After buying skis and boots, choose bindings. With their help, the foot is kept on the ski and the entire riding process is controlled. If they were chosen incorrectly, riding will be uncomfortable and dangerous.

1. The first thing to do is determine the center of gravity. To do this, the ski is installed on any object to make a kind of "swing". The point where the ski will be in equal proportion on both sides is the center of gravity.
2. Mounting dimensions are noted, and the center is selected. To do this, you need to draw a longitudinal line, dividing the ski into two equal parts.
3. When all marks are made, it is necessary to start fixing. To do this, you need to drill holes and fix the product with screws. You can additionally cover the surface of the structure with glue.

After all the steps are done, it is necessary to leave the skis to dry. This process takes at least 12 hours. It is advisable to leave them for a day.

When , it is necessary to take into account the individual parameters of a person. In order for them to be comfortable, it is necessary to take into account the human anatomy and the shoes used for riding.

NNN is a ski boot attachment system. This type of fastening is offered by Rottefella. The mount is considered universal and will fit any boots, with the exception of boots for children and teenagers.

A distinctive feature are two parallel stops. The mount has four stiffness options and two notches. Boots with this binding are best suited for skating due to the fact that the bracket is moved back.

SNS is a profile type of fastening created by the French company Salomon. It has three stiffness options, one notch on the boot and a brace at the edge.

The main differences between NNN and SNS are:

• Fasteners. At NNN, it is located under the fingers. This improves controllability. And at SNS - in front of the toe.
• Guide points. NNN has two parallel protrusions, and SNS has one central one.
• Control. The NNN binding has the best steering control, especially when skating, which cannot be said about the SNS.
• Number of stiffness options.

Types and models

By riding style

• High boots are used for skating. They tightly fix the foot to avoid injury while riding. It is important to choose the correct size when choosing boots for skating to avoid injury.
• Low boots provide comfort while riding in classic style. They have soft uppers and soles.
• Universal or combined - suitable for both the first and second riding styles and have an average length.

By appointment

• Professional - withstand heavy loads and last a very long time.
• Hiking boots are made in such a way that it is convenient not only to ride in them, but also to walk. They are made of a combination of leather and synthetics, withstand heavy loads and do not allow moisture to pass through.
• Amateur models - have a bright design and do not have fundamental requirements and are designed for walking.
• Children's - should be easy to put on and take off, be comfortable and keep warm. Some manufacturers include an extra insole when selling children's ski boots so that the size can be adjusted and the boots last longer.

Brands

There are hundreds of brands that manufacture ski boots. How not to get confused by the names? And which brand should you choose?

Salomon. All the same French company that produces SNS mounts. Not just big, but a huge choice for any level of training. The constant improvement of boots is the release of a new model.

Lange. One of the best manufacturers. No wonder their slogan is No1 in the world market. The top models of this brand are designed by Ferrari designers.

The main feature of the Italian brand Tecnica is the sleeve gate. It is designed not only for top models, but also for models of other, more low levels. Another difference is the minimum vibration from the skis, this allows the leg not to get tired during long skiing. Boots of this company perfectly keep warm even at low temperatures.

Rossignol. Perhaps one of the first firms that paid attention to the design of women's skis. The brand cares about the marketability of the product, so it uses various marketing ploys, such as skis for "fatal women".

nordica. The largest manufacturer. More than 700,000 pairs of shoes are produced annually. And in the middle of the last century, the Kastle ski factory was purchased by the brand.

Fischer produces boots of its own concept. The products of this brand are considered relatively inexpensive and very popular among young skiers.

Material

When choosing ski boots, an important role is played by the material from which they are made. Leather, tarpaulin, synthetics - it all depends on personal comfort. But you need to understand that the denser and stiffer the material, the more difficult it will be to remove the shoes after use. For some hard models, you need 20 minutes of being warm.

