Cross-country ski bindings can seem overwhelmingly complicated. We will explain the different options for the binding plates and sole compatibility to simplify things. As always, don't hesitate to contact us to confirm your binding choice. The good news is that we will make sure that your gear will all work together, so feel confident that you can order online and if there are compatibility issues, we will contact you to resolve them.

Binding Plates

Many modern skis come with binding plates installed. These plates allow for the quick and secure connection of a compatible binding on the plate. Unfortunately, each manufacturer has decided on different plates, making it challenging to keep things straight. These are the main types of binding plates:

  1. IFP Plate - Affixed to Fischer and Rossignol Skis since the 2017-2018 model year. This Integrated Fixation Plate has two parts on the ski - a forefoot for the main binding support and a heel plate that allows the heel plate of the binding to move freely as the ski flexes, eliminating the stiffening effect of a one-piece plate on a flexing ski. IFP Plates support Turnamic Bindings (Fischer and Rossignol) as well as Rottefella Quicklock bindings, which are branded by Rossignol as "R-Skate" and "R-Classic"
  2. NIS Plate - The NIS plate is made by Rottefella, and is the original plated binding system that has been around for many years and was on Madshus, Fischer and Rossignol skis until 2017. Fischer and Rossignol made the IFP plate in response to the NIS plate patent expiring in 2017.
    Rottefella created the NIS 2.0 plate in 2017 to support the newly created "MOVE" system, that allowed the binding to move with the turn of a dial. The NIS 2.0 evolved into the NIS 3.0 plate, which is much simpler and cleaner. The NIS 3.0 plate supports all NIS bindings as well as MOVE-compatible NIS bindings.

  3. Salomon Shift Plates. The Rottefella patents create even more intrigue with the Salomon Shift-In plate. Salomon created their own version of the MOVE system called the Shift-In system, but lost a legal challenge from Rottefella and had to modify that system to the "Shift" system, which does not move in the same way. Pre-2023 skis have the Shift-In plate, and most Post-2023 skis have the Shift Plate. But for some skin skis, Salomon kept the Shift-In Plate and paid Rottefella licensing fees. Confused yet? We are. Most Salomon skis now come with a plate and include a binding, so you don't necessarily need to know the details.
  4. Flat Skis. Some skis, mostly Salomon and Backcountry skis from all manufacturers, come without any plates. These use screw-in bindings, which are made by Salomon for the in-track versions, and Rottefella for the BC and Xplore systems. The Salomon S/Lab skis and many backcountry skis come without plates.

Binding Compatbility

While there are many different plate options, all in-track binding systems are compatible with NNN soles. The SNS and SNS Pilot system have been discontinued and all modern in-track boots have NNN-compatible soles. Backcountry boots on the Rottefella BC and Xplore platforms use their respective soles. But every in-track boot works with every in-track binding and there are no longer boot compatibility issues. You just have to figure out which binding goes on which plate, and then they all work with any boot.