The right length for skate, cross-country and touring skis

Close-up of cross-country skis and poles on groomed track in snowy winter landscape

Before you invest in a brand new pair of cross-country skis, you need to decide what type of skiing you will be doing. Depending on the purpose of the ski, you need different length skis. In this article, we'll tell you how to find the right length for skate skis, cross-country skis and touring skis!

Different purposes - different skis - different length

Several people are lying in the snow, sunbathing with cross-country skis against a clear blue sky.

In a previous article, we told you how to find the perfect length of slalom skis. Now it's finally time to tell you how to find the right length for your skate skis, cross-country skis and touring skis. But before we get into that, we thought we'd start by telling you what the difference is between these three types of skis:

Cross-country skiing
Skate skis
Touring skis

Cross-country skiing

The classic cross-country ski is designed for traditional cross-country skiing with groomed tracks. The ski has a lightweight and narrow design that helps you get up to speed quickly. A classic cross-country ski is the most common ski in cross-country skiing races.

What you should consider when choosing a cross-country ski is to choose a sharpness that is adapted to your skiing style and weight. If the edge is too hard, you won't be able to press down on the ski's attachment zone, which will result in you not making contact with the snow. You will then find yourself sliding backwards. On the other hand, if the edge is too weak, you will have too much contact with the snow, which means that the glide will be very poor.

Skate skis

However, if you are not a fan of classic cross-country skiing, but prefer skate/freestyle skiing, then skate skis are the way to go. Skate skis have slightly different characteristics that are adapted to the skate-like skiing style.

The skate ski is simply a form of cross-country ski that is specially designed to provide an extra long glide and limited grip. The top of the skate ski is also slightly lowered to reduce the weight of the ski. The edges are also sharper than those of the classic ski, while the edge is harder. This makes it easier to push the skis away from the body.

Several Salomon skis in different colours are lined up under a red Atomic canvas at the ski area.

Touring skis

Unlike both the skate ski and the classic cross-country ski, the touring ski has a wider and more robust construction. In addition, for better control when descending, the waist is slightly narrowed with a soft core.

A touring ski is specifically designed to be stable and provide carrying capacity outside the groomed trails. The carrying capacity also makes them an advantageous choice if you are carrying heavy loads or pulling a sledge behind you. Keep in mind, however, that extra weight affects the sharpness of the ski, i.e. glide and grip. It can therefore be an advantage to choose a slightly softer ski so that it does not become too backward.

The design of touring skis simply means that they are perfect for long mountain hikes, expeditions or hunting in winter terrain.

How to choose the right length for your skate skis, cross-country skis and touring skis

Now that you know the difference between the three different skis, it's finally time to choose the length that is most favourable for the different purposes.

We use general measurements as your weight and riding style always play a role in which length is most optimal for you.