Recreational Nordic Touring Rossignol Skis - Rossignol Evo Tour Skis Package Help

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M.B. Boge asks - I'm looking for some recommendations on a ski package... Skis: should be 50% off trail / 50% in existing tracks, local park areas etc. I'm 6'2" 185 lbs. What do you think of the Rossignol Evo Tour skis vs. the or Rossignol BC65 skis or Fischer Spider 62 for my needs? Boots: I have big feet, wide and high arches, have tried Rossignol size 48's and they are too tight. I think only Alpina T10 comes in size 49?

ORS Crew (Chris) answers - For boots, we do have the Alpina T10 in a 49. But there are other great choices in size 49, including the Alpina BC 1550 and Alpina T20 Plus boots. The Rossignol Evo Tour is a fine ski for what you describe, provided your trails aren’t too hilly, icy or otherwise challenging. The beauty of the Rossignol BC65 skis and Fischer Spider 62 skis are the slightly wider platform and the full metal edges. Both of these skis will work in groomed nordic ski tracks, while also performing flawlessly when adventuring off-trail in a variety of more technical terrain and deeper snow or icy conditions. The metal edge skis would be better paired with heavier duty boots and bindings than the boots and bindings offered in the Rossignol Evo Tour package. Great pairings are the Alpina T20 Plus boots and Rottefella T3 bindings that are included in the Fischer Spider 62 skis complete package. The Alpina BC 1550 boots and Rottefella BC Auto bindings in the Rossignol BC 65 skis complete package.

Glen K. asks - I watched all your videos on the Rossignol Evo cross country skis. But I am still stuck on either getting the Evo tour or the Evo trail. About myself, 6’1”, 190 lbs, 40 years old, I mountain bike once a week and run 3 miles almost every day. With last year's snow, I couldn’t do much of both, so this season I would like to purchase a cross country ski set. I have never been on cross country skis and only went downhill skiing once, 20 years ago. I live in central New Jersey and will be using the skis at local parks, in un-groomed trails, mostly along the edges of fields or along the canal trails. I mostly will be in other people's tracks, and sometime making my own tracks. I most likely will not go to a touring center. Thanks for any help.

ORS Crew (Justin) answers - From what you described I would strongly recommend the Rossi Evo Trail skis in the 190cm length. This ski is a little wider than all the other Rossignol Evo series of cross country skis and has a side cut of 68mm tip - 60mm waist - 65mm tail (it is still narrow enough to work perfectly fine in groomed ski tracks however). It will give you a better platform for balance and stability on the varying terrain and snow conditions you will constantly encounter at the places you plan to xc ski. Also since you’ll many times be breaking your own trails, this ski will “float” a better in deeper, untracked snow. I wouldn't recommend the Rossi Evo Tour skis, as they are a more performance oriented ski with a little narrower width and really shine kicking and gliding mostly in groomed nordic ski tracks. Finally, for an entire ski package you will want to go with the Out-the-Back-Door-Explorer Category Rossignol Evo Trail ski complete package because it offers boots and bindings optimally suited for your style of skiing (there is also a Recreational Touring Category Rossi Evo Trail complete package with components suited for the person deviding time more evenly between groomed xc tracks and off-trail exploration). The added support, warmth and comfort will go a long way in helping you to quickly gain experience and become proficient at the class skiing technique, going downhill, climbing and more.

Robert M. asks - I am trying to decide between the Evo Tour and the Evo Glade. I will be 65% in track and 35% off track. The package price (including boots, bindings and poles) between the two types of Evo's is significant. Why is that? Is the Tour that much better?

ORS Crew (Chris) answers - The Evo Tour is definitely a better ski than the Evo Glade. The Tour has the Posi-Track base which provides much better grip on hills and it has the NIS plate for an optimum binding to ski interface. The Tour is also a bit narrower so in a track it will glide noticeably faster. Paired up with the Rossignol X5 ski boots or the Alpina T20 Plus boots, the Evo Tour would make a great ski for your intended use.