In case you didn't know - and you may be forgiven, as governments, train companies, and people in general seem to be surprised every year again - it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. As I live in Finland, winter, snow, ice and -20°C temperatures are not so much a surprise to me, but business as usual - roughly from the beginning of December till the end of April, longer the further north you go or the more global warming (cooling ?!) advances. What does that mean? It means to travel at an efficient speed in the backcountry, skis or snowshoes are a must - except you're a masochist who enjoys potholing in hip-deep snow. I shall have a look at the former today.
A loipe on the lake going off into the distance, on a fine sunny day.
Have a good look at that photo above. That is the freedom and beauty of winter backpacking. Crisp temperatures, the sun is out, likely not a lot of people around, the sound of birds in the forest, making your own trail where no one has gone before. Winter backpacking is epic. One just needs to kick the inner laziness and get out. Getting out is all that it's about. Gear helps. Like skis in winter.
I am sporting a pair of
Madshus Glittertind MGV+ Ski in 195 cm lenght, including the
Rottefella Backcountry Manual binding they are 1270 g per Ski or 2540 g for the pair. As far as I am concerned, that is fairly light and optimal for my needs. Speaking of needs, I will be skiing on prepared tracks and off-piste with these, through forests and in the fjells of Lapland. No Alpine stuff thus. Besides my (near) daily rounds on the lake and hill next door they will see seven solid weeks of action up north. So once the snow is gone - in May - I will report back on how they performed.
The Sidecut is 68-55-62 mm on these babies, the tip rise is a bit over 8 cm and they have a full length steel edge.
The Rottefella BC binding, chosen for its ease of use and being lightweight.
The MultiGrip Vario+ (MGV+) Wax-Free Base. I'm lazy, carrying and playing around with wax is none of my interests so I went for a wax-free base version.
To ski you needs boots. I decided to stay with Madshus and took a pair of
Glittertind BC Boots, as they're made for the backcountry and the skis I chose. They're 802 g a piece (Size 43), or 1604 g for the pair. While on the screen that looks heavy, in the snow on the skis they're not. Why? Because when I ski it is a kick-and-glide, kick-and-glide move where lifting feet is not an issue - you lift your feet so minimal that they weight is not much of a factor - even if making my own trail in virgin snow. They're also spectacularly warm with the Thinsulate inner. They have a lace cover which is breathable and keeps the snow at bay, very, very handy. In the front they have a little sort-of D-Ring, which works very well to hook my MLD Snow Gaiters in. For the skiing they're perfect, walking is a bit odd - but that could be down to me now being used to boots anymore. I like them.
The Glittertind BC Boots worn and open with a look at the inside, and mounted.
Now we're almost ready. What's missing? Poles, right. I use an old, hand-me-down pair of skiing poles from exel, which come in at 201 g per pole or 402 g for the pair, which ain't shabby. They have a fixed length of 150 cm and are perfect for me. No photo of these, sorry.
In the loipe I made the previous day. The Glittertind skis are slightly wider than normal cross country/ loipe skis, but I have no problems with skiing in it. I usually go for a kilometer or so on the loipe, and then make my own trail and head back (You can see my skiing trips on
my EveryTrail profile).
Breaking trail. Frozen lakes are sweet.
In comparison, my fiancée's cross-country skis, a good ten to fifteen years old, weigh in at 864 g per ski (1728 g/ pair) and her boots (they're actually more like sneakers, very low cut) are 457 g per boot (914 g/ pair). They're lighter, but solely for the loipe - making your own trail with these is a pain in the butt and you have wet feet asap. No multipurpose.
Respect the Loipe - don't walk on it. I will hit you with my skiing poles if you do.
So that is my skiing gear. In the two and half weeks I have used them now I am super happy with them, but the long term test coming will tell more. May, I reckon, a review will go up. Yeah. The skis came recommended by
Mr. Newton, so I expect they will be Tuff Stuff!
