In Alan Dixon and Mike Martin's An Introduction to Nordic and Backcountry Ski Gear published here previously, a number of backcountry ski systems were compared with respect to their climbing ability (with and without skins), weight, speed on consolidated snow in flat/moderate terrain, flotation in deep/soft snow, and maneuverability/control in moderate vs. steep terrain.
The authors' assessment reveals a bias for BC ("backcountry") Nordic gear for "mere mortals" traveling in moderate to rolling terrain, claiming the following:
- That BC Nordic gear is lighter than alpine touring (or telemark) equipment;
- That BC Nordic gear is faster and more efficient for travel on gentle terrain; and
- That BC Nordic gear is considerable less expensive than other systems.
I won't argue the expense point. There is no question that alpine touring ("AT") equipment is generally more expensive than BC Nordic systems.
However, I'd like to propose a counterpoint regarding a comparison between the weight, speed, and efficiency of BC Nordic vs. Alpine Touring, and propose that advances in AT equipment have all but made these considerations moot in this comparison. Further, I'd like to propose that AT equipment may now be a better option when weight savings, speed, and efficiency for long distance touring are primary considerations.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Introduction
- BC Nordic vs. AT Compared
- My Own Journey: A Summary
- AT Nordic Defined
- AT Nordic Skis
- AT Nordic Boots
- AT Nordic Bindings
- AT Nordic Skins
- AT Nordic Summarized
- Limitations of AT Nordic
# WORDS: 2220
# PHOTOS: 4