Looking for something new and exciting? Here’s what Josh Dayton of Breckenridge Nordic would put in your basket.
When it comes to Nordic gear, it’s easy to get stuck in the rut of “I know what I like and I stick with it.” Classic case where having a personal shopper would help bust you out of the rut and find something new.
Most Nordic centers have a retail shop for that very reason—equipment picks SHOULD be highly personalized, and being fitted by an expert makes the difference between flying down the trail, suffering quietly, or rehoming your beautiful but not-quite-right skis at the next swap
Even more fun, however, is picking the brains of Nordic pros who get to sample, shop, and demo all year long. We caught up with Josh Dayton of Breckenridge Nordic to hear about what’s new, fun, game-changing, beautiful, or pricey but worth it
Here are Dayton’s Nordic gear shopping tips and picks for 2025
Madshus Skate X Boot ($899)
“We don’t often see something truly new on the market, but this boot is amazing. It has full carbon construction, is incredibly lightweight, and moves the point of control farther back under the skier’s foot, more under the ball of the foot, which gives MUCH more power and edge control. Caveat: This is definitely a performance boot for an advanced skier. It won’t improve balance and a beginning skate skier won’t appreciate it, especially for the price. But it’s incredible.”
Xplore Nordic Backcountry Binding ($229)
“This is an aggressive Nordic backcountry binding that’s been out for about three years. There’s been much improvement in versatility with this binding; you can change it to be full-free pivot, standard tension, or increased stiffness to do lightweight telemark skiing with it. I took them up to the top of a 13,000-foot peak here—that’s more than it was designed for, but I had fun! When I got into the lower pitches and descents through trees, it was a blast. Great for skinning uphill, sustained climbs, it’s an incredible device.”
Fischer Speedmax Helium Skate Ski ($900)
“I’m still excited about these—they’re still the best skate ski on the market, incredibly lightweight and stable, and they have the best base quality as a cold base bonded ski.”
Krimson Klover, Women
“We love this line because it’s so eye-catching—very bold graphic designs and mountain scenes vs. just plain stripes and color blocking. They have a good line of technical wear as well as apres ski baby alpaca sweaters.”
Ortovox, Mens and Women’s Mountain Wear
“This is a very tech-advanced clothing line that uses wool for insulation. If wool gets wet it retains loft and air pockets that will keep you warm; a down jacket will be useless. They source their wool from different regions based on the designs—for soft and comfortable, it’s merino from New Zealand. For functionality when wet, it’s wool from the Swiss Alps. It’s all manufactured in Germany, and the build is of a higher quality that is meant to last for decades. If you’re going to use it daily for 10 years, the price point is worth it.”
Shopping pro tips:
Breck Nordic center comes equipped with a small bar—Dayton recommends grabbing a glass of wine and shopping with one of the staff after lunch and the morning rush.
Most shops host demo days or offer a demo fleet for rental; at Breck Nordic, rental fees are applied back to purchase
Visit your home Nordic Center’s retail shop for a fitting, demo, or wardrobe upgrade