The 10 Best Cross-Country Skiing for Ladies

Fischer RC Skate My Style Boot – Women’s

Ladies that have been looking for that elusive combination of comfort and performance may just find everything they’be been looking for in the Fischer Women’s RC Skate My Style Boot. The My Style’s DNA isn’t too far removed from Fischer’s top-end race boots, but it’s been selectively bred to be a little more friendly than those race-ready chargers. With a heat-moldable liner, stiff T4 PU sole, and a women’s-specific fit, the RC Skate My Style has a lot of the features you’d expect to find on a high-end race boot. It has also been decked out with a thin layer of Thinsulate insulation to keep your toes toasty, and an injected exterior heel cup that cradles the back of your foot while transmitting power into the ski, for an unbeatable combo of power and comfort. The hinged polymer cuff sports Easy Entry pull loops to make getting the My Style on a snap, and the cuff itself provides excellent lateral support while allowing a good amount of fore and aft movement that skis equally well with aggressive or more gentle input.

Salomon RS Pilot Vitane Carbon Skate Boot – Women’s

Slip your feet into the high performance Salomon RS Pilot Vitane Carbon Skate boot and head for the track. This narrow heel, low-volume boot was engineered for those with slightly narrower feet who still demand top performance. The Vitane is kitted out with a lightweight, high-strength carbon skating plate in the sole that stores energy when flexed and releases it when unweighted. This drives energy into the ski to keep you flying down the track. A carbon 3D Energyzer cuff gives you a snappy ski return and eliminates tip drag letting your ankle and lower leg muscles relax for easier kick with less fatigue.

As with all SNS Pilot boots, the Vitane has a double-axle pivot that’s set back from the toe of the boots giving you increased control over your skis. It eliminates side-to-side motion in the boot-binding interface ensuring that you’re not wasting energy trying to keep your foot in line with the direction of your ski. In addition to the carbon skating plate, the sole has a full-length guide ridge that provides a stable platform during glide and downhill sections. The S-Lab cuff provides strong lateral support while allowing easy ankle flex and closes with an easy-to-adjust Memo strap that conforms to any ankle shape.

For comfort, the Vitane features a customizable fit thanks to the thermo-moldable foam in the heel and forefoot as well as an adjustable heel strap that lets you dial in your fit for maximum comfort and performance. The Sensifit overlap construction has semi-soft wings that enclose your foot from both sides for a snug, secure fit. A 3D Mesh liner helps wick moisture as you push your limits on the track and the whole thing is locked into place with Salomon’s Quicklace system to get you out and skiing comfortably in no time.

Salomon Siam 7 SNS Pilot CF Ski Boot – Women’s

When you’re heading out on a daylong tour, don’t start by cramming your foot into a men’s boot—slip into the Salomon Women’s Siam 7 Pilot CF Ski Boot for comfortable, women-specific fit that doesn’t lack performance. What makes a Women-specific fit? Well, the heel is slightly narrower, the boot has a higher instep volume, and it utilizes Salomon’s Quicklace system with a hook-and-loop strap to ensure a snug, comfortable fit. Parts of the liner are thermo-moldable, too, if you’re looking to take comfort and performance to the next level.

The Siam’s about more than just a comfortable fit—it features Salomon’s SNS Pilot 2 Touring sole, which has a two-axle pivot system for excellent control and flex while you’re striding, and it grips well on the ground, making the often icy walk to the Nordic track a bit more secure. The semi-rigid cuff offers plenty of rear and lateral support, and the Touring Soft insole keeps your feet comfortable during long days exploring off the trail.

Alpina Montana Eve Touring Boot – Women’s

Sometimes you wish the track was already set and ready for you to speed across the backcountry on your Nordic skis, but that isn’t what the backcountry is all about, so tie up the Alpina Women’s Montana Eve Touring Boot and set that track like it was your job. This comfortable touring boot keeps your foot prime for stomping freshies for miles, and the moderately stiff flex assures the support you need for long days.

