Cross-Country Boot and Binding Systems: NNN, Prolink, Turnamic, NNN BC and 75 mm

Cross-country boots and bindings come in several systems, and they don't all fit together. Here's how NNN, Prolink, Turnamic, NNN BC and 75 mm differ, with counts from our catalog.

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In alpine skiing almost every boot fits almost every binding. Cross-country is different: boots and bindings belong to systems, and the system has to match. The good news is that the main systems have grown closer together, so the choice is simpler than it used to be. Here's how they compare, with counts from the 274 Nordic boot models and 101 Nordic binding models in our catalog.

The systems at a glance

The binding count for Prolink includes Prolink Shift, Salomon's version with an adjustable mounting position. Not every model lists its system, so the counts are a guide rather than a census.

NNN, Prolink and Turnamic: the track systems

These three cover nearly all groomed-trail skiing, from classic and skate racing to relaxed touring.

• NNN is Rottefella's long-standing standard. A metal bar in the boot's toe clips into the binding, and ridges on the binding fit grooves in the sole to guide the boot.
• Prolink is Salomon's system, built around the same style of toe bar.
• Turnamic is a newer system from Fischer and Rossignol. Its bindings turn a front knob to open and close, which is easy with gloves on, and it uses a toe bar too.

Boots from all three use a similar toe bar, and their makers sell them as working with each other's bindings in most combinations. Even so, check the binding's listed systems before you mix brands, especially with older bindings. Several of these bindings mount on plates fitted at the factory, which let you move the binding forward or back on the ski for more grip or more glide.

NNN BC: the backcountry version

NNN BC is a wider, stronger version of NNN for backcountry boots and skis. It gives more control when you're turning wider skis in deep or ungroomed snow. It isn't interchangeable with standard NNN: BC boots need BC bindings. In our catalog, NNN BC is the most common system on backcountry boots, such as the Fischer BCX Tour.

75 mm three-pin: the classic backcountry standard

The 75 mm "three-pin" system is the oldest of the group: the boot's squared-off toe slots into the binding, three pins hold it, and a bail clamps it down. It's tough, simple and still used for backcountry touring and telemark. Only 10 boots in our catalog list it.

How to choose

1. Decide on your skiing first. Groomed classic or skate means NNN, Prolink or Turnamic. Ungroomed backcountry means NNN BC or 75 mm.
2. Pick boots for fit and style. Skate boots are stiff and supportive around the ankle, classic boots flex easily at the toe, and combi boots do both reasonably well. In our catalog 58 boots are labeled for classic, 58 for skate and 34 as combi, while 65 are backcountry boots.
3. Then match the binding to the boot's system, or buy a ski that comes with the matching binding or plate already fitted.

Among the most widely stocked current boots at US shops were the Fischer RC3 Skate and Fischer XC Control, both Turnamic, and the Fischer BCX Tour on NNN BC. For choosing the skis themselves, see how to choose cross-country skis, and browse every boot on our cross-country boots page.