolved a long way since there inception. Traditionally, cross country ski boots was nothing more than a pair of hiking boots attached to skis with clamp/heel strap retention system. They evolved to a 3 prong system to the basic step in bar clip and now we have the modern day Salomon Pilot system or NNN/NIS from Rottefella.

NNN System	Salomon Pilot System

In the beginning the first cross country ski bindings and even some now you have very little or poor edge control. Edge control is the ability to maneuver downhill, downhill cornering, cornering and climbing efficiently. With some ski bindings you'll notice that the ski slides out underneath you as you try to do any of the preceding maneuvers. With a good cross country ski boot/binding combination you'll expend less energy controlling your skis and more time just enjoying the outdoors. In addition to that you'll spend more time upright on your skis instead of lying down in the snow.

So when you look for a ski boot/binding system you want to find something that is comfortable, provides the appropriate support and offers the best transfer of energy to the skis without sacrificing control or efficiency. Even though some boot/ binding systems look very similar to one another, there is a pretty big difference when you go out to use them. At the Bikeway Source we've taken out the guesswork when it comes to boots and bindings.

What kind of skiing are you going to be doing? Did you get a pair of skate, classical or combination skis? There is a boot for every occasion. Skate boots offer up more lateral support and have a higher cuff for more efficient energy transfer and control. Classical boots allow for proper flex to achieve an optimal kick. If you are looking to do a little bit of both, a combination boot (Skiathlon) can offer the best of both worlds. A boot with enough support to skate in, but enough flex to kick in. Although the Skiathlon boot is certainly not the best boot for skate or classical, it's good enough to do both in. While you can do classical in a skate boot, it won't be very fun or efficient because of how stiff the boot is and you would not be able to skate in a classical boot because there is not enough lateral support.

Skate Boot	Classical Boot	Touring Boot

Depending on how much you ski and what your goals are wil l help us determine what kind of boot and binding system you will need. Or perhaps you already have skis and you want to upgrade your boots and bindings. At the Bikeway Source we have appropriate boots and bindings for the occasional skier to the aspiring racer.