If you're living in Finland and want to enjoy the snow, have a look at your local
Partioaitta shop, they have the whole setup I have.
Intersport and
Sportia Pekka as well have Madshus skis, and if none of these are close to you check from
Hjorth, the Finnish Distributor, where you can find a pair. Those abroad should check the
Madshus and
Rottefella websites for a dealer near them.
Saw a Yeti here in Finland - imagine!
In case you didn't know - and you may be forgiven, as governments, train companies, and people in general seem to be surprised every year again - it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. As I live in Finland, winter, snow, ice and -20°C temperatures are not so much a surprise to me, but business as usual - roughly from the beginning of December till the end of April, longer the further north you go or the more global warming (cooling ?!) advances. What does that mean? It means to travel at an efficient speed in the backcountry, skis or snowshoes are a must - except you're a masochist who enjoys potholing in hip-deep snow. I shall have a look at the former today.
A loipe on the lake going off into the distance, on a fine sunny day.
Have a good look at that photo above. That is the freedom and beauty of winter backpacking. Crisp temperatures, the sun is out, likely not a lot of people around, the sound of birds in the forest, making your own trail where no one has gone before. Winter backpacking is epic. One just needs to kick the inner laziness and get out. Getting out is all that it's about. Gear helps. Like skis in winter.
I am sporting a pair of
Madshus Glittertind MGV+ Ski in 195 cm lenght, including the
Rottefella Backcountry Manual binding they are 1270 g per Ski or 2540 g for the pair. As far as I am concerned, that is fairly light and optimal for my needs. Speaking of needs, I will be skiing on prepared tracks and off-piste with these, through forests and in the fjells of Lapland. No Alpine stuff thus. Besides my (near) daily rounds on the lake and hill next door they will see seven solid weeks of action up north. So once the snow is gone - in May - I will report back on how they performed.
The Sidecut is 68-55-62 mm on these babies, the tip rise is a bit over 8 cm and they have a full length steel edge.
The Rottefella BC binding, chosen for its ease of use and being lightweight.
The MultiGrip Vario+ (MGV+) Wax-Free Base. I'm lazy, carrying and playing around with wax is none of my interests so I went for a wax-free base version.
To ski you needs boots. I decided to stay with Madshus and took a pair of
Glittertind BC Boots, as they're made for the backcountry and the skis I chose. They're 802 g a piece (Size 43), or 1604 g for the pair. While on the screen that looks heavy, in the snow on the skis they're not. Why? Because when I ski it is a kick-and-glide, kick-and-glide move where lifting feet is not an issue - you lift your feet so minimal that they weight is not much of a factor - even if making my own trail in virgin snow. They're also spectacularly warm with the Thinsulate inner. They have a lace cover which is breathable and keeps the snow at bay, very, very handy. In the front they have a little sort-of D-Ring, which works very well to hook my MLD Snow Gaiters in. For the skiing they're perfect, walking is a bit odd - but that could be down to me now being used to boots anymore. I like them.
The Glittertind BC Boots worn and open with a look at the inside, and mounted.
Now we're almost ready. What's missing? Poles, right. I use an old, hand-me-down pair of skiing poles from exel, which come in at 201 g per pole or 402 g for the pair, which ain't shabby. They have a fixed length of 150 cm and are perfect for me. No photo of these, sorry.
In the loipe I made the previous day. The Glittertind skis are slightly wider than normal cross country/ loipe skis, but I have no problems with skiing in it. I usually go for a kilometer or so on the loipe, and then make my own trail and head back (You can see my skiing trips on
my EveryTrail profile).
Breaking trail. Frozen lakes are sweet.
In comparison, my fiancée's cross-country skis, a good ten to fifteen years old, weigh in at 864 g per ski (1728 g/ pair) and her boots (they're actually more like sneakers, very low cut) are 457 g per boot (914 g/ pair). They're lighter, but solely for the loipe - making your own trail with these is a pain in the butt and you have wet feet asap. No multipurpose.
