Gear
Backcountry cross-country skis (fjellski)
Wide skis for travel off prepared tracks. The most common type for longer mountain trips — flotation without being too heavy to travel on.
Fjellski are wide skis that give flotation off groomed tracks. Wider than ordinary cross-country skis (langrenn), but not as extreme as wide forest skis (jaktski) — and typically the first choice for longer mountain trips.
Stiffness and length
Softer skis follow your movements better, but need a longer length for the right glide. They are more directionally stable and well suited to long plateau crossings. They turn slightly less well.
Stiffer skis can be shorter, are easier to steer on slopes and turn more readily. Beginners usually prefer stiff, shorter skis.
Sidecut
Fjellski are widest at the tip and tail and narrowest in the middle. This tapering is called sidecut — the greater it is, the easier the ski is to turn (think slalom skis). They are less directionally stable.
Steel edges
Fjellski usually come with a steel edge, which gives grip on hard crust and on steep climbs. If you are skiing with a dog — leave the steel edges at home. When steel edges at speed meet a dog’s paws, things can go badly wrong. There are separate dog-suited variants without a steel edge.
Next steps
- Ski equipment and snowshoes — overview
- 75 mm 3-pin binding — classic binding
- Ski tour — activity hub
Learn more
- DNT — equipment — recommendations and courses
- Friluftsmagasinet Fri Flyt — tests and specialist articles
- Klepp & Tobiasson — Lettkledd — sustainable thinking about equipment