At its best, cross-country skiing is like a graceful dance on snow. At its worst, it can be one big flailing mess. A lot depends on snow conditions, whether the ski is appropriate for the conditions, and the skier’s ability. But other important variables shouldn’t be overlooked: the fit, comfort, and support of a boot, poles that are simultaneously strong and light, and clothing that wicks sweat but still keeps the wind and cold at bay.
This year, seven skiers put more than 60 boots, poles, and accessories through rigorous tests that ranged from striding on a quickly melting base near Flagstaff to skate skiing a shortened American Birkebeiner course in Wisconsin due to lack of snow. Even in less-than-ideal conditions, we found gear that made this sport even more fun.
Check out the best cross-country skis of the year here.
At A Glance
- Salomon Race Skate Boot ($530)
- Salomon S-Lab Carbon Click Poles ($300)
- Julbo Density sunglasses ($250)
- Lé Bent Core Lightweight Crew Base Layer ($105)
- CEP Ski Ultralight Tall Compression Socks ($60)
- Cotopaxi Capa Hybrid Hooded Jacket ($180)
- Gordini XC Split Mitt ($50)
- Craft ADV Nordic Training Pants ($130)
- Buff Thermonet POW Neck Gater ($27)
- CEP Merino Wool Baselayer Tights ($100)
- Skida Snow Tour Neck Gaiter ($26) with Alpine Headband ($26)
- One Way Storm 2 GTX Mag Poles ($199)
- How to Choose Nordic Accessories
- How We Test
- Meet Our Testers
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Salomon S/Race Skate Boot
Weight: 900 g/pair (size 8 UK)
Sizing: 3.5-13 UK (unisex)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Very light
⊕ Cheap for a race boot
⊗ Finicky BOA system
The happiest skiers tend to be the ones with the toastiest, best-fitting boots. And unsurprisingly, our happiest skiers this year were wearing Salomon’s new S/Race boot, which offers an impressive trifecta of warmth, comfort, and control.
Many elite-level ski boots still have a lacing system that can loosen up over the course of a few kilometers. With just a turn of the knob, Salomon’s new integrated Boa system offers more fine-tuning of the fit when you put the boot on. It’s also easier to adjust while skiing. I loved the ease of this system but found it not entirely dialed (pun intended), needing to stop after every 5k or so to re-tighten the boot on a course with a lot of twists and turns and elevation changes.
The boot comes in two pieces: A carbon shell with an attached cuff and a lightweight interior foam liner that sits inside the shell. The former makes the boot light, precise, and stiff enough to transfer energy from ski to ski. The latter slips inside the shell, with one loop at the heel and one loop at the front of the ankle to easily slip into and out of—a favorite feature for our testers who needed to quickly dry out the liner between sessions.
I have a narrow foot with a high arch, and found the S-Race boot to be the most comfortable option I tested. Often World Cup-level race boots, which tend to be stiffer and less insulated, make my feet numb and my toes freeze. I tested the S/Race in 15-degree weather, and my feet stayed blissfully warm and comfortable, making the boot’s lower price compared to World Cup-level boots, all that much sweeter.
Salomon S-Lab Carbon Click Poles
Weight: 165 grams
Pros and Cons
⊕ Lightweight
⊕ Strong
⊕ Adjustable hand strap
⊗ Pricey
Three hundred may seem like a lot to lay down for ski poles (and it is) but think about how much abuse this piece of equipment takes over a full season.
The carbon-shafted S-Lab Carbon Click is, first and foremost, strong and light. It even survived a messy yard sale of a crash on bulletproof hardpack. But it also offers a few handy extra features that make skiing more efficient. The hand strap clicks in and out with a single push of a button on the grip, so you can drink, remove your skis, or fiddle with your phone easily during your ski sessions. Another plus: the velcro hand strap has a generous tab that makes it easy to tighten while wearing gloves. Having that tight fit makes for a more explosive power transformation when pushing off.
