About Backcountry (Touring) Skis

A simple guide to ski touring in the backcountry. Winter hiking and traveling on snow.
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[@kevinkrause744]

Nordic skiing has been one of my favorite pastimes!

[@mgsee]

Ski to a nice picturesque location, give advice on skis, have a coffee (with appreciative thumbs-up), ski away into the beautiful scenery. Simply perfect.

[@gradycody9006]

Dont know if you guys gives a shit but if you are bored like me during the covid times you can watch all the new movies on instaflixxer. I've been watching with my gf for the last couple of days xD

[@jamesonlondon7081]

@Grady Cody Yea, I have been using instaflixxer for since december myself :D

[@qp4367]

@@gradycody9006 sure...it's obviously a scam but thanks "grady cody" if that is your real naem

[@TCUteacher]

Coffee, skiing, and Erik- my favorites!

[@giuseppecapilli4914]

The creaking sound of the snow, like a carpet of tiny precious stones. Thank you Erik.

[@bradherlein134]

Thank you for the sharing the space and beauty you capture in your videos. They are are treasures!

[@cliffsnelgrove3560]

Very informative. Thank you, especially the scenery and the birds singing!

[@linda6552]

Love your videos. Such quietude coming from them. Thank's for the tips on skis!

[@mpdonn317130]

👍 Love the setting. Well done. Simple, informative, wonderful scene and scenery.

[@privateerinvestor2773]

Thank you for the gear talk. Wonderful video... great editing... very useful information. Because of this video i will get back country ski's

[@explorermike19]

This video is too cool. I especially like the beginning skiing through the trees to the cool log cabin

[@kevinpacker7805]

Great info and video! Answered a lot of questions I had about backcountry skis.

[@charliepress6629]

Excellent video! Thanks for the information!! It will come in handy when preparing for next winter...

[@radioyankee]

imagine a vid with birds chirping.. pleasant dialogue... the sound of skis gliding on the snow.. and no pulsating synth music.. what an exciting concept

[@richiemonkey120]

Whats wrong with synth music haha

[@radioyankee]

nothing! heck as a semi pro musician I play it. when I back-country ski I leave it home

[@franka7691]

Thanks for the video, Erik. Beautiful footage :)

[@stevekimball7697]

Great video and explanation of gear! Thanks Erik!

[@anassorbestiak]

What a lovely atmosphere

[@sammolive1130]

Really nice vid, thanks. Just bought my first backcountry skis and this really helped me

[@geoffwilliams6664]

Love your videos! Tack Sa Mycket from San Francisco

[@suebrown3465]

I like the camera angle. It gave me the feeling of skiing 🇨🇦

[@edreguera2739]

Such a peaceful location. Hello from the U.S. Love the videos.

[@wandahelenagorecka-fichten9258]

Very useful information with coffee and beatiful scenery ths

[@johnbourke7467]

Thank you for some good advice Erik

[@paularuotsalainen979]

Fin info om skidor! Tusen tack, Erik.

[@jla3772]

I've been waiting on this video; well done.

[@zillehuma2691]

yes one more subscriber. your videos are fab, just adding your coffee pot and cup is an epic 🤓

[@thomasmusso1147]

Hi Erik .. A nice posting .. thanks 👍😊. We generally don't get enough snow here in Rheinfelden CH to warrant Touring Ski's. I don't ski (pushing 70 .. this dog isn't going to learn that new trick in a hurry 😏). In South Africa, in earlier days, I was, inter alia, a keen Surfer 🏄‍♂️, Water Skier and had a quite interesting and active Lifestyle so I can identify, in a fashion with what you are doing. Whilst I cannot now get up to the level of 'mischief' 😏 that you do, I have a forest right behind where I live which gives me the opportunity to get out and do stuff .. albeit at a somewhat lower intensity 🐌. Watching you and those like you 'out there doing their thing' (which I enjoy immensely) also takes me back in time (memories) and motivates me to follow suit. Once again .. thanks for that .. for sharing .. take care .. Tommy

[@michalsip7492]

Hello from the Czech Republic, I like your inspiring videos.

