Now that you know what style to go with, you should figure out where you'll be skiing before buying Equipment. For groomed trails, you'll want a ski that's skinny and light (compared to alpine skis). Any skis categorized from "light touring" to "racing" will be well suited for groomed trails. For off track skiing, whether it be at a golf course/park or you're mountaineering, you'll want gear rated "light touring" to "touring" to "backcountry", which will be wider and heavier than skis for groomed trails.
The length of your skis is mostly dependent on your weight, since that will have the most affect on the flex of the ski's camber and how it will glide on snow. Other factors are important as well, such as strength and skill level. Height is one thing that shouldn't be as big as a factor as these other three. Manufacturers should have tables to match ski lengths to a skier's weight, but they are just a reference. You can easily find the general length (not exact) for your skis by putting one arm above your head, your skis should be around the wrist height of your extended arm. Your skating skis should be around 10cm shorter than your classic ski length.
Wax vs. Waxless
Classic skis come in two types, wax and waxless. As the names obviously suggest, one type requires regular waxing of the bases, and the other doesn't require any waxing at all. They each have their benefits and downfalls. Waxless skis will have some sort of pattern on the base (usually fish scale) in order to grip the snow without any wax. This pattern makes the ski a little slower, but is far easier to use and is much more versatile because of the excellent grip in almost any conditions. The fact that waxless skis are generally slower makes them great for beginners trying to learn. Wax skis will be much faster, as long as you use the right wax for the snow conditions/temperature. They are less versatile since specific waxes are needed for specific conditions. If the conditions are variable on your course, you will either have to adjust your wax on-trail or deal with poor ski performance. In areas where the conditions are usually cold and stable, wax skis are a good choice.
Poles used for cross-country skiing are much longer than those used for alpine skiing. For classic style, your poles should go up to your armpits while standing up straight. For skating, your poles should be around chin height. Poles don't differ much from one another besides length, material (weight), and basket size. For groomed trails, you'll want baskets that aren't
too big.
Much like the skis, bindings, and poles, boots are different depending on which style of skiing you want to do. The differences are minimal, however. Skating boots are stiffer and have more ankle support, that's about it. There are some boot models that are "combi", which means they're meant to be used for either style, but are good only if you occasionally ski in both styles. Getting a boot that fits is rather easy, since they are more like sneakers than alpine boots. Just make sure that the boot you're buying works with your bindings and fits snug like a running shoe would fit, and you're set!
