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How to buy a ski package

Here are the tips that you will need in order to buy a ski package:

First, you will need a boot. Boot sizing is closest to running shoe sizing so if you are a runner it will make life a bit easier. Take your running shoe and find the tag, usually, you are buying your shoes in US sizes.  That will work great for Salomon and Atomic, simply buy the same size.  For Fischer and Rossignol however, you will need to look at the converted European size on your shoe tag.  If it includes fractions you will need to round up to an even size.

Next, you need to choose your binding.  This is where things can get confusing.

Your technologies that all refer to the well know NNN system are as follows:

Prolink (Salomon and Atomic)

Turnamic (Fischer and Rossignol)

NIS (Pre 2017 Fischer and Rossignol)

NNN (Pre 2017 Fischer and Rossignol)

Your technologies that refer to SNS Profile, ProPulse and Pilot are all Salomon or Atomic bindings and are al screw mount bindings.

Your SNS Profile bindings engage a single pin and are all touring bindings or old classic bindings.

Your new classic bindings are referred to as SNS ProPluse bindings and also only engage a single pin, but you must have a new Classic boot with the RS17 sole that features the front pin being 17mm back from the front versus the profile sole which is only 10mm back.  ProPulse is about 5 years old.

Skate bindings are all SNS Pilot bindings.

Of course, the binding must fit the ski: Skis come in 3 different ways

Flat skis (skis that don't include a manufactured binding plate, so either NIS or Turnamic)  Theses skis must use a screw on binding from either Salomon or Atomic.  So you are choosing a Prolink binding if you have a NNN, Prolink, or Turnamic boot.  You are choosing Profile or Pilot if you have matching boots.

Turnamic Skis:

These are made by only Fischer and Rossignol since 2017  and are manufactured with a plate to accept the Turnamic bindings, matched with any NNN, Turnamic or Prolink boot.  If however, you want to use a Profile or Pilot boot with these skis, then buy the IFP Adaptor plate which goes over the IFP plate allowing a screw mounted binding to be properly installed.

NIS Skis:

These are made by Fischer and Rossignol since 2017  and are manufactured with a plate to accept the NIS bindings, matched with any NNN, Turnamic or Prolink boot.  If however, you want to use a Profile or Pilot boot with these skis, then buy the NIS Adaptor plate which goes over the IFP plate allowing a screw mounted binding to be properly installed.

Poles:

Poles are the simplest component of skiing because you can always make a pole shorter so error on the side of being longer.

Performance poles are ranked for their light weight and their stiffness as a huge amount of your momentum comes from poling.  They say that you should spend as much on your poles as you do your skis.  Certainly, for top skiers this would be true, but for the rest of us, we have to be more practical.

Skate poles are measured as high as the tip of your nose for some skiers and as low as the chin for others.  Remember you can always cut them.  If you are buying a performance package in around that $900 plus mark then at least put $160 towards your pole.  If you are tall and/or strong take that up to $200. 

For classic poles, the recommended height is 83% of your body height with ski boots on.  The spending range would be about the same as it is for skate, but because the poles are a  tad shorter you can get away with less if you want but this is not recommended.  I always suggest when you are buying classic poles, and you happen to already have skate gear that you consider cutting your skate poles down for classic use and then getting a new set of stiffer skate poles with your classic package.

As always we will review and consult with you the details of any package bought online to make sure that you have picked the right items.