[@josephhager1933]

Love your videos Sweden is a beautiful country

[@dlaps9975]

This was awesome man. Love from Canada!!

[@southvballa]

Very informative, thank you!

[@2chill2]

Beautiful photography, good beginner information.

[@bubl8015]

Very nice video - all your videos are high quality and beautifully done - so glad I found your channel

[@yogipradnyana8959]

Nice view

[@EventyrsorenDenmark]

Very nice video.Always enjoy your videos and the beautiful nature in Sweden.ATB:Soren

[@JohannKristan]

I got the E99 used this year. Can’t wait to try them out in Lapland in March.

[@BushcraftSweden]

Lovely thank you!

[@TheQNSzzz]

Great info about the skis - thank you. I will be trying xc skiing in Kitzbuhel next month for the first time (I don't downhill ski either!), so it was very interesting for me to have some understanding about the kit. I am looking forward to the new experience and mountain air away from wet, muddy, windy UK 😁. I hill hike in England but I am sure the xc skiing will use different muscles or at least use them in a different way!

[@ronperkins1687]

Awesome, this is the information I needed! :)

[@ryskarpaty9968]

Super video!

[@Griffin1959]

Another “Holy Moment”... Thanks Erik for another informative and refreshing video. Cheers from South Carolina USA.

[@willymakeit5172]

Hi Gary, I’m originally from Anderson, South Carolina and grew up hiking the forests of the Piedmont and later the mountains of north Georgia. Miss it sometimes, take care.

[@Griffin1959]

Willy Makeit. Small world, I’m from Anderson as well... I now live in Salem, just minutes from the Foothills Trail, Sumter and Nantahala National Forests.

[@willymakeit5172]

Gary G you’re right; it is a small world. I live in north Texas now. I might get a hike in today. Erik has inspired me.

[@spijkerpoes]

February. The deep winter month. We have 17 degrees here. No skiing. Nice spring sound of the coaltit. Here too birds are singing and the squirrel is gathering nest material. Cheers, thanks again for these nice winter experiences

[@erik_normark]

Big contrasts in weather right now! :) Thanks

[@108bonsai]

Thanks. Very informative. Greetings from Bavaria!

[@ronaldrose7593]

Hello Erik, thank you for sharing another informative video. I really enjoyed it. I used to do a lot of cross country skiing in Northern California. I miss it. All the best to you in good health and safety. 🤗

[@TheRichtaber]

Thank you for your insights, from Upstate New York

[@vegangoutdoor5047]

Thank you

[@reneehall9278]

good to see ya

[@Morongobill]

Anybody else thinking that it would be nice having a cabin out in the woods like the one in the video? Erik's cabin living channel.

[@naveenpathania]

Super bro and nice shoot

[@ShekherTyagi]

Dream for me Lots of love from india

[@davidjkittner]

So serene! Thank you for the ski advice Erik. Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing such picturesque views.

[@erik_normark]

Thanks David! Atb

[@stiches5803]

Bra jobbat njut av vädret.

[@daveware8054]

Cool as👌

[@mountainspirit961]

...👍🏻...a hug from Italy...😉

[@TheNlander]

Someplaces is not possible to use ski on "own" hiking pads, it's too steep and too rocky or too bushy😲😄. But is good to know which one are the best to buy.. thank you Erik! Good luck and regards!

[@teresadaigle6991]

Just noticed on this video that you also skate ski...you do ALL outdoor activities..😃😃 I agree waxing your Skis is a tedious job and you have to get the wax right for the temperature. I use both non wax and wax skis depending on where I am going.....LOVE YOUR LIFE up there in Sweden.