Julbo Density Sunglasses
Weight: 20 grams
Pros and Cons
⊕ Photochromic lens
⊕ Wide field of vision
⊗ Tint too light for bright days
These are the ideal protective sunnies, especially for flat-light days. Designed for bike racing, the Density is just as ideal for nordic skiing, thanks to its huge field of vision, arms made from soft-gripping rubber derived from castor beans that can be bent in multiple ways for a custom fit, and photochromic lenses that adjust to whatever light is on the trail. Plus, at 20 grams, I barely felt them on my face during testing. Ventilation above the bridge prevents fogging.
Lé Bent Core Lightweight Crew Base Layer
Sizing: XS-L (women’s); S-XL (men’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Extremely soft and comfortable
⊕ Stretchy neck
⊗ Almost feels wrong to use for exercise
⊗ Too lightweight for ten-degrees and below
The crew-necked Core is so soft that on first touch it feels like it’s made from organic cotton. But the lightweight, 200-gram base-layer is really a blend of non-mulesed merino wool and rayon sourced from bamboo.
This crewneck was a favorite with testers thanks to its breathability, soft material, and perfect fit, especially around the neck, which felt tight enough to trap heat, but not so restrictive as to feel like a choker. As tester Janine Sieja told us after a 15k ski in Minneapolis, “It’s hard to get excited about a plain black base layer.” But, she added, this one is “an ideal weight, has a fit that isn’t too loose or too tight and is very soft against the skin.” Most importantly, it wicked sweat for all testers in temperatures from 15 to 28 degrees.
CEP Ski Ultralight Tall Compression Socks
Sizing: II, III, IV, V (size coordinates with calf circumference)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Durable
⊕ Helps fight fatigue
⊗ Knee-length is a bit overkill
⊗ A tad constrictive
I have tested a lot of socks in my time, but for the last three years, CEP’s compression socks—designed for alpine skiing—have been the ones to beat. This year was no exception with the brand’s Ski Ultralight Tall sock, which sits right below the knee and is made from a durable blend of 64 percent polyamide, 22 percent merino wool, and 14 percent spandex. Some testers found the length to be slightly too tall for nordic skiing, but I’m 5’9” and appreciated the soothing, full-length compression from just below my knee to my toes.
This is a sock that got my feet, ankles, shins, and calves through multiple days of skiing up to 20 miles without succumbing to fatigue. On the compression scale, it provides 22 to 24 mmHG (millimeters of Mercury), a measurement of pressure that ranges from eight to 30. Yes, the sock is on the constrictive side, but it cuts way down on fatigue and is so well constructed that mine still looked brand new after 20-plus consecutive washes.
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Seirus HeatTouch™️ Hellfire™️ Magne Mitt ($599.99)
If you want the warmth of mitts with the versatility of gloves, the Seirus HeatTouch™️ Hellfire™️ Magne Mitt is the blend of comfort and functionality you’ve been looking for. Enjoy up to 12 hours of warmth at the push of a button, thanks to advanced heated technology and rechargeable battery packs. Need to adjust gear or take a call? The magnetic closure provides quick finger access and easily seals back to lock in heat. Plus, never be left in the cold—the viewable battery life indicators make it easy to check how much power you have left.
Cotopaxi Capa Hybrid Insulated Hooded Jacket
Sizing: XXS-XXL (women’s); S-XXL (men’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ No restrictive points
⊕ Wicks sweat effectively
⊗ Hood adds extra bulk
I tried a number of nordic-skiing-specific jackets, but in mild temperatures ranging in the high teens to the mid-20s, I found myself gravitating toward the Capa Hybrid, a jacket made from 100 percent recycled 20-denier ripstop nylon with PFC-free DWR finish designed for hikers and runners, because it felt the least restrictive thanks to the polyester side knit panels and sleeves. nordic-ski jackets need to accommodate vigorous upper-body movement, but they also can’t be too baggy. The Capa managed that balance perfectly.
