Nordic equipment is not cheap, