When gearing up for cross country skiing, the first question you should be asking yourself is what size cross country skis do I need? Different types of skiing require different calculations when it comes to choosing the right ski length. Ensuring your cross country skis are the right length means you can control your skis, turn with ease and stop with minimal effort. This means you’ll have a better time, be able to focus on refining your technique and reduce the risk of injury.
What size cross country skis do I need?
As we’ve discussed previously, cross country skiing offers phenomenal benefits but in order to really reap them, you want the right skis that help you with your technique and efficiency. It’s good to lead with the fact that there is no standardized system for choosing the right ski length, however, there are some helpful guidelines.
For some types of skiing, the calculation depends on several variables, such as snow, terrain, height and ability level. Fortunately, when it comes to cross country skiing, it’s quite easy to calculate the right length for you since we can easily determine exactly what type of cross country skiing you’ll be doing beforehand.
What type of cross country skiing will you be doing?
To start, you’ll need to know whether you’ll be doing classic cross country skiing on a groomed track, classic cross country skiing in the backcountry or skate skiing. Next, figure out your height in centimeters and use the following formula:
| Type of cross country skiing | Ski length |
|---|---|
| Classic XC skiing on a groomed track | Your height + 20cm |
| Classic XC skiing in the backcountry | Your height |
| Skate skiing | Your height + 5-10cm* |
* For skate skiing skis, more experienced skiers will go a bit longer and beginners will go a bit shorter
Factor in your body weight
There is one other variable that you should take into account when choosing cross country skis, and that is your weight. Basically, if you are relatively heavy for your height, you’ll want to add another five centimeters to the formula above to account for the extra weight, and if you’re relatively light for your height, subtract five centimeters.
Cross country skis come in standard lengths, so if there isn’t a ski that exactly matches your requirements, round up or down to pick the one closest.
Choosing cross country ski boots and bindings
Once you’ve chosen a pair of cross country skis, you’ll need to check if they come pre-mounted with bindings or if you need to buy and mount your own. If they come with bindings, make sure you buy a pair of cross country ski boots that are compatible with the bindings.
If you need to buy and mount your own bindings, check the compatibility of the ski then take a look at our guide to the different types of cross country ski bindings. Once you’ve selected your bindings, all you need to do is buy a pair of cross country ski boots that are compatible with your bindings and best for the type of cross country skiing you plan to do.
Now that you’ve got your skis, bindings and boots, all that’s left is to dress appropriately for cross country skiing – meaning for high intensity in cold weather – and get out there.