Another disadvantage of hard rubber is that the holes made for the fasteners are pulled out very quickly. Although the price of such models is much lower than the rest. But we all remember the saying: "The miser pays twice."

Artificial leather. The most common material in the manufacture of ski boots. At good producers boots made of synthetic materials and artificial leather do not crack in the cold and last a very long time. Such models have high-quality heaters. There are, of course, boots genuine leather, but there are very few of them and they are acquired only by those to whom this moment is fundamental. The indisputable advantage of synthetic and artificial materials, of course, is the preservation of shape. What can not be said about boots made of natural materials.

In front of the attachment of these two systems are rubber stops (flexors). When pushing, the toe of the boot rests against the flexor. Depending on the rigidity of the flexor, the rigidity of the ski control is regulated, therefore, flexors of different rigidity are used for different styles of skiing. For skate style when rigid foot-to-ski grip is required, rigid flexors are used, respectively. For classical style softer flexors are used, there are also medium-hard flexors designed for amateur skiers who ride both "skate" and "classic". Flexors can be replaced (but they are hard to find in stores in our city!), however, this feature is of interest mainly to amateur skiers, since athletes for each style select not only certain bindings, but also skis.

Both types of bindings are versatile in the sense that they can be "fitted" to any boot size. Exceptions are mounts for small children (up to seven years old) and teenagers. SALOMON and ROTTEFELLA produce special bindings for children and youth. They differ from "adults" in a large latch handle, so that it is convenient to take it in mittens. In addition, child bindings have a softer fastening mechanism so that a small child can freely put on and take off skis.

Bindings are distinguished by boot guides along the bindings. SNS has one central ledge, while NNN has two parallel ones. , the boot fastening system is somewhat different. For SNS bindings, the boot bracket is fixed immediately in the toe of the boot, and for NNN bindings, it is shifted 10 mm back (under the fingers). This arrangement gives somewhat better ski control when skating. Another difference between the mounts concerns the color of the rubber bands. Depending on the stiffness of the elastic bands, they have different colors, so you can immediately determine which style the bindings are intended for. NNN rubber bands come in four colors.

For skating style, white elastic bands are used (for strong style) and green (for softer riding) colors. Mounts for the "classic" are black (standard) or red (soft). The SNS company uses three types of rubber bands, which, in addition to color, differ in an extruded conditional stiffness figure. For the "classic" elastic bands are yellow, with a hardness of 85. "Skate" elastic bands are red, with a hardness number of 115, and universal ones are pink-lilac with a hardness of 95. SNS makes both bindings and boots, and NNN makes bindings and soles for boots, which subsequently used by other companies for tailoring shoes. Unlike fasteners. SNS systems, NNN produces bindings specifically for other companies with their name, such as ROSSIGNOL. If you opted for SNS bindings, then you need to check that they match with the boots. This is due to the fact that the models of bindings (and, accordingly, boots) of recent years are somewhat different from older ones.

Afterword to the article

NNN and SNS - in my opinion, absolutely equivalent types of bindings Both of these systems are ridden by professional athletes. On the Internet, you can find dozens of forums about the dispute between these two systems, but it was not possible to find a specific answer - everyone decides for himself what to choose.

Published: February 5, 2016.

How to choose cross country ski boots

When choosing boots for cross-country skiing, you need to decide how often and what style you intend to run. If you plan to go skiing only a few times a season, is it worth spending serious money on equipment? And vice versa, if you plan to ski quite often or do sports at all, then you need to approach the choice of boots more seriously.

In either case, you can pick up decent and high-quality boots and bindings. In general, the price when choosing boots and bindings plays far from the main role. The most important thing is that in the chosen sports shoes it was comfortable to run. But you should think about bindings only after you have already chosen shoes. This is because they are made for a specific type of mount.

Many companies produce models of shoes specially designed for men and women, as well as children's models. This diversity is dictated by the difference in the anatomical structure. Men's feet are much wider than women's. In addition, women's and children's shoes are made more elegant.

