The Best Cross-Country Skis of 2026

The Rossignol Delta Comp R Skin Medium ($480) is an excellent choice for skiers of all levels. This ski takes home the Best Cross-Country Classic Ski because, similar to the Atomic Pro C3, it’s a versatile ski that will grow with you as your technique improves.

Like the Atomic Pro C3 and the Fischer Twin Skin, the Delta Comp R uses a built-in mohair skin to grab the snow during the kick phase of your stride. It requires very little maintenance and works well in many snow conditions. However, unlike more race-specific models, these skis have a large sweet spot that will forgive some errors in technique. We jumped into some local races with these skis, and they performed beautifully, even next to more expensive models.

They have a super-light Nomex Honeycomb core, which translates to just over 2 pounds, 8 ounces, making these some of the lightest skis we tested.

The Rossignol Delta Comp R Skin ski is a solid choice for snowsports aficionados bridging into cross-country skiing or intermediate to advanced recreational skiers who want to leave hours at the wax bench in the past. Unfortunately, they do not come with bindings, but they are compatible with any NNN, Turnamic, or Prolink compatible binding.

The Fischer Aeroguide 85 Skate Skis ($470) are designed for active, recreational skate skiers who want a stable, confidence-building option for groomed trails. Their lightweight construction and camber deliver smooth glide and efficient energy transfer, while the refined sidecut makes edge engagement feel natural and controlled during push-offs. Two continuous grooves add stability, reducing the twitchy feel that can hold skiers back.

On our first outing, we tested them at Turpin Meadows, then continued to put them through their paces on groomed trails throughout the Tetons over multiple sessions. Even though we’re not the strongest skaters, the skis felt stable, predictable, and genuinely fun once we found our rhythm. Compared to a more performance-focused option like the Salomon RS 8 Skate, the Aeroguide 85 skis feel more forgiving and approachable, making it easier to maintain good technique over longer sessions. The trade-off is top-end speed. But for fitness skiing, skill progression, and all-day comfort on groomed trails, they deliver a balanced ride that helps skiers enjoy and improve their skating with less effort.

The Rossignol Evo XT 55 Positrack Cross-Country Skis with TURNAMIC Bindings ($270) are an excellent choice for beginners looking to jump into cross-country skiing or intermediate skiers looking for an easy and agile ski. These skis won the Best Budget Award since they’re a great entry-level ski for all seasons and conditions that won’t break the bank.

The Rossignol Evo XTs are intentionally designed to be shorter and wider than traditional classic skis. The increased width provides stability on the trails while fitting comfortably in a classic track. The decreased length improves agility and lends confidence on steep downhills and turns.

The design decreases chatter and feels like a downhill ski when you jump out of the tracks. The lightweight wood core with air chambers keeps the ski among the lightest we tested, giving you a lively kick and glide for an otherwise wide ski.

The Rossignol Evo XT employs the POSITRACK base finish, a textured fish scale pattern underfoot to provide grip, unlike the mohair skin on the Atomic Pro C3. The fish scale pattern provides excellent grip and will be more forgiving for beginners while enhancing grip across varied terrain and conditions. When we tested these skis in sticky spring conditions, they were less likely to collect snow than any other fish scales we tested.

If you’re looking for a more traditional classic ski, a ski for fast workouts, or the ability to customize wax conditions, these skis won’t appeal to you. For a more versatile ski, you might try the Rossignol Delta Comp R Skin Medium. For only $100, this skin ski bridges the gap between beginner and intermediate equipment.

The Evo XTs come with bindings compatible with most boots on the market and are ideal as a stable, intuitive ski for beginners or a fun, lively ski for the intermediate athlete. The Rossignol Evo XT 55 Positrack Skis are a great choice for skiers looking for a social ski option or a ski that can do anything.