[@swedenhikelife]

Hej Erik. Du är en mästare på att inspirera. Jag har sett många ja jag tror alla dina filmer faktiskt. Jag bor i Närke och här har vi inte lika mycket snö men jag hoppas ändå kunna åka lite skidor i vinter. Jag har precis köpt ett par tur skidor så jag har mycket att se fram emot. Tack för ännu en trevlig film. Mvh Anders

[@ajuljuliansyah6753]

Edisi tanpa mendirikan Tenda mantap jiwa broo

[@sagehiker]

I agree on skis though I still apply some aerosol wax to my base. It seems to help when I encounter warm patches and snow balls up and sticks to the base. I have been trying some Finnish “sliding snowshoes “ for the twisty mountain trails in my area marketed by Black Diamond (US) that half embedded skins. Love the audio background of the birdsong. It is a hallmark of your videos .

[@calvinminer4365]

"when I encounter warm patches" come to Minnesota and you won't have to worry about warm patches

[@stevend776]

Jealous, hope it stays that way! For some reason NYS is warming up quicker than average. Western NYS has always been a tad warmer but last year only had one day I could ski.

[@bekanav]

Sliding snowshoes is a mockery of Finnish skis. They are meant for people who don't know how to ski and who just walk with skis on their feet. I feel bad when I see those things... Real back country skiing is smooth long gliding on top of the snow. It can be quite fast. There is different skis depending how soft snow is, up to 10ft long. I usually use 7.5 feet long skis because they are long enough for me in my usual skiing locations. My longest skis are a bit under 9ft, width is 80mm and no side cut

[@paulkerby4829]

Nice

[@bermudezhg]

Fisher E stands for Fisher Europa, a line that goes back to the 1970s, with metal edges and wide. The Europa 99 was the widest Backcountry Ski in the USA, in the 1980s, and I used at least 3 pairs up to the 1990s, all waxables.

[@archi-mendel]

I've finally just ordered my pair of skis. As I will most probably face a bit more powder in our area, I've decided to take the Fischer Excursion 88 which is 0.5 cm wider than yours. I've also ordered Alfa Outback boots with integrated gaiters as anytime I am going out with no gaiters in snowy season, even if there is little snow, I tend to find a proper pile of snow to fall knee-deep or deeper :) So, I figured, that having integrated Goretex gaiters is worth the money. I was first looking at Alpina Alaska, but they're out of stock for my size and I couldn't find it available in any shop delivering to Russia. Anyways, if Alfa boots delivery will be quick enough, it may happen that these weekends I'm having my first ever ski backpacking trip. Wow!

[@Nevisblau]

Super thanks, Erik! That POV is so, so satisfying for someone who rarely ski like me and I wished it was a tad bit longer. Haha. Thanks for this upload. Learned more and got more curious about touring skis. Lovely weather up there! This was really refreshing. Felt I was in Sweden for 7mins. Salamat po :)

[@SusanneBark]

Din Engelska är jätte bra. 😍

[@MurCurieux]

Master

[@treklinda1309]

Oh I haven't skied for years!!

[@thibaudrebour1842]

Then, if you want, you can start again. You don't loose what you parctised for years and it s fun whatever the terrain. ;-)

[@imagingconcepts]

Really enjoy your work, thank you for sharing your part of the planet with those on the other side of it. Coffee is good for the soul, how do you prefer to make yours?

[@lars-goranabrahamsson9337]

Härligt med vårvinterljuset när du sitter mot stugan å kokar kaffe.

[@amjadhussainah96]

While coffee is done, chirupping of birds in the calm atmosphere is charming. By the way what is time there, when you made the video?

[@TapioBlue]

My favorite bush ski so far is Fischer S-bound 112. I went with 189cm length for max float and better for spanning narrow creeks and dips. They have fantastic grip, but I also use the Easy skins with them on the steep hills. I also have Rossignol 125's, useless grip, no-wax version. But they downhill better with more side cut built into the design. Madshus 89? for hard spring crust with a lighter boot, Fischer OTX 3 BC. My heavy duty boots are the Fischer BCX-6 , just got them because they were available locally. A little worried the metal pin will fail someday way the heck out in the bush. Also have a set of OAC Kar but I find they don't have enough float for me and I'm only 145 lbs ( 66kg- 178cm tall). The tips are too low as they dig into the snow going through divots and ditches. But my wife likes them. Cheers from North Bay Ontario Canada!

