Cross Country Ski Bindings

Understanding Cross Country Ski Bindings

Ski bindings for cross country are essential for connecting your skis with your boots, and they vary by style: classic, skate, and backcountry. When selecting boots and bindings for cross country skiing, the key factor is to recognize that boot soles differ by model. This means not every nordic ski binding will be a match for your boots.

Types of Cross Country Ski Bindings

Several types of cross country ski bindings exist. The most prevalent system available today is the New Nordic Norm (NNN). Within this, there are regular NNN bindings, suited for both skate and classic styles, and NNN BC, crafted for backcountry skiing. Both types are recognized by the presence of two ridges on the binding plate.

Under NNN, you will find variants labelled as Turnamic, Prolink, and NIS. These designations are essentially brand-specific names for their models, but it's crucial to remember that they all work with the NNN system. NNN BC bindings are exclusively compatible with NNN BC boots.

Another system observed is the Salomon Nordic System (SNS). Although it's an older system now out of production, it was initially made for both classic and skating boots, characterized by a single ridge, thus incompatible with the New Nordic Norm.

Xplore BC is the latest system, created by Rottefella, utilizing pin technology at the toe for enhanced stability and support. Its use is restricted to Xplore BC boots.

If you remain uncertain about the compatibility across the different systems, or are simply seeking more insight, please refer to our Bindings Compatibility guide where we explain everything you need to know.