Beyond the jacket’s ease of movement, we loved the jacket’s thin layer of Primaloft synthetic insulation in the back and front panels, which kept the Minnesota wind from blowing straight through us, while the panels and sleeves shed heat. The form-fitting scuba-style hood was a welcome addition on days when the wind kicked up, and two zippered hand pockets kept a phone close by.
Gordini XC Split Mitt
Sizing: S-XXL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Dexterous
⊕ Leather palm grips well
⊗ Shows dirt easily
⊗ Not warm enough for frigid days
When Gordini came out with a new ski mitt last year, we passed on reviewing it, giving the company more time to iron out a few glitches, namely with fit and warmth. This year, the company came back with an almost perfect nordic-ski mitt that kept our hands warm in temps in the high teens and above thanks to a shell made from four-way stretch softshell and Primaloft insulation that’s especially beefy in the back of the hand. (Much colder, though, and these gloves felt out-gunned.) The split mitt style adds dexterity, the synthetic leather palm nicely grips the pole, and a handy oversized loop at the cuff makes it easy to yank off after a sweaty workout.
Craft ADV Nordic Training Pants
Sizing: XS-XL (women’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Great for cold temps
⊕ Easy on/off
⊗ Small sizing
You’d be hard-pressed to find a serious nordic skier who doesn’t have a pair of Swedish-designed Craft pants or tights in their closet. Protective from the wind and cold, yet still designed to move, the polyester ADV Nordic Training pants have a stretchy windproof panel along the entire front that opens below the knee to allow for maximum range of motion. The interior, meanwhile, is a warm, plush polyester fleece. These pants are so durable, breathable, and comfortable that I use them for every ski outing unless I’m testing other pants. When temps dip below 20 degrees, I simply add a baselayer.
A drawcord waistband feels non-binding, and a calf zip makes the tights easy to quickly get into and out of. Reflective piping on the side of the leg offers increased visibility on after-dark skis.
Overall, this is a cozy, comfortable must-have tight for skiing in any climate.
Buff ThermoNet Neckwear
Pros and Cons
⊕ Highly breathable
⊕ Great for cold, windy days
⊗ Overheats in temps above freezing
Who doesn’t love a buff? But also, who can really pick one out of the dizzying market? For nordic skiing, tester Ellie Hoffman found the sweet spot with the ThermoNet Neckwear, which is made from 96 percent polyester and four percent elastane Primaloft yarn. It was highly breathable, but provided ideal warmth for cold winter days.
“My face was warm skiing in the wind,” Hoffman told us. “The material is very soft and feels nice against my face as I’m breathing heavily.” That said, it’s best used when temperatures are below freezing: Hoffman reported that the material felt too stifling during warmer days.
CEP Ski Merino ¾ Base Tights
Sizing: XS-L (women’s), S-XL (men’s)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Very soft
⊕ Protective padding
⊗ Needs more compression
At first glance, these tights, made primarily from a soft, bio-based modal and merino wool (with six percent spandex for added stretchiness) look entirely unremarkable. In reality, they have four different knit structures throughout to provide more warmth and support where the body needs it most. Think of these as compression lite: they aren’t medical-grade like their running-tight counterparts, but they do give the legs and butt enough support to make you want to take another lap on the trail.
There’s also added padding on the legs to protect from crashes, which came in handy when I fell on a wicked-fast nordic downhill in Duluth, Minnesota. Overall, these are tights that may look deceptively simple, but their fabric and design make them high-tech and extremely functional.
