Off-trail days that actually mean off-trail are what the Rossignol XP 105 was built around. This metal-edged backcountry Nordic ski pairs a low-density wood core with full-length steel edges and Rossignol's Positrack scaled base, so it climbs without wax or skins, holds a line when the snow firms up, and floats through soft snow far better than a standard tourer. The Xplore binding platform underneath adds lateral stability that older backcountry systems cannot match. Skiers get a ski that turns sidehills and controlled descents into part of the tour rather than the hard part of it. [boot PKG overview]