Wondering what the best all-around ski type for a week long winter trip. I have completed plenty of Quetico/BWCA canoe trips, but zero winter skiing trips. I have retired to the Vermilion Lake area and intend to do an annual or more winter trip with a hot tent, non-solo. Thanks!

I like my Madshus Glittertind’s. Essentially a backcountry Nordic ski, they are rather wide to aid in floatation, have metal edges and minimal sidecut. I paired them with a Voile 3 pin cable binding and an old pair of Karhu Nomad boots. I’ve been using these for the last 9 years and really like them. These days the Altai Hok line of skis are all the rage, but I can’t speak to them as I’ve never used them though I’d really like to try them. I also use a pair of “kicker” skins when hauling my toboggan and find it helpful, until they get coated in slush. If I had to do it again I think I would have gone with an NNN-BC binding but I already had the 75mm boots on hand.

I’ve got a pair of wooden skis I got at a garage sale paired with Berwin binding. Not sure if you can even get that binding any more, but the beauty of it is that you can wear your regular winter footwear like mukluks in them. I’d like to try a pair of Altai Hoks but can’t justify the expense for the small amount of use I get from them.

Anything on this REI page, or Altai Hoks. But lots of times almost any skis will work.

I tend to use my s-bound 98's with 3-pin 75mm bindings and boots the most. They aren't very fast, but they seem to be the most versatile when I have no idea what kind of snow I will see.

I (6' 0", 175 lb) have been using Karhu Catamounts (85/70/80, 190 long, metal edges) since forever (you can't get that make or model anymore except used).

At first I used them with NNN BC boots/bindings, which worked fine, but then I switched to Berwin bindings (you can still get those, though they are currently out of stock: berwin bindings ) so I could bring just one pair of footwear (Steger mukluks).

That system has always worked pretty well for me. The skis have good flotation and ruggedness. I used to wax, which in some conditions didn't provide enough grip, but I've since started putting climbing skins on them which works great.

I have a pair of Glittertinds (which are narrower than my Catamounts) that I want to try for camping too. I'll run those with NNN BC bindings and boots.

I'm also curious about Altai Hoks (or Karhu Metas, or Black Diamond Glidelites), but I like the system I have, which includes Ojibway snowshoes for portages. I like both skiing and snowshoeing, so haven't gone the route of a hybrid thing like Hoks though they would be a simplification of gear.

I tend to use my s-bound 98's with 3-pin 75mm bindings and boots the most. They aren't very fast, but they seem to be the most versatile when I have no idea what kind of snow I will see.

Or the sound 112, 75mm binding . The Hok’s and gildelights have an integrated skin, if they ice up you’ll dehydrate yourself from yelling.