Skida Snow Tour Neck Gaiter with Alpine Headband
Snow Tour Neck Gaiter Weight: 2 oz
Alpine Headband Weight: .8 oz
Pros and Cons
⊕ Colorful, bright patterns
⊕ Soft and lightweight
⊗ Might replace all your other gaiters
When a frigid winter comes around, thinner hats, headbands, and neck gators specifically designed for nordic skiing go out the window. They just didn’t keep our testers warm enough, no matter how hard they were pushing. What did, however, was Skida’s Snow Tour neck gaiter, made from soft, lightweight brushed fleece that breathes well (even when snot is frozen to it), and their Alpine headband, made from a polyester-spandex jersey fabric with a Polartec microfleece lining that’s the perfect width to keep ears warm. Plus, we loved Skida’s fun new patterns and colors, like Penny Lane and Flow State, dropping in the fall of 2024.
One Way Storm 2 Mag Poles
Weight: 75 grams/meter
Lengths: 135-180 cm
Pros and Cons
⊕ Exceptional strength and lightweight
⊕ Easy-off grip
⊗ Baskets are interchangeable, an awesome feature unless you forget to change the basket and your pole sinks in two feet of snow like ours did
The One Way Storm 2 got a thumbs up from all testers for its strength, weight, performance, and especially its easy-off grip. The 100 percent carbon shaft of the Storm 2 is strong enough to withstand freakish plants that would normally end in snapping, light enough (at 75 grams per meter) to prevent fatigue after repetitive motion, and stiff enough to propel us forward. The new Velcro-closure grip is strong and secure, but because it attaches to the pole via a magnetic ball socket that easily clicks in and out, last-minute adjustments can be made without having to painstakingly wiggle the hand out.
One handy feature: The top of the pole shaft has tape marks showing where to cut for a desired length, taking the guesswork out of this process whether you use it for skating or classic.
How to Choose Nordic Accessories
For first-time buyers, we always recommend going to a shop devoted to nordic skiing or one that has a devoted nordic sales person. It really takes a professional to help you fit boots and poles and determine what kind of clothing you might need depending on the kind of skiing you’ll be doing.
Boots
Like any footwear required for an endurance sport, comfort comes first. No matter how well a stiff carbon boot can transfer power to the skis and propel you forward, it’s not much fun if you’re in pain. That said, like an alpine boot, your feet need to fit snug or else you lose control of the ski. If your foot is swimming around in the toe box, for example, it’s tough to efficiently push off and execute clean skating technique. Or if your heel slips in the back, you may end up with a big red blister at the end of the day. Almost always, classic boots are more comfortable than skate boots because they don’t require as much lateral stiffness to power the ski.
World Cup-level skate boots have a full-carbon outsole. That makes the boot much stiffer but also much more efficient in transferring power to the ski, so your body and ski work together in tandem. Carbon technology, however, also substantially increases the price of the boot. While there’s nothing more fun than executing powerful ski technique, a hybrid sole that combines carbon with plastic will probably work just fine for most skiers.
A well-insulated boot adds comfort and keeps your feet warmer. But if you tend to ski in warmer climates and don’t need a lot of insulation, there is also the option, as in cycling, to add a boot cover for the rare cold day.
Poles
It’s incredible how complicated a seemingly simple piece of gear like a pole can be. When buying poles, you should consider four factors: swing weight, weight, stiffness, and strength. “Swing weight” refers to the pendulum motion of each pole stroke. Weight near the tip of the pole requires more energy from the skier than weight near the top of the pole. Considering the average ski racer makes about 30-45 pole plants per minute, swing weight, if poorly distributed, can fatigue arms over time. Most skiers, however, are not going to notice the swing weight while buying poles and will likely need to rely on a pole that provides the best weight-to-strength-to-stiffness ratio, which will almost always be a carbon pole.
Another important factor in a pole is the grip. Grip is essential because you need to be able to comfortably hold your pole over a long period of time. An awkward grip can make for a long day on skis and ultimately lead to issues like blisters or arthritis. The material of the grip matters: Cork decreases vibration and resists moisture, while the foam is soft.