[@alexl8328]

I'm from Ontario as well... can you tell me where to shop for BC XC gear? Boots are something that you need to try on!

[@TapioBlue]

@@alexl8328 MEC has some stuff depending which store you hit. I had bought my Fischer boots long ago so at least I know my size if i had to order online but even thats never a guarantee.

[@whitetailpoet4243]

Hello Erik and greetings from Northern Minnesota. I've been a long time skier on standard cross country skis. The last few years I've done mostly off trail skiing. I want to ask if you prefer Hok Skis or touring xc skis for back country? Thanks.

[@jessemacohlsson7799]

Hello, Erik. Thank you for making these videos. Do you have a video describe your clothing when you go skiing? My family moved to northern New York State, very near to Tug Hill, a place in the US that gets the most snow east of the Rocky Mountains. We wish to explore the state parks and forests here on skis in the wintertime. I’m collecting the hardware for my family (skis, bindings, poles, boots) to do this. I think clothing is probably very important, also. Can you discuss your winter clothing, please?

[@mcstinkle]

Hi Erik, what do you prefer for BC poles? thanks

[@nistalnacho]

First of all I'd like to congratulate you for the awesome video you brought. I'd like to know what do you do if you have to face a downhill with those skiis. Which steepness do you think you can afford with them? Thank you.

[@erik_normark]

If the snow is loose and soft you can go quite steep, as you wont hurt yourself if you fall. If it's hard snow I go zig-zag down or walk if I have to. Thanks!

[@LiliaOudjhih]

Hello Erik, Thanks alot for the great tips. I would like to know your opinion about choosing between touring skies and Altai skis for the purpose of winter trekking with both backpack and pulk sled. knowing that I am a beginner in skiing (I know the basics)

[@carminealfano8559]

Me too! Why these vs. Altai Kom?

[@CampuStellae]

Thanks for reviewing, I am originally from Spain and I have no knowledge on skis.. I am planning to get my first touring backcountry skis set... My goal and style would be expedition sort of thing pulling pulkas on hilly landscapes in Finland... I was eventually looking at the Alpina Alaska boots..are they resistant enough to use on rocks or gravel terrain..? Thank you and see u out there;))

[@ericalennertson7445]

I am learning to Nordic ski. I want to go backcountry touring as I live in a remote place. I saw you skate with these skis as well. Can all skis skate or only skate skis? Thank you

[@user-nj8oj7im2z]

😍😍😍😍😊

[@DerekKite]

Not much snow there. I've been snowshoeing the last few years. We are steep mountain country around here. Have you ever tried the short wide skis with permanent skins? Altai Hoks or similar. Usually 125mm long with a universal binding. I like your setup. I may rent a set for a weekend to see how they feel.

[@erik_normark]

I usually avoid the steep parts :) but I have skins with me when I go to the mountains. Haven't tried those skis though.

[@johnnygunz2300]

FYI in New England I use waxless skis with grip wax on the tails and tips. (voile 3 pin and optional cables on X-terrians). Waxless takes out 90% headaches.

[@carminealfano8559]

Grip wax on tips and tails? Or glide wax?

[@johnnygunz2300]

@@carminealfano8559 I did both with my older ski's (I'd rather error on too much grip then glide for my conditions / terrain, but would change it up depending on terrain). Now I have the Fischer Sbounds 112 ski's with the easy skins so I probably would just do glide given how quick you can slap the skins on (haven't had the ski's that long yet to judge how well they climb etc). In the limited conditions I have used my new setup they seem to have better climbing abilities with just the fish scales than my old skis. I don't over think it cause I'm not racing etc so I usually just roll with what I have unless its not working.

[@jylbo]

Great video Erik! I use telemark with climbing skins mostly every day. I was thinking of buying touring skis with scales and maybe kicker skins, to save energy and have more glide on flat ground. I will of course keep the telemark for alpine touring, but do you think it's worth having a second kit for "speed"? Thanks again!

