Here's a thorough guide:
More briefly (and pls lmk of any broken links, thx!):
Plus check out the gear swaps at Facebook and also right here.
Finally, although you can't buy fitness, you can buy skimo-specific training materials from our sponsor Uphill Athlete and from Skintrack.com.
- Specialty etailer Skimo Co has many helpful articles on race gear along with comparison charts for race skis, boots, and bindings, plus "near-race" lightweight skis, boots, and bindings, and other gear too.
- NE Rando participants receive substantial discounts from Hagan.
- Jackson NH White Mountain Ski Co (fka Ski the Whites) is now stocking an increasing selection of skimo race gear, including the Eastern North America Holy Grail of a few skimo race boot models you can actually try on in person, and the rental fleet often includes skimo race setups.
- Burlington VT Outdoor Gear Exchange has a single skimo race boot, but that is still more than any other store (besides White Mtn Ski Co), and also has an AT demo/rental fleet (which once included Dynafit skimo race setups, although those might have been sold off?).
- Stamford CT Pacific Cycling & Triathlon has a Hagan demo/rental fleet.
- For expert fitting and modification of ski boots, Green Mountain Orthotics Lab has extensive experience with many of our rando race boots, with a location right next to our Stratton race venue and also close to our Bromley race venue.
Even if you don't want to go all-out on race-specific gear, a race-specific ski pack allows you to attach & remove your skis for bootpack segments without taking your pack on & off.
(And these packs are great for shorter ski tours plus off-season hiking, biking, etc.)
You must wear a helmet at all times during the race, and that helmet must be certified for either skiing or climbing (or both).
For those too modest to appear in public wearing a one-piece lycra race suit (women-specific models too), a race top/jacket combined with any reasonable soft shell pant/tight (women's here & here) offers almost all the same benefits as a full suit (especially climbing skin stowage).
(And these packs are great for shorter ski tours plus off-season hiking, biking, etc.)
You must wear a helmet at all times during the race, and that helmet must be certified for either skiing or climbing (or both).
For those too modest to appear in public wearing a one-piece lycra race suit (women-specific models too), a race top/jacket combined with any reasonable soft shell pant/tight (women's here & here) offers almost all the same benefits as a full suit (especially climbing skin stowage).
Plus check out the gear swaps at Facebook and also right here.
Finally, although you can't buy fitness, you can buy skimo-specific training materials from our sponsor Uphill Athlete and from Skintrack.com.