The Fischer S-Bound 98 Crown/Dual Skin Xtralite skis ($449) strike a versatile balance between backcountry control and efficient glide. We took them into rolling terrain in the Tetons and low-angle forest routes near Cameron Pass in Colorado, where they proved capable on both crusty tracks and fresh powder. With a metal edge and a moderately wide platform, these skis handle uneven snow and off-track exploration with style and grace.

The Crown pattern underfoot offers enough grip on gentler climbs, but what really stands out is the optional Dual Skin insert. When we tackled steeper ascents in firm spring snow, the skins (available separately) provided noticeably better traction and let us climb without resorting to awkward herringbone steps. On long, undulating tours through wooded terrain, the glide felt efficient without feeling squirrely, which made for smooth transitions from climb to descent.

In deeper snow, the 98mm shovel offers solid float without feeling sluggish. Compared to the Madshus Panorama 78, the S-Bound 98 feels more stable in powder and provides better downhill control in rolling or variable terrain. The Panorama 78 moves faster on firm snow and fits narrower tracks, but it feels less confidence-inspiring when the trail disappears or conditions get deep. The tradeoff with the S-Bound 98 is its added width and weight, which make it slower and less agile on groomed trails, long flats, or tight turns. For fast-paced touring or mellow terrain, it can feel like more ski than you need.

For skiers that want one ski to handle groomed connectors, rolling meadows, and the occasional off-track adventure, the S-Bound 98 offers a well-rounded solution. It rewards a classic skier’s stride but opens the door to more rugged terrain when conditions or curiosity call for it.

The Rossignol XP 105 Positrack Skis ($430) are built for skiers who want to leave groomed trails behind and explore deep, ungroomed terrain. With the widest platform in the XP series, they deliver excellent float in soft snow and feel confidence-inspiring when breaking trail through fresh powder. We tested them on a long tour near Togwotee Pass outside the Tetons, where the wide tips stayed on top of fresh snow and the Positrack waxless bases provided reliable grip without the need for kick wax.

Uphill performance was impressive, with better kick and glide than expected for skis this wide and a noticeably less tippy feel underfoot on rough, uneven trails. The trade-off is that the wider platform can feel like overkill on packed or groomed trails, where narrower skis would be more efficient, but that isn’t what these skis are made for. Instead, they’ve become our do-everything, go-anywhere setup, opening up a level of off-trail exploration that simply isn’t possible on narrow skis designed for set tracks.

Full-length metal edges add security when conditions turn firm or variable, providing a rare level of downhill confidence. Combined with the lightweight LDC core and Air Tip construction, the XP 105 skis remain surprisingly agile for their size. Overall, they’re best suited for intermediate to advanced adventure seekers who prioritize float, stability, and dependable traction in deep, off-trail conditions.

The Atomic Pro C3 Skintec + Shift CL ($430) is a great choice for intermediate skiers looking to maximize their glide and make the most of a day on the Nordic trails. We love these for their versatility, efficiency, and fun on the trails,Whether we were headed out the door for a workout, a social ski, or a solo journey, this was our go-to ski. When we tested these skins on early morning spring ice, they felt stable and controlled. They were responsive, nimble, and fun when we skied through pristine winter conditions.

The easily exchangeable mohair skin underfoot provides adequate kick without compromising glide. We tested the stock universal skins and found them to be incredibly versatile across a range of conditions. When snow turned icy in the spring, moving the binding a notch forward improved grip dramatically on steeper inclines. Atomic offers a speed skin for more advanced skiers that will undoubtedly increase glide and reward great technique.

This year, the Atomic Pro C3 Skintec moved toward gender-specific sizing. The men’s and women’s skis are identical in sidecut and construction, but the women’s specific fit offers shorter lengths and increased flex options for lighter skiers. The Atomic Pro C3 is dynamic and light. It makes climbing easy but is also responsive and controlled on the downhill. We felt comfortable staying in the tracks even on steep downhill corners.

These skis are more expensive than other classic options on this list. If you’re a beginner, the Rossignol Evo XT 55 Positrack classic skis are more affordable and beginner-friendly. The fish scale base on the Rossignol skis is gripper and more forgiving in icy conditions. However, if you’re looking for a ski to grow with you as your technique improves without sacrificing fun, we highly recommend going for the Atomic Pro C3 Skintec.