Since the choice of ski boots and ski bindings are interconnected, it is worth learning a little about ski bindings.

What are the bindings for skis

For felt boots, ski bindings are soft, made of leather straps. For other shoes, bindings can be semi-rigid or rigid. These have been fasteners for a very long time. And today they are no longer used for cross-country skiing. Nobody skis in felt boots today.

Today everyone skis in ski boots. But shoes are also different. After all, they are made for certain fastenings. What types are in use today?

Types of ski bindings

There are four types of ski bindings in use today:

1. NN 75

Let's take a closer look at each type of attachment.

NN 75 or Nordic Norm 75, where the numbers indicate the width of the mount. This is an underutilized type of mount. It is a metal case in the form of a horseshoe with three rods - protrusions. For him, a boot with a slightly protruding sole is used. It is installed on the fastening rods, the protruding part of the sole, in which there are respectively three holes.

Then the front, protruding part of the sole is clamped with a metal bracket and latched with a special latch. A boot with such a mount does not hold tight enough on the ski and may hang out a little. It is not suitable for skating at all. But after all, some twenty years ago, it was on such bindings and boots that everyone rode.

But progress does not stand still. And a Norwegian company Rottefella improved her creation, and without further ado called it NNN, adding one more letter to the old name.

NNN or New Nordic Norm. The mount is made in the form of a plate that is attached to the ski. It has two longitudinal guides that fix the boot from lateral movement. On the sole of the boot there are two longitudinal recesses for guide fastenings. A transverse rod is mounted in the front part of the sole of the boot, with which it snaps onto the mount.

Thus, the boot is fixed in the longitudinal direction. And so that it does not hang on this rod, its front part rests against a special elastic band - an emphasis. By selecting the stiffness of this gum, you can control the stiffness of the entire mount. Rottefella fasteners are used by such well-known companies as Rossignol, Fischer, Alpina, karhu.

NlS or Nordic lntegrated System appeared in 2005 in the same company Rottefella. The mount is placed on the skis without the use of screws. However, skis must be specially prepared for this. They must have the NIS platform installed. The rest of the mounts are almost the same as the previous version.

This type of binding is used by sports equipment giants such as Rossignol, Alpina and Madshus. Accordingly, the price of such mounts is higher.

SNS or Salomon Nordic System - cross-country ski bindings developed, as the name implies, by the French company Salomon. The boot is fixed on the ski using one longitudinal guide. Ahead of the boot is fixed with a rubber stop.

The company produces 2 models of mounts: Pilot and Profile. Mounts of the first type are specialized and are intended only for use in skating. Because of this, they have two guides, and instead of rubber stops, spring ones are used. And the Profil model is universal and traditional for the company. Salomon bindings are used by Adidas, Atomic, Spine, and Salomon itself.

Which bindings for cross-country skis are better

It is impossible to say unequivocally which bindings for skis are better. But let's try to understand this issue.

The outdated NN 75 mount, although used less and less, is much cheaper than other types. And, despite its shortcomings, it still finds fans. In addition, it is often bought for children. Its price is relatively small, and a growing child will have to change shoes in a year or two.

The NIS mount is mainly used by professionals and enthusiastic athletes. This is primarily due to its price. And the benefits are not so obvious. Therefore, the most common mounts are NNN and SNS.

Ski mount NNN and SNS and their difference from each other

Both types of mounts are similar in shape to each other. There are also few fundamental differences. The main difference is that the SNS type uses one longitudinal guide while the NNN type has two longitudinal guides. For a skier, they are approximately equivalent. Both those and others are used by both professional and amateur athletes.

How to choose ski boots by size

In order for the shoes to sit comfortably on the foot, they must be correctly sized. To do this, they need to be measured. You need to measure them, wearing the socks with which they are supposed to be worn.

