Before You Buy Cross Country Ski Poles

A quality pair of nordic ski poles is essential for skiing and they are a crucial element in your cross country skiing. Poles need to be lightweight and need to be the right length for you.

Nordic poles that are used for skating or freestyle technique are generally longer than classic cross country ski poles, and poles for racing tend to be stiffer than poles used for recreational skiing. Here's information on how to decide which ski poles are best for you.

Photo courtesy Cross Country Ski Areas Association