[@stvbrsn]

I am very happy with the Fischer S-bound 112 I got last February. Might be a little wide for somebody looking for XC but I was putting together my dream tele/XCD setup. A lightly used BD 01 binding (with free pivot tour mode) and my T2s. Then I got a pair of leather duckbills from Crispi for the more XC oriented days. So now I have a cable binding with fat Nordic skis (with alpine style sidecut) that I can steer with plastic or leather, depending on the day. Works for me! Oh yeah, I almost for got what inspired me to reply in the first place! The wider Fischer Nordic skis have a very nice kicker skin option with a slit in the base.

[@jylbo]

@@stvbrsn Ohhh thanks a lot for sharing this ! Have a great winter =)

[@davidkwiecinski5939]

What brand gloves are those?

[@TJ042]

5:44 this is true living.

[@thomasf.9869]

Erik, I have two questions. Firstly how do those Fischer 109's perform on pre-prepared tracks. (I have only ever used the thinner kind, at Grovelsjon and in Tirol). Secondly for a longer tour, say doing the Kungsleden in winter, or even polar exploration, would you recommend a boot with removable insulation that can be aired out at night, or will those Alpina Alaskas suffice?

[@erik_normark]

Hi Thomas, the 109 wont work in prepared tracks, they are too wide. When I go for a longer trip I have plastic bags inside the boots so they wont get wet from sweat. Lundhags bc have removable insulation, they are a good alternative!

[@jvcarvay]

@@erik_normark I own two different kinds of Lunhags (for hiking and for this kind of skis) precisely to be able to put the inner insulation with me on the sleeping bag. If you bring two, you can use them to stay warm inside the tent while you are not on the sleeping bag. Never walking into totally frozen boots ever again :)

[@jonnystage6747]

Hi Erik, thanks for all your great videos - they are all fantastic and clearly we all love them! May I ask, what are the trousers that you are wearing (you wear them a lot in your videos) - I particularly like the natural colour of them. Thanks and have a great day. J

[@erik_normark]

Thanks Jonny. They are Klättermusen Brage, very good for snow and winter.

[@jonnystage6747]

@@erik_normark Thank you Erik. They look fantastic. I will put them on the Christmas wish list :)

[@craighauk3745]

So for a guy who hasnt been skiing in about 20 years. Would these be a good buy to get back into it?

[@fjellboi2391]

hello Erik, whats your opinion on the E99? I got it this year for my first skiing tour in the fjäll.

[@erik_normark]

They are popular and works well! You sink down a little more in loose snow, no problem though.

[@vonheiz]

Erik, How tall those skis should be in order to have most versatile behavior? User height plus how many centimeters?

[@plofkraak6536]

Hi Erik, I have a question. (hope you still see it with this older video) When you go ice skating, you use a different NNN BC boot. What is the difference between the 2 boots? Can you recommend a boot that is good for skiing and skating? What to look for in a good boot and what to avoid? Greetz from the lowlands of the Netherlands.

[@erik_normark]

Hi, yes I often have a lighter pair when skating, they are not as warm though. They are the same otherwise. Atb

[@krissozolins8302]

Can you travel with these skis on deep powder ( waist deep), like it in Lapland (Finland &Finnmark Norge)?

[@erik_normark]

It works, but these skis are a little of a compromise made for all types of snow though. There are other more wide skis made especially for very deep loose snow.

[@billjames3148]

Hi , Ski pole length and the baskets, How do you size them for your use? Also width of ski for backpack loads. Good coffee , see ya. Thanks.

[@erik_normark]

Mine are a little too long, they should reach the armpits. There are poles with adjustable length also that works well.

[@WHBJr]

👍🏿

[@Lukas-jh4ok]

How long would you say they need to be?

[@tenzin044]

Hi. I'm suprice i'ts nothing to keep your heel if u need to. It is just the front strong enough to keep your shoe IN?Wow. I remember when I was kid and I had wooden ski's over size to me lol, many times snow stack to them and we tryed use some candles to add wax on them. They was bloody long, to long, big spring went alround your heel and you could use them as walking ski's you have to take spring off from the side hooks...A lot of stories lol Take care Erik! Tom

[@dairenili5545]

👌😘

[@calvinminer4365]

After watching this video I was looking at the Fischer S-bound 112. But my local ski shop recommended the Fischer Outback 68's and said 100+ mm skis are overkill. I'm not sure who to believe! I'm planning to use skis to winter camp with my pulk in the Boundary Water of Minnesota in severe winter camping.