Lastly, a lot of time and energy can be lost in both classic and skate skiing if you have a loose or sloppy strap. It’s important that the strap fits securely so that you can grip the pole while planting yet still allow enough range of motion to release the pole as you push off the ski and glide forward. But the more secure a pole is, the more difficult it can be to take it off to adjust a ski. That’s why it’s ideal to have a system where the strap clicks on and off the pole without having to unstrap and yank out your mitt.
Clothing
Just looking at nordic ski clothing sends shivers down our testers’ spines because it never appears warm enough, especially in Minnesota. But nordic skiing is one of the most sweat-inducing activities on the planet, so the less-is-more theory is important to consider.
Baselayers, jackets, and pants need to wick sweat away, be warm enough for the coldest winter, and allow enough range of motion to effortlessly kick, glide, and plant poles. Layering is essential: a next-to-skin baselayer, a warmer piece of insulation on the coldest days, plus a thin wind and water-resistant outer layer to buffer a breeze and keep snow out. If you stop, you’ll freeze. So the most important rule of thumb is to keep moving.
How We Test
- Number of testers: 7
- Number of products tested: 61
- Number of miles skied: 355
- Warmest day: 47 degrees Fahrenheit at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis
- Highest altitude: 8,000 feet at Arizona Nordic Village
Call it La Niña, climate change, a weird anomaly, or a combination of all three, but the upper Midwest, where most of our testers are located, had one of the worst snow years on record. The warmest day we skied—in a mix of snow and rain—was 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The coldest day, on the other hand, barely hit the teens, an almost unheard of anomaly. As a result, we had to resort to creative testing, shipping skis across the country, timing our lives to the snowmaking and grooming schedule at local ski centers, and racing in shortened events.
Between our four main testers, we skied an American Birkebeiner that was abbreviated from 50 to 30 kilometers, completed a dizzying number of hot laps on the impeccably groomed manmade snow of the 3.3K SuperTour Finals and Spring Nationals course at Spirit Mountain Nordic Center in Duluth, Minnesota, road-tripped to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and sought out the last patches of spring snow in Jackson, Wyoming. The best snow of all? Arizona Nordic Village is a sweet oasis of 40 kilometers of trails starting at 8,000 feet about 20 minutes northwest of Flagstaff.
Our testers ranged from elite-level racers to club coaches to those who ski for the joy of it. In the end, the extra push to get on snow not only helped us test, it helped us happily get through a less-than-ideal winter.
Meet Our Testers
Adam Meyer
Adam grew up in Maine where he spent winters tubing and skiing in his backyard. His love for nordic skiing blossomed when he began racing in high school and went on to ski for Tufts University. Since college, Adam has coached nordic ski teams in Vermont, Colorado, and now Wyoming.
Jen Pearson
Jen Pearson is a physician and associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health at the University of Minnesota. She’s raced the American Birkebeiner more than 20 times with multiple top 20 finishes.
Janine Sieja
Janine Sieja is a former ϳԹ editor who learned to cross-country ski when she moved to Minnesota and has since completed five American Birkebeiners and Korteloppets, yet remains in awe of those with decades of Birkie finishes. She’s also among an army of volunteers who organized a wildly successful FIS World Cup race held in Minneapolis in February 2024.
Ellie Hoffman
Ellie is a PA student at The College of Saint Scholastica. She has been nordic skiing since she could walk and was a former racer for the Duluth East Nordic Team.
Doug Hoffman
Doug Hoffman is an MD who specializes in musculoskeletal ultrasound. He has raced 15 to 25 Birkies, but his first love is soccer. His final collegiate soccer game as a defender for Duke University ended in an eight-overtime loss in the 1982 NCAA final.
Brian Hayden
Brian Hayden is the founder of the Duluth Devo Mountain Bike Program. He’s a former collegiate nordic-ski racer and ski wax technician for the Duluth East High School Nordic Ski Team. His patience at the wax bench made this test possible.
Stephanie Pearson
Category manager Stephanie Pearson grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, cross-country skiing out her backyard. She is a contributing editor to ϳԹ and a 2023 National Geographic Explorer.