The Five Best Cross-Country Touring Skis

Among the different types of cross-country skiing, tour skiing has long been my favorite type. In tour skiing, you travel for long distances, and it can be performed on finely packed or still-untraveled trails.

Although I tour for fun, it's also a great way to get a workout in the winter.

There are plenty of good touring skis for sale, but I think these five are the best:

Rossignol Evo Glade AR Cross-Country Skis with NIS Bindings ($159.99)

These skis are a great choice for groomed or ungroomed trails. They stand out by having a shorter length than most touring skis, and that makes maneuvering in them much simpler. Another bonus is how they use a well-designed system of factory-bonded plates instead of screws, as this makes these skis very sturdy. They come in 166 cm, 176 cm, 186 cm, and 196 cm sizes.

Madshus Cadence 100 Touring Cross-Country Skis ($99.93)

Try these If you're looking for an inexpensive pair made for groomed trails. With an air-channeled wood core, they are pleasantly light, and their shorter length makes them easy to control. In addition, the base of the skis is constructed to give you excellent grip, so they are quite stable. You can find them in 168 cm, 178 cm and 188 cm varieties.

Fischer Desire My Style Cross-Country Skis with Bindings - Women's ($155.99)

While most touring skis are unisex, these are customized to match a woman's center of gravity, and are ideal for riding on groomed trails. One of their best features is the air channels that are built into the core, since this makes them lighter and gives the skis an improved pressure distribution. Finally, the bindings are intuitive to use and provide nice control. This pair comes in the following sizes: 164 cm, 174 cm and 184 cm.

Alpina Control Cross-Country Skis ($89.93)

I love how cheap and versatile these Alpine touring skis are. Indeed, they are fit for groomed or ungroomed trails. And this pair works well for going up inclines, thanks to their base with raised traction patterns. Furthermore, these skis are durable due to their layer of molded plastic. They are available in 162 cm, 182 cm and 192 cm sizes.

Salomon Elite 8 Edge Grip Cross-Country Skis ($229.95)

Although these skis are very expensive, I'd still rate them as some of the best for touring. Because they have steel edges and a light sidecut, this pair is ideal for skiing on any type of trail. Additionally, this model has a great core that is light yet firm, as it's made of a high-tech foam material. They come in five varieties: 174 cm, 182 cm, 190 cm, 198 cm, and 206 cm.

Floyd Saunders is a native of snowy Minnesota. He has been a downhill and cross-country skier since childhood, and he has dabbled in snowboarding, snowshoeing, hockey, and ice fishing.

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