[@Sirskibumsalot]

Ski width depends what you are using them for ...I go wider with intension of the down hill descents . I have several widths of XCD skis 🎿 and use them all for different scenarios . If just on flat to rolling terrain I use my karhu Catamounts they are 70mm at foot ( mid ) . And I have 80 mm to 100 mm at foot ( mid ) for my back country big mountain skiing . They all have the fish scale bases ..... I like not using skins , lighter gear works for me ....my 2 cents ....

[@bekanav]

If you want and know how to ski properly and mostly do it on level ground narrower ski is better - if it is long enough. Wide skis with side cut may be better if you just walk with them using skins or do downhill skiing also I've used for over 20 years 60mm wide 225cm - 230cm long skis, usually with grip wax. Glide and feel of skiing are excellent. I also have short skins for uphills, with them I've pulled my sled with no problems up in the mountains. I am 5'10 and weight 165lbs. I've skied since I was four years old, also competitively but now it is almost all back country skiing on ice, near forests and in the mountains.

[@frankkranktrangtmohammedny807]

Skulle nog gärna åka ut på en skidtur, det är bara snö som fattas här. Jag såg en video av dig tidigare där du använde skidorna och började fundera vilka skidor det var. Så jag tackar för den informativa videon. Ha en fortsatt trevlig dag. Hälsningar från Österbotten.

[@erik_normark]

Tack! Hoppas ni får snö snart!

[@BurnyTone]

Nice video as always Erik! Seriously considering moving to Sweden and your videos are definitely encouraging me. I'm tired of England's fragmented nature and poor attitude towards wild camping.

[@davidandingem.644]

Perhaps you have no land left to feel alone in the wilderness. There are many places on earth where you can go without freezing your tuchus off for most of the year! Sweden, especially northern Sweden where Erik is sounds a bit extreme. :)

How do you deal with snow sticking on the skis when it´s just around zero temp, and powder gets wet and sticky? I´m sure you know what I´m talking about. That kind of snow is so annoying, it even has it´s own name in Finnish, ´nuoskalumi´ :-)

[@erik_normark]

Yes that is a problem. I have tried different types of wax and stearin, but it's never really good.

[@17xyz]

@@erik_normark Hi, first off all - nice video as usual. I agree that nuoskalumi (nice word) can be an issue with waxless skis. I have tried a lot of remedies, from sunscreen lotion (in desperation) to various waxes. My favorite is Swix F4 glider wax. I use the liquid type. It cures most of the problem, but you need to reapply from time to time.

[@T41k15]

At 14:33 this guy is mentioning using silicone on his skis in warm wintry conditions, preventing snow sticking to their base. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHjdi6ungNd9qZom33s "Mitä mukaan viikon pilkkivaellukselle Vätsäriin" - Eetun Völjyssä This is the product (for Finnish users): www.tokmanni.fi/silikonipuikko-65-ml-6438114877241

[@-ZELTHELD-]

What ski length did you chose for your body size and demands?

[@ola_bandola]

ZELTHELD you can estimate that at 0:39

[@-ZELTHELD-]

@@ola_bandola You mean Erik is 170 and he picked 180ties ? :-)

[@erik_normark]

To get the right length you can check the manufacturers homepage. Your body weight is important to get it right.

[@-ZELTHELD-]

@@erik_normark thx Erik, I looked at the Fischer site last week and was rather underwhelmed by the lack of technical details on the skis, like effective edge length and the radius dimension around the binding and so forth. I do not recall any recommendations there, but will give the site a second look. I weigh a lot, so I was also looking at 112s from Fischer. It is not that easy to find good advise, especially for heavy guys.

[@svenengel214]

Nnnbc or 75mm?