If the skier already has some experience, then good. If not, then when choosing socks it is better to play it safe a little. Or do you want your feet to freeze? And if not, then you can purchase thermal socks specifically for this case. And grandmother's woolen socks are also suitable. In extreme cases, you can wear several pairs of socks.

After the shoes are dressed, they are laced up. If possible, you need to walk a little back and forth. If shoes are chosen for the classics, then try to stand on your toes, as if doing a push with your foot. If shoes are selected for a skate, then place your foot with an inclination, simulating a skate course. If everything is fine and the leg is comfortable, then you can buy.

How to choose ski boots for your running style

The choice of boots and bindings also depends on whether it is supposed to be skated or classic. Different styles present and different requirements for boots and bindings. So, for example, for skating, boots are made taller and stiffer. For the classics, shorter and softer. All major sports equipment companies offer both skate and classic boots.

How to choose ski boots for skating

For skating, boots are made higher. This is done in order to fix the ankle joint. The skating style of running assumes that during the push the leg is placed with an inclination, and the ski is on edge. And in order not to twist the joint and reduce the load on it, it is fixed with a high boot.

Here, a thicker sole is used. The shoe itself sits more tightly on the foot. It is manufactured with anatomical structure legs. For skating, you can use boots with bindings of both types: SNS and NNN. In addition, there are combined shoes. This is something between a classic and a skate. And for fixing the ankle they use a removable cuff.

How to choose ski boots for classic skiing

ski boots for classic move, whether it is a product from Fischer, Salomon, Alpina or another company, is slightly shorter than for skating. There is no need to fix the ankle joint. But, nevertheless, boots for the classics are made by leading companies, taking into account many requirements for skating boots.

A classic boot is a little lighter than a skate boot. They use a softer sole. Mounts are used by both SNS and NNN. Only if the preference will be given to the SNS type, a small nuance should be taken into account. Boots with Profil bindings do not fit on Pilot bindings. On the contrary, it is quite suitable. But don't forget that the Pilot is designed for skating only.

How much do ski boots and bindings cost

Modern ski boots from well-known firms are made of high-quality synthetic materials and from high-quality genuine leather, down. Therefore, they are very light and warm. Accordingly, they are significantly more expensive than products of less well-known companies.

The price range is very large. This is understandable. They start from one thousand for simpler boots, up to several tens of thousands for a product for professionals. Good ones can be purchased for two to four thousand rubles. Good mounts also start from a thousand rubles and end in many thousands.

When choosing fasteners, it must be taken into account that there are several standards: NN 75, NNN, Prolink, SNS Pilot and SNS Profil. After the choice of boots is made, you can proceed directly to the choice of binding model. It depends on them with what accuracy the force is transmitted and the direction of ski sliding is set. Poor quality bindings can ruin your riding experience, even if everything else is up to the highest standards.

NN 75 (Nordic Norm, 75 mm) is an obsolete standard. Such mounts are distinguished, first of all, by their low price. The toe of the boot is rigidly fastened with a metal bracket to the rods, however, the foot is poorly fixed relative to the ski. Skating with such a mount is almost impossible to ride. These mounts are not available in our store.

SNS system mounts developed by Salomon. These mounts have only one, but a wide longitudinal guide. SNS mounts are divided into two types: SNS Profile and SNS Pilot.

SNS Profile- this is universal mounts, as a rule, of a walking orientation with one axis of fastening. SNS Profil bindings are suitable for SNS Profil and SNS Pilot boots. However, SNS Profil boots only fit SNS Profil bindings.

SNS Pilot have more sports orientation and have two mounting axes. SNS Pilot bindings only fit SNS Pilot boots, while SNS Pilot boots fit both SNS Pilot and SNS Profil bindings.

NNN (New Nordic Norm)and PROLINK, have two longitudinal guides for stabilizing the sole of the boot and one engagement axis. There are various modifications of these mounts, designed for both classic and skating. NNN and PROLINK mounts are fully compatible with each other.