Respect the Loipe - don't walk on it. I will hit you with my skiing poles if you do.
So that is my skiing gear. In the two and half weeks I have used them now I am super happy with them, but the long term test coming will tell more. May, I reckon, a review will go up. Yeah. The skis came recommended by
Mr. Newton, so I expect they will be Tuff Stuff!
If you're living in Finland and want to enjoy the snow, have a look at your local
Partioaitta shop, they have the whole setup I have.
Intersport and
Sportia Pekka as well have Madshus skis, and if none of these are close to you check from
Hjorth, the Finnish Distributor, where you can find a pair. Those abroad should check the
Madshus and
Rottefella websites for a dealer near them.
Saw a Yeti here in Finland - imagine!
Backcountry Cross Country Skiing
They look sweet. And the snow is the epitome of deep and crisp and even! I'm still looking a the Madshus Eon or Epoch - a bit more of a sidecut for slightly hillier skiing in Lapland, and the occasional jaunt into Sweden or Norway. Madshus seem to have a nice collection.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing how this set up works for you as I'm also in the market for a pair to use both on and off trail in moderate hilly to flat terrain. Have been looking at Fischer Silent Spiders and Rossignol BC65, both of which have a slightly more narrow sidecut, but will also check these out.
ReplyDeleteSo, are you planning to master the telemark turn or are you trusting Finlands flatness not having to learn it?
ReplyDelete/ Karl
Those Glittertinds look way nicer than the ones on Madshus website.
ReplyDeleteMark, Are you moving back to Lapland soon?! That'd be awesome! Madshus have a very nice collection, the Epoch looks good too me, as do some of their race skis. And I think my Glittertinds are the 2011 version, but I don't know for sure.
ReplyDeleteDan, so far they work like a charm. Espacially happy that I don't need to bother with wax! You're looking for skis to use in Lapland, USA? Curious to see what you settle for in the end.
Karl, I want to learn it. It is a bit more hilly in Lapland (but only a bit!), so it might come in useful, although riding down in a straight line has something going for it =)
Dig the topsheet graphics.
ReplyDeleteNice skis. Nice setup. The widest ski that'll still fit in a track but it'll get you through the fresh stuff too. I've used something very similar with light 75mm cable bindings and trad leather boots. Fischer Euro 99's are identical in terms of waisting. Not sure if the camber is the same but I can't turn the Euro 99's. So I'm stuck traversing and using step turns and kick turns. Great for going in straight lines but I expect you have to be a good skier to work against the reverse camber and get these to varve a turn. Pairing them with lighter boots and a Magnum binding makes more sense since they're still reluctant to turn with a heavier set up. I'm going still fatter this year because we'll be on steeper ground and I want all the help to turn I can get. Yet to confirm but I'll likely be on Salamon XADV89's (89-60-78) with 75mm bindings and possibly even light plastic boots. Compared to your set up heavy but the trade off will be better performance on steeper terrain. Fatter, more waisting, lighter camber, less good for kick-n-glide (but then that's not a big issue when breaking trail with a (comparatively) heavy pack but should be better at turning. Whether I'm good enough to turn them is another question. We should compare notes in the spring.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post Hendrik as I was discussing nordic touring kit yesterday on a Outdoors Magic. I actually bought a used pair of Scarpa T4 plastic boots as they're considered back country touring boots by quite a few UK based skiers. The reason for stiffer than normal kit for UK users seems to be because we don't have sufficient 'Snow Time' to develop improved technique. I have to say I don't think I'll like them as they're really bulky/heavy compared to even my stiff leather boots.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking at the Alpina BC 2175 which is really just a lowish cut plastic version of a traditional leather boot and available with a 75mm NN sole which I prefer.
Dave, if I was replacing my skis I'd probably go for Fischer E99/E109 although when I enquired of Braemar Mountain Sports about replacing my entire kit with a modern equivilent/hill and forest set-up they recommended Salomon XAD-V69 and XAD-V 6 boots.
