Choosing bindings

There are several matters to consider when choosing bindings for your new Marwe roller skis. You probably already have ski boots, especially in case you do cross-country skiing in the wintertime. In this case, the choice is obvious, you can use the same boots for roller skiing.  Below you will find some more information concerning choosing different or new bindings for your Marwe roller skis.

NNN, SNS and Prolink

Two manufacturers of bindings and boot outsoles are defining the standards like measures, specific mechanics and unique solutions. They are Norwegian Rottefella and the French company Salomon.

ROTTEFELLA NNN

Rottefella’s binding systems naming convention is called NNN (New Nordic Norm). This is visible both on the ski boot outsole and the binding. Rottefella only manufactures these bindings, but not ski boots. Cross country skis equipment vendors which use the Rottefella outsole system are for example Rossignol, Madshus, Alpina, Alfa, Yoko, Fischer and Peltonen skis.

Some of these manufacturers print their own names on the binding and that way the Rottefella NNN binding, for instance, will have the name Fischer NNN binding. Read more about the Rottefella NIS technology in the section “Rottefella NIS bindings” which you can find further down in this article.

• In general, NNN is a good choice as the selection of suitable boots is large. For example, Alpina, Fischer, and Rossignol make boots which are suitable for the NNN binding system

SALOMON – SNS

Salomon’s boot and the binding system is called the Salomon Nordic System (SNS). In addition to the SNS system, they have designed a new binding system called Prolink.

The SNS binding system comes in different versions for classic skiing and skating style skiing.  The difference is that the bindings for skate skiing have an extra connection point between the binding and the boot that provides optimised torsional rigidity when doing sideways kicking movement during a skate skiing session. This extra connection point is a spring-loaded arm that is connected to a pin in the boot under the foot – besides the front pin that connects to the front connection point. This means that SNS skate bindings have two connection points and the SNS skate boots have two pins that allow for this double connection.

Opposite to the SNS skate binding and boot system is the classic binding and boot system that only has one pin in the boot in the front that connects to one point in the front of the binding. In addition to this, the SNS classic binding isn’t equipped with a spring-loaded arm as an additional connection point. The main boot vendors for the SNS bindings is Salomon, Atomic, and Botas

The Prolink binding type and boot was introduced in 2016 by Salomon This system is unique in the way that it is mounted like the SNS binding systems, but it is only compatible with NNN boots. This means that boots with the NNN outsole from Alpina, Fischer, Rossignol, Madshus, Alfa and Peltonen skis will fit the Prolink binding.

Note that the Salomon SNS and Salomon Prolink products cannot be combined. This means that Salomon SNS boots are not compatible with the Salomon Prolink bindings and Salomon Prolink boots cannot be paired with Salomon SNS bindings!

Bindings for combi ski boots

Ski Bindings for combi type boots follow the above-mentioned standards and technologies. If it is a Salomon SNS combi boot, it will have two pins and thus fit SNS skate bindings. It will also fit the SNS classic bindings that do not have a spring-loaded arm but instead, a slid in the place where the metal pin is under the foot.

What is the difference between NNN and SNS?

The SNS and NNN binding and boot systems, at first sight, might appear similar but they are different. If you try to make an SNS boot fit into an NNN binding, you will experience that the width at the connection point will not fit – their dimensions are unsuitable. The Rottefella NNN is wider than the Salomon SNS.

Rottefella NIS binding

Rottefella has further developed the way you attach the Rottefella NNN binding to the ski. The NIS (Nordic Integrated System) system is adjustable -meaning that you can move the binding a bit towards the front of the ski, thus providing a better grip for example when on hilly terrain skiing.  Adjust the binding a bit backward, providing better glide properties for smooth skiing) NIS (Nordic Integrated System) is the name of the plate you drill and/or glue onto the ski. This NIS plate might have been preinstalled from the factory or you might mount this yourself. When this plate is on the ski it allows you to click in the NNN binding by sliding it in the right place with the NIS key. Now you can adjust it to the preferred position. The Rottefella NIS plate cannot be used for Salomon SNS bindings or Salomon Prolink bindings.

Compatible equipment for Nordic Backcountry skiing outside tracks

Besides the above-mentioned both Rottefella and Salomon make bindings for cross country /Nordic skiing outside tracks – Backcountry skiing. Rottefella has named their binding Rottefella BC (Backcountry) and Salomon has named theirs Salomon BC. These bindings are made stronger and more powerful, so they are suitable for harsher conditions outside the tracks.

These two binding systems are for special backcountry boots, meaning that Backcountry (BC) bindings will not fit normal NNN, SNS, or Prolink type of boots. The pin in the boots and the connection point on the bindings are much wider. To put things shortly, these backcountry equipment bindings are not suitable for roller skiing.