The Atomic Pro C3 Skintec delivers a range of sizes and flex for skiers of all sizes, as well as great kick and glide. Its unmatched versatility and exchangeable skins make for a great ski that can tackle most conditions for the beginner and intermediate skier.

Note: The Pro C3 was originally our best overall ski, but they’re out of stock in early 2026, and historically have been tough to find so they lost our top spot.

The Fischer Spider 62 Crown Xtralite Cross-Country Skis with TURNAMIC Bindings ($369) are a joy for cross-country ski adventure and exploration off the groomed trail.

These skis bridge the gap between a classic ski and a touring ski. The tips are 62 cm, which is still narrow enough to fit in most classic tracks for easy use at groomed destinations and versatile when maneuvering through tight forests. The metal edges provide bite, stability, and confidence when venturing off the trail. Be warned, the metal edges are sharp! Similar to backcountry skiing, be careful when skiing with dogs.

The generous sidecut dimensions mimic the shape of a downhill ski. We found this incredibly beneficial when carving turns in deep powder through the ungroomed terrain. We absolutely loved these skis for beautiful backcountry tours through tight aspen trees and thick pine forests. If you want to go a little further, these are the skis for you!

Fischer’s patented Offtrack Crown fish scale bases give adequate grip across various conditions. They ski similarly to the Rossignol Evo XTs, but the metal edges and extra weight pack more punch for deeper snow and choppy spring conditions. We did find the fish scales prone to clumping underfoot through sunny snow patches when the temperature reached above 40°F, but with a few strides, the clumps always dissipated.

The Fischer Spider 62 Crown is for anyone looking for a well-rounded ski that performs on and off the groomed track. If you needed one ski to do it a lot, this would be it. The included bindings are also compatible with NNN ski boots.

The Salomon RS 8 Skate Skis with Prolink Pro Skate Bindings ($370) are fun, fast, and efficient skate skis. This ski won the Best Cross-Country Skate Ski award because they are intuitive and a blast to ski. The ski is stable across various conditions, feels balanced during both the weight transfer and glide phase, and always feels fast.

Salomon markets this ski as “easy to ski on,” and we found that statement true. Even for a beginner skater, this ski seemed to elongate the glide phase and allow us to focus on technique without much effort. This ski’s thin but prominent edge differs greatly from the gliding sidewall found on Fischer Carbonlite skis and the more rounded edge found on the Madshus Active Pro versions we tested.

The Madshus Active Pro’s aggressive sidecut may feel natural to a seasoned skate skier, but beginner and intermediate skiers found this ski profile frustrating. The presence of the edge on the Salomon RS8 provides a great bite into the snow when rolling from a flat ski to an edged ski in the weight transfer process. This increased stability provided confidence for skiers of all levels.

These skis have a good deal of camber and tip rocker. For this reason, the skis can feel long and unwieldy at first if you’re used to shorter skis. However, after just a few times out, the length becomes natural, and the improvement in glide is noticeable and welcome. We especially loved these skis for springtime crust morning skis. The length provided stability over uneven terrain, while the camber and edge provided maneuverability for quick and unpredictable turns.

This ski is a great choice if you’re just getting into skate skiing and want to work on technique. A more expensive race-oriented ski might provide a competitive edge. However, this ski is forgiving to any budding skier, fun for the intermediate and advanced skier, and won’t break the bank. It’s also a great ski to grow with. The Salomon RS8 is our go-to skate ski for everything from soft winter snow to spring crust cruising.

Looking to get off the beaten path and explore the wintery wild on your own? Then grab the Madshus Panorama M78 Skis ($388) and get out there, no track required. These rugged, all-terrain skis, which Madshus says “blend traditional Nordic and backcountry performance,” are ideal for deep snow, varied terrain, and multi-day adventures.