Rossignol X3 FW Touring Boot – Women’s

Nordic touring boots often skew heavy and burly, but Rossignol’s X3 FW Touring Boot is a lighter, nimbler sort of adventurer. It’s cut low, to keep weight down and maneuverability up, but still offers plenty of trail-conquering and trail-breaking support via a 3D-injected cuff, 3D heel counter, and solid but flexible NNN-compatible T4 sole. Spending long hours on your feet is part of the fun of leaving the trail behind, but it’s made a lot more fun with the X3’s heat-moldable Thermo Adjustable Fit liner, which conforms to the contours of your feet for increased warmth and comfort. A fur-lined collar adds extra warmth and softness, while the zippered PVC lace cover helps keep water out of your socks so your feet don’t freeze. Rossignol also decked the X3 out with a hook-and-loop strap tp close up the ankle, and its Speedlace Lock internal drawcord closure to cinch the liner down snugly and securely.

Atomic Mover XCruise Grip L Nordic Touring Ski – Women’s

Choosing the right kick wax is more art than science, making it hard enough for experts to nail it, let alone regular folks. Atomic’s Motion XCruise Grip L Women’s Touring Ski solves the problem by incorporating a waxless fishscale pattern underfoot, making kick wax a thing of the past. It provides excellent grip and glide in all conditions, on the trail and off, so you’ll never have to sweat your wax color again. The rest of the ski boasts a BI 1500 base, which is durable and wax ready for plenty of glide, and the Densolite core and XCruise profile provide plenty of stability and maneuverability at a weight that’s eminently manageable.

Salomon RS8 Vitane Prolink Skate Boot – Women’s

The Salomon Women’s RS8 Prolink Skate Boot strikes a glorious balance between comfort and power. It’s a favorite among endurance trainers and has a load of trickle-down technology from Salomon’s World-Cup-winning S-Lab series. Starting with features like its foot hugging dissociated Quicklace system, breathable 3D mesh, ergonomic and snug Sensifit overlap upper, and its thermo-moldable Custom Fit liner, the boot will morph to your feet for ultimate fit and comfort.

Salomon doesn’t stop with comfort, however. To achieve top performance for endurance skating, the boot is packed with lateral support and torsional rigidity in a lightweight package. Its carbon skating plate reduces weight while the Advanced 3D chassis allow for strong heel support and better torsional rigidity to optimize power transfer. A S/Race Energyzer cuff provides lateral support to give you better edge control when you’re really pushing yourself and the NNN Prolink Racing skate sole delivers power transmission so each skate you make isn’t wasted. All of this technology and comfort only weighs in at under three pounds so the boots won’t hold you back as you skate ski until your heart’s content.

Fischer Inspire My Style EF Ski – Women’s

Crisp winter mornings call for gliding across smooth track in the Fischer Inspire My Style EF Ski. It’s the lightest women’s cruising ski Fischer makes to get you moving on the track. Its wood core with air channels keeps the weight of the skis down while the basalt fibers in the core provide ideal flex regardless of temperature. A power layer, high-pressure laminate comprised of natural fibers and resin also notably lower the weight. Aside from its weight, the most notable feature of the Inspire ski is that it is equipped with Efficient Forward technology. This technology delivers a forgiving kick action that has you gliding effortlessly across fresh corduroy. Its Vario Crown base enhances this glide by utilizing a combination of crowns that work together for efficient power transfer and a smooth glide as you get your workout in on brisk winter mornings.

Fischer RCS Carbonlite Skate Boot – Women’s

Shatter your best times with the Fischer Women’s RCS Carbonlite Skate Boot. Designed specifically for women and toting all the features of a World Cup boot, the RCS features a light and stiff carbon cuff along with a ratcheting instep strap, resulting in a stiff boot that delivers an efficient and consistent glide every time.

Fully-loaded to maximize both comfort and performance, this boot features Fischer’s Triple-F membrane for waterproof, breathable protection. A moldable heel counter and adjustable canting allow you to customize the fit of the boot, while the ratcheting instep strap and hook and loop ankle strap let you dial in the perfect fit every time you step into the boot. The Nylex lining features NXT Cleansport technology, so your boots remain fresh even after serious sessions on the track, and a Thermo insole prevents cold from seeping up from the bottom of the boot while you ski. The boot is built on Fischer’s proven Xcelerator sole and is compatible with NNN bindings.

Salomon S/Race Vitane Classic Prolink Boot – Women’s

Salomon’s S/Race Vitane Classic Prolink Boot strikes a balance between a precise fit and the snow feel that cross country racers look for. Its 3D carbon chassis maintains a stiff, stable performance without weighing you down, and Salomon’s Second Skin upper conforms to your foot shape for a customized feel. This boot has a sole compatible with skis that have Prolink NNN bindings.