Installing cross country ski bindings

This is worth keeping in mind if you are going to ski cross country, because if you use NNN boots on an SNS binding and board, you will be going absolutely nowhere fast. Bindings serve to fix you securely to your skis, meaning that your boots are unlikely to go slipping and sliding around. The fact is, if you bind the wrong type of boots using the wrong clips, you are going to be left standing without any hope of hitting the slopes.

Trust me — plenty of skiers, me included, have made this mistake in the past. We all have to start somewhere — take heart! This really is the main difference. Both systems simply clip your boots to the boards, keep you safe on route, and give you that little bit of extra power and support along the way.

It is pretty comparable to different types of electrical socket you find all over the world. They all do the same thing — they are just set up in different ways!

This might simply be down to the type of boots you prefer! Then, you should hunt down a great set of SNS or NNN bindings, as appropriate to your boots and skis, so that you can safely fasten yourself in and get ready for some cross country fun. NNN boots, as they use two different parts, will have two distinct grooves in the sole.

One central bar in the middle, therefore, will indicate that you have SNS boots. Manual bindings, meanwhile, are those which you will normally need to adjust by hand. Again, there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to whether you choose manual or automatic bindings. The choice you make in the long run will likely revolve around what you find most comfortable and most convenient. However, to help you get started, I have chosen two top products which I think are well worthy of your consideration.

These NNN bindings from Rottefella are lightweight, robust, and will work well with any related Rottefella boot systems. They are well-priced and have a unique selling point — they are backcountry bindings. Rottefella states that these bindings are the only ones on the market to place to this unique demand, and that they are the strongest available for this type of cross country skiing.

Make sure you have your ski poles handy, too. Open the bindings of your cross-country skis. Usually this requires nothing more than flipping the front of the binding up, but some bindings may have a small tab you need to press with your finger or the tip of a ski pole to get the bindings to open. Note that when opened the red tabs in the bindings slide back, creating an open space into which you can slide the bar on the toe of your ski boots.

Step down on the open part of the binding, toe first, pressing the aforementioned bar into the open slot. Sometimes you'll hear a click; sometimes you'll just feel the bar slide into place. Flip the front of the bindings down to close them. Stand flat-footed on the ski and try to lift your toes up.

The most popular type of cross-country ski bindings is considered to be the NNN ski bindings. This is the reason why it is used in most of the rental skis in ski touring centers. Since there are different types of XC ski binding available, how do we know which one is the perfect match for us?

How do we know which binding system does a ski boot work with? The answer is simple. If you have a pair of ski boots and are not sure about their binding system, glance at the sole of the boot. If you find two shallow and thin grooves that run from one end of the sole length-wise to the other, you have a NNN ski boot. It is one of the most commonly used types of ski bindings. If there are two bars on the sole, you have a current SNS or Pilot boot. If the center of your ski boot has a single wide and deep bar running across the sole length-wise, you have an old SNS or Profil Boot.

Most of the cross country skis that you find these days come with a plate that lets you install a binding that you can slide. The advantage of having such slide-on bindings is that there are not permanent as you can take them on and off as per your choice.

Moreover, they are mostly adjustable, that is, you can adjust these bindings to move forward or back on your ski. Place your binding with the placement of the holes and gently drill in the screws. It is advised to tighten all the screws with a screwdriver once you are done with the drilling procedure.

Place your skis upside down so that the glue dries as quickly as possible. Removing different kinds of cross-country ski bindings is fairly easy once you get the hang of it.

To ease the worries of beginner skiers, we have listed all the methods to safely remove different kinds of bindings all on your own. Salomon Bindings SNS come with a button to activate them.

You can either activate it by pushing it with your fingers or your ski boots. To remove Salomon automatic bindings, you must carefully remove all the visible screws with the help of a screwdriver first. Next, push in the button with one hand and use a slot hand screwdriver to gently insert it inside the slot hidden beneath the button.

Rotate your screwdriver to unhinge the cover of the button and reveal a button alongside the three other buttons present on the sides. Remove all the screws with caution, and you are good to go. NNN Auto bindings hide two screws underneath the rubber Flexer and one beneath the cover of the given button. Unhinge the screw present on the plates and simply use a screwdriver for popping off the cover of your button to reveal another screw.