Many Nordic skis get you where you want to go, but because they’re so skinny, they require survival skiing to get you back home, especially if you’ve climbed a bit or tackled a steep slope. The Panorama M78 Skis change all that. In fact, due to their width, grip, full metal edges, and light, robust construction, they excel at getting you up and down rolling or steep terrain in style.  

We tested these skis on countless tours through Grand Teton National Park and neighboring public lands, where we encountered varying terrain and changing snow depths and conditions. Since these are made for ungroomed terrain, we often set off into the mountains, breaking our own trail and exploring untouched slopes.

As the widest underfoot on our list (by 16 mm), it’s no surprise the Panorama M78 skis float through deep snow better than any others we tested. In a side-by-side comparison with our next widest ski, the Fischer 62, the Madshus skis stayed afloat while the others plunged deep into the snow, causing our tester on the Fischer 62s to fall. We prefer the wider skis for off-trail, backcountry touring since they spread out our weight more evenly, allowing for more fun and float. In addition to a noticeable increase in floatation, these skis offer more control on the way down. We enjoy being able to make quicker, sharper turns due to their tight side cut and short turning radius. We also appreciate the added stability of a wider ski so we can handle steeper grades at higher speeds without the wobbly, knock-kneed sensation we get when picking up speed downhill on narrower options.

Madshus’s Omnitrack waxless base has a long fish-scale grip zone that delivers exceptional traction on the uphill, with no skins required. This grip, coupled with a greater width, gives added security while climbing moderately steep slopes, which means more options for where you can explore. We were skeptical about how such grippy skis would kick and glide on the flats or rolling stretches, but they perform well in these scenarios.

One downside to these skis is their weight. They’re significantly heavier than most traditional cross-country skis. This heft adds stability, however, a tradeoff we’re willing to make for a ski meant for off-trail exploration. The other thing to consider is that at this width, the M78s won’t fit into most classic Nordic tracks. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time on a groomed track, you’ll want to look at the Madshus Panorama M62 (you’ll sacrifice a little bit of stability and control) or our top pick, the Atomic Pro C3 Skintec + Shift CL.

However, if you seek to leave the crowds behind and explore untouched powder stashes on nimble, maneuverable Nordic skis that inspire confidence on both the ascent and descent, the Madshus Panorama M78 skis are your ideal pick.  

The Fischer Twin Skin Cruiser EF ($339) is designed for the masses. If you’re new to cross-country skiing and want to hit the groomed classic trails for a reasonable price without the complexities of thinking about wax, this ski is a great place to start. We really enjoyed taking these skis out in moderate temperatures in mid-winter conditions, for social skis, and on dog walks.

Finding a good kick in cold or icy conditions became challenging. More than other skis we tested, fine-tuning the fit for the Fischer Twin Skin Cruiser was really important; we found that sizing up created a better fit in cold conditions.

The Twin Skin Cruiser EF has two strips of mohair skins underfoot. This is a similar grip system to the Atomic Pro C3 and Delta Comp R reviewed above. However, the two strips allow the center groove to continue down the ski without interruption. In theory, the continuation of the groove helps the skin track straight, especially when skiing outside of a set classic track. We found the benefits of the single-skin skis to outweigh this feature. The single-skin skis were more forgiving in sizing, offered better kick, and were easier to ski across a range of snow conditions. 

Unfortunately, they do not come with bindings, but they are compatible with any NNN, Turnamic, or Prolink compatible binding. New this year, Fischer is offering a Move binding that offers tool-free adjustment on the go. Upgrading to these bindings allowed us to fine-tune binding placement for the conditions and find a better kick even in colder conditions.

The Fischer Twin Skin Cruiser trends softer in flex, making it easy to control even for a beginner skier. For $260, they are a great entry-level ski for groomed classic skiing or light touring off trail. If you’re looking to grow out of the recreational or hobby stage, we recommend looking at a ski whose capabilities will grow with you, like the Atomic Pro C3 or the Rossignol Delta Comp R Skin Medium.

