Whether you're exploring the possibility of buying your first skis or are already in the sport, it's important to select skis to match your preferred type of snow travel. Downhill skis are meant for downhill travel---they don't allow you to lift your heel to hike uphill. Cross-country skis facilitate climbs and descents (as well as treks across flat fields). Knowing the difference between the types of skis will help you pick the best ones for your winter adventure.
Width
According to Ski Equipment, an Internet site for skiers of all types and levels, a major difference between downhill and cross-country skis is in their stability at high speed. While cross-country skiers may occasionally do short descents, they don't travel at the high speeds reached during true downhill. For this reason, downhill skis are much wider than cross-country, making them easily recognizable next to cross-country models.
Shape
REI, an Internet retailer of outdoor equipment and source of expert gear tips, notes that all-mountain skis (a common variety of downhill ski) often have narrow waists compared with the tip and tail. Further, many downhill models have a rockered shape, meaning the ski is slightly curved toward the skier. This reduces jarring in tracked snow. Cross-country skis, however, are cambered, or bowed away from the skier. REI notes, "This type of camber is necessary for performing the classic kick-and-glide technique."
Flex
According to REI, the stiffness of a ski affects its ability to grip the snow, which is undesirable to a downhill skier but critical to cross-country techniques. A cross-country ski is generally quite stiff, and according to REI, such skis "have a very efficient glide, which makes them perfect for groomed tracks and hard-packed trails." Downhill skis vary in flex, but some longitudinal flex is important for making tight turns.
Surfaces
Downhill skis are always waxed to reduce friction over snow. Cross-country skis do not have to be waxed, but according to Ski Equipment, they generally do rely upon wax to provide traction. Further, the base surface of a cross-country ski may have friction-producing designs (such as a fish scale pattern) to prevent backsliding when climbing, while the base of a downhill ski is always smooth.
Bindings
The binding, or part of a ski that attaches to the skier's boot, is also a critical difference between cross-country and downhill skis. Says Ski Equipment, "Downhill skis ... have heel and toe bindings." Cross-country skis, however, use a toe binding only, which frees up the heel for flat and uphill travel. The free heel also reduces stability somewhat during descents, making cross-country skis a bit harder to control during downhill travel.
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