Mac, I'm hoping Garmont Excursions will be better than the T4's in that respect but I'm only considering plastics because I expect to be in steeper terrain this time and, indeed, my technqiue isn't up to turning with soft boots. If I get my alloted three score and ten, assuming I'm only gonna ski for three score, I'll still only have 150 ski days left to improve. I'm never going to be a ski god! I need all the help I can get. Plastic have some benefits though: they're warm, they stay dry, and you can wear the inners in huts and in the tent.
ReplyDeleteI've also been talking with Breamar. That discussion has lead me away from fabric boots with 75mm. Breamar were not positive about control offered by fabric boots especialy in large sizes (I'm an 11.5UK and big footwear are generaly sloppy). Also they commented that fabric wears out quickly when used with cables. I'm now of a mind that for kick-n-glide with light pack over comparatively soft terrain skinny skis with click-in bindings would be the way to go: the XADV6 set-up sounds nice. For heavier material Plastics look more suitable. The fabric 75's don't seem to have a clear benefit in my view.
On skis: I have some experience of Europa 99s though never tried the 109s. Breamar suggested I move to wider, shorter tailored skis. I can rent the XADV89's here so I'll give them a blast before deciding what to buy.
Even if you only have a minor gear addiction you should stay away from nordic touring gear!
Dave, I wouldn't go for fabric either although the Alpina boots I mentioned appear to be almost entirely plastic but they're not a double boot. There's a very small chance that I'll get over to Aviemore for a long weekend this month, I'll be taking my skis obviously and both pairs of boots but hopefully I'll get a look at the Alpina boots and some other kit in Braemar Mtn Sports Aviemore branch.
ReplyDeleteQuote Dave, [i]Even if you only have a minor gear addiction you should stay away from nordic touring gear![/i]
Everything is risky if you have a gear addiction :-)
I like the look of those boots. The skis also look like good mountain touring skis, however I'm quite sceptical of their performance in the forest. I have similar skis (an old pair of Fischer E79). They are great on the mountain, but not ideal for bushwhacking in the forest. A lot better than normal cross-country skis though.
ReplyDeleteI have no experience with fast downhill backcountry skiing, but I also suspect such activities would benefit from another kind of stiffer boot and different skis. I certainly can't make my skis turn without stepping. Maybe I should learn Telemark skiing.
We're feeling really homesick for Lapland at the moment, but with no work lined up it's a hard decision to make, though it will have to be made by July or so. I'll email you sometime about that!
ReplyDeleteI aim to learn telemark for flexibility - I'm not really into track skiing. I get freaked out by downhills in tracks with a sharp corner at the bottom. Especially on my crappy old skis.
Great post, Henrik! Just the sort of information to tickle my emerging interest in back country skiing. In Holland it is all about Alpine on piste skiing and snowboarding and the collections in all stores seem to match that.
ReplyDeleteThe Madshus store locator you mention indicated one dealer in the whole of Holland, and - guess what - they are tucked away in a small village just nearby and are a fully specialised nordic sports shop I didnt know about. Just on my doorstep. Super.
Thanks for facilitating the search! Oh, and those colours on the skis and boots look great. I want them :)
The Madshus Glittertind is a brilliant ski. When I researched what ski to buy that would allow me to enjoy Nordic tracks, the backcountry and ski touring, all under the umbrella of 'cross country skiing' it was the Glittertind that kept popping up in forum discussions and blogs on both sides of the Atlantic. Just narrow enough for enjoying the løype with friends on day trips yet with enough float to get off the prepared trails. The sidecut and full metal edges help with turning on slightly steeper terrain and the excellent waxless base negates the need to fuck around with waxes. It's still the ski I recommend to my friends who want a do-it-all ski.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed my skiing here in Norway immensely over the past three winters on practically the same set-up to yours Hendrik. Now as I push my own limits on the steeper terrain we have here I find myself wanting a second set of skis. My next set will be wider and shorter, more backcountry and turn orientated (probably the Madshus Eon or Epoch). I will also use 3-pin bindings, again for more turning power but also for their simplicity. Working as a ski guide last winter with large groups of school children we got to see close-up and in an accelerated time-frame the wear and tear on different binding systems. The 3-pin set-up is very easy to repair, especially with cold hands and even almost catastrophic binding failure can be saved with nothing more than a pair of pliers and some duct tape. I'll pair this set-up with T4 or Excursion plastic double boots for their extra turning muscle and removable liners.
