Traditional Nordic Leather
The Garmont Tour boot illustrated below is typical of a traditional Nordic boot. It has a vibram sole and has pin holes for the standard 75mm three pin binding. This is a comfortable boot for touring in flat and rolling terrain. In this form it is matched with a simple three pin binding shown below. Some manufacturers have added buckles and ankle flex to adapt the leather boot to the requirements for a stiffer boot brought about by cable bindings and touring in more extreme terrain.
Specialised Touring Plastic Boots
The Garmont Excursion and the Scarpa T4 shown below are light plastic boots designed specifically for use with the newer cable bindings in touring applications. The light weight and relatively low height of the cuffs and the flex in the toes are designed to make them comfortable for all day touring. Both come with 18mm soles and three pinholes to enable them to be used with either three pin or cable bindings. These are increasingly seen as the most versatile boot for backcountry work. They provide greater rigidity and match well the characteristics of the newer generation of more waisted skis designed to encourage downhill performance. Telemarkers seeking higher levels of control and wanting to ski telemark on and off piste may graduate to stiffer and higher boots and bindings which are raised higher from the ski to allow more edging on steep terrain before the boot catches the snow.
Telemark Boots
As Telemark turns have become more popular there are increasing numbers of backcountry skiers who are interested in telemarking steeper slopes and who want equipment designed for extreme conditions. Boots for these activities are stiffer, higher and generally more expensive than boots for more general purpose backcountry touring. These boots often allow the shell to be locked for greater rigidity in downhill mode and unlocked for easier walking.
It is possible to buy lightweight thermoform-able liners for plastic boots; these are heat-formed from mouldable foam to increase the support to the foot and calf and to ensure a more comfortable fit.
Garmont and Scarpa are the most easily available boots in the UK but there are other manufacturers, Crispi and Alico for example.
Bindings
The traditional three pin Nordic binding
This example is from Voile and is a classic example.
The welt of the toe of the boot sits on three pins in the toe piece and the front plate is clipped down into a spring loaded clip and this prevents the boot from detaching from the pins. This type of binding provides good flexibility and is light and the conventional choice for low level Nordic touring. There is no provision for quick release but this is less of a problem because this style of setup is not usually used for faster descents where there are real risks from falling.
The three pin binding with cable
A classic example from Voile. Here the front three pin binding gains a spingloaded and adjustable cable which holds the back of the boot and creates a
more rigid attachment to the ski. This binding also comes with a separate quick release mechanism which allows the binding and boot to break away from the ski under extreme pressures. The Voile quick release and cable binding has been a standard telemark binding for some time and is a reliable standard. It is not the easiest of bindings to put on and off and remounting the binding after the safety binding has released is a little tedious. The cable is detachable and the binding can be used as a simple three pin binding for ascents if the greater flexibility is wanted.
The Cable binding
The Rottafella Chili binding illustrated below is a good example of a cable binding which has done away with the three pin front and captures the front toe welt under a simple bar at the front. The cable/springs are activated by a heal lever which rigidly locks the boot into the toe piece (bail).
The cables are easily adjustable to ensure the boot is firmly held into the bail.
Step in and One piece quick release bindings.
The 7TM is rapidly becoming the binding of choice for telemark and touring where a release binding is appropriate. It comes in a number of versions. The Tour allows for the incorporation of a ski crampon.
Skins
Skins used to come with straight sides and be interchangeable between skis. With waisted skis it is preferable to buy skis designed to be cut to the skis shape. Care should be taken to ensure the skins are clear of the metal edges of the ski.
Crampons
Crampons which are not integral to the binding do exist but the 7TM Tour has somewhat rendered them unnecessary.
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