The Rossignol BC 80 Positrack Skis with NNN BC Bindings ($400) are true touring skis. They are wide and will not fit in a groomed classic track. They are designed exclusively for off-trail or backcountry use.

These skis are heavy, but this aids in their ability to cut through variable conditions. The tips are notched for backcountry skins, increasing versatility on steeper and more challenging terrain.

The bindings come premounted, and unlike NNN plate-mounted bindings, they are pre-drilled and not adjustable forwards or backward. The fish scale pattern is longer on this touring ski, so we did not find a need to increase grip with binding movement.

The specialized binding also requires a specialized boot. The bar underneath the toe is thicker and wider than NNN boots. Most NNN BC boots look like hiking boots. They are insulated and comfortable for long days in the mountains. However, we found the decreased articulation offered by the boots and the binding sometimes a hindrance.

Like the Fischer Spider 62 Crown, the fish scales clumped in sunny patches of snow above 40°F. However, this ski’s textured base is longer and requires more effort to clean. We found these skis excelled in deep winter conditions but were not our first choice in spring snow.

The shaped design also aids in downhill maneuverability and turning power. However, since these skis are much wider, they felt less agile but no more stable than the Fischer Spider 62 Crown.

This ski can go anywhere. If you spend all your time in the backcountry and don’t mind the hefty boots or want an insulated boot, the Rossignol BC 80 Positrack Skis would be a solid choice. However, many backcountry skis would rival this ski’s capabilities. That is an entirely different ski category, but it would be worth it to research all the options for the price tag and limited capabilities.

The Madshus Active Pro Skate Skis with Rottefella Performance Skate Bindings ($395) are interesting skis. The skis reward good technique, feel fast, and are stable at high speeds and sharp turns.

The stiffer and more durable construction feels solid in hand but does not provide versatility underfoot. We found the rounded edge to require a good bit of pressure to hold a bite when transferring weight. This made the ski feel heavier and less agile than other skate skis we tested.

These skis shine on hard-packed snow where you can V2 on flat or rolling terrain for miles. We struggled in softer conditions and on tighter, more technical trails. If you’re a beginner or intermediate skier looking for a more agile and fun ski at the same price, we recommend trying the Salomon RS8.

The Madshus sizing system indicates skier height over the traditional skier weight. This made it challenging to find the correct size ski. According to this sizing system, this ski lacks lengths for shorter skiers.

The Madshus Active Pro is a one-flex-fits-all ski. We found these skis to feel heavy and stiff on the feet. A stiffer flex might benefit advanced skiers, but beginner skate skiers may want a more forgiving ski to get started. This would be a good choice if you’re looking for a reasonably priced stiffer ski for all conditions.

The Fischer Carbonlite Skate Plus Medium ($675) is the most advanced ski we tested. This ski bridges the gap between intermediate and race gear. If you’ve spent some time on skate skis and you’re looking to expand into the race market or up your game, these are a great choice without paying a premium price for a true race ski.

Fischer extends its patented cold base bonding introduced on its high end Speed Max race lineup to the Carbonlite series. This technology improves wax absorption, which keeps your wax choice working longer throughout the day. We tested these skis on a 42k race. The lightweight race-ready design rewarded good technique and limited fatigue over long distances. We found an efficient glide with pre-race wax even at the end of a long day.

The carbon fiber top coat finish keeps these skis super light while providing enhanced durability. The gliding sidewall construction allows a professional waxer to get wax on the gliding edge of the ski (we found this challenging to do on our own). An intermediate skier might not notice a performance difference, but we did like the slanted shape of the edge. With some practice, we found benefits in extended glide.

Unfortunately, they do not come with bindings, but they are compatible with any NNN, Turnamic, or Prolink compatible binding. For beginner skiers, we found the camber and balance of the Salomon RS8 to provide an easier introduction to skate skiing. With some technique basics under your belt, the Fischer Carbonlite Skate is a great choice or upgrade for someone looking for new gear.