:-)
ReplyDeleteI´am a happy owner of Glittertinds too.
I use them with Salomon X-ADV bindings and X-ADV-6 boots. Used them in the Hardangervidda on a 1-week-expedition and in the Loipe in Bavaria all the time :-)
For me it is shoe first, then bindings and ski.
Cheers
Carsten
'In case you didn't know - and you may be forgiven, as governments, train companies, and people in general seem to be surprised every year again - it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere.' Very cutting, can we add Royal Mail to the list?
ReplyDeleteI really fancy a pair of skis, I've done some downhill long ago and was competent, but x-country or telemark is beyond me at this point, I might look into a course at Glenmore Lodge in time for next winter...
I'm sure I'll refer back to this post in time
I'll answer in more detail to all the great comments tomorrow. Celebrating today =)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for stepping on skis. That is the way to go in Finland. (Though last and this winter seem to also favor snowshoes as the conditions are quite similar to North American / Canadian conditions where snow shoes were developed...) But just as a frienly advice, judging from the short video, try to master the cross country skiing technique. Good technique makes a real difference and is possible with light backpack (not with heavy rucksack or pulka).
ReplyDeleteMy choise was Madhus VOSS with Rottefella manual NNN BC bindings. VOSS is about 1cm narrower which enables using the skiing tracks made for 44mm cross country skiis. In addition the VOSS was a bit more easy going than Åsnes skiis in similar width than Glittertind skis. Same conclusion was found last March while skiing in Sarek where two of the group had Glittertinds and rest had VOSS skiis. Neither of the skiis have real float while skiing on soft snow.
For this winter I am changing my system to MGV+ based skiis as they work better with skins than waxable skiis. I will also change my bindings for automatic ones as they seem to be as reliable and a lot easier to use.
My problem is finding well fitting NNN BC boots. I have tried several and am now putting my hope on Alpina BC 1600 boots. I prefer full leather with Goretex or similar as I have found that many artificial fabrics don't breath at all and during several days of skiing collect a lot of moisture and turn out to be really cold. Maybe a VBL would help but I haven't use those.
And maybe the best choise for deep povdery snow of mid winter is Finnish 3 meter long and 7cm wide (no side cut) "eräsukset". You can literally float with them on the snow. =) Though they are a bit inconvenient in many situations... =D
Can anyone really tele turn in NNN BC or similar boots and bindings? I find teles hard enough in my old Asolo Extremes (lace ups) and voile cables on skis with side cut. In fact I still find them hard off piste in T2s, 7tms and modern all-mountain tele skis but maybe that's just me being a crappy skier! :-) I've pondered over getting something similar to Hendrik's set up for off-track skiing in Finland but always presumed they wouldn't turn any better than my track skis - i.e. not at all.
ReplyDeleteDaveC, I'd like them better if they'd be as black as your Marquettes.
ReplyDeleteDaveH, carving a turn ain't what they're made for. I tried a bit of downhill action, and I can steer a bit but it is far away from efficient. As I said, they're not made for serious downhill skiing, for that we're missing the hills here.
Richard, I think everyone should just get what is suitable for his/ her conditions, and stick with it. The snow in the UK seemed to be of very short nature, which is something I can't relate to - we have it for a solid five or more months! Get what is good for you and your terrain to be travelled in, and make it work =)
Gustav, they're OK in the forest, the length certainly ain't a problem, but there could be more floatation. Not planning on downhill skiing with these, but normal backcountry crosscountry skiing.
Mark, I on the other hand feel fine going downhill in tracks! It is fun, one can go on autopilot y bien! Looking forward to visit you in Rovaniemi ;)
Eric, that is cool, that the only Dutch dealer is on your door step! btw, there is plenty of fine trails here in Tampere and surroundings, so if the snow is gone in NL and you want to try your new skis here - welcome!
Joe, there is soo much options, so much this-and-that-and-these that I am very happy to have got a recommendation from you which facilitated the whole thing. I had the same requirements, and am very happy with the decision thus far. I still might get a 2nd pair of skis for some serious off-trail skiing, those Finnish Metsäsukset (Forest skis) which are extremely long and wide look like a possibility. It would be interested to hear more about "the wear and tear on different binding systems" - maybe you can elaborate?
Carsten, thanks for stopping by in the circle of Glittertind owners!
Fraser, lets add Royal Mail, too. Come to Finland for XCountry skiing ;)
Lightening up, there is no Finnish way. Sure, everyone and their dog go skiing here, but that doesn't mean that snowshoes have no place here. Think outside the box =) The video was shot off-trail in not perfect conditions, on the loipe it looks a whole lotta different. As I will be traveling with a pulka at least on some trips, we will see. Maybe we can go skiing sometime together, here in Pirkanmaa?
Toby, they turn a bit, can't say about tele-turn as I haven't tried it yet. Down in Uusimaa you don't have a lot of hills, so I'd say a similar setup as this one, or the Madshus VOSS MGV+, could be ideal for you.
Hendrik, I have snowshoes also. But I think there is likely a reason why the way the native means of trasportation differ between different areas. Usualy the snow and circumstances differ between Northern America (homa for snow shoes) and in Finland (home for 3-meter-long skiis).
ReplyDeleteMy weekends are a bit crouded with studies, work and pre-trip-training but I'll take a look at my calender.
BTW. What kind of pulka do you have? I tested PAris Expedition pulka and it works really well if there is not too much soft snow. I think it would be perfect pulka for ice caps and open fjells. And it is reasonably light too compared to classfiber pulkas...
Toby: I've seen on video Austrian national cross country skiign team doing crazy stuff with just regular nordic cross country skiis and boots. Like back flips and tele turns. But it was not off-piste, and those guys are pros...
Sure there is a reason for different transportation methods between different areas. Though that doesn't mean one should think that is the only way to go!
ReplyDeleteI will be using a Fjellpulken X-Country 130. It is not the lightest (The Amazong Rulk wins that one!), but it will hopefully be a good alternative to the Paris Pulka, and most definitely an improvement on the school pulkas.
Hendrik, I have snowshoes also. But I think there is likely a reason why the way the native means of trasportation differ between different areas. Usualy the snow and circumstances differ between Northern America (homa for snow shoes) and in Finland (home for 3-meter-long skiis).
ReplyDeleteMy weekends are a bit crouded with studies, work and pre-trip-training but I'll take a look at my calender.
BTW. What kind of pulka do you have? I tested PAris Expedition pulka and it works really well if there is not too much soft snow. I think it would be perfect pulka for ice caps and open fjells. And it is reasonably light too compared to classfiber pulkas...
Toby: I've seen on video Austrian national cross country skiign team doing crazy stuff with just regular nordic cross country skiis and boots. Like back flips and tele turns. But it was not off-piste, and those guys are pros...
You are very lucky with that great gear and snow!
ReplyDeleteI have just replaced 20yr old 200cm Karhu Kinetic XCDs with these Glittertinds and Rott NBCs. They are 190 cm with a slightly bigger side cut.
I can only get Alpina boots though here in Melbourne. About 450g lighter per foot all up, but I am told less control than 3pin.
Haven't tried them yet.
Thanks Peter for stopping by! It would be interesting to hear you opinion later on, on if you think they really have less control than 3pin - with twenty year old skis I am certain you have plenty of experience to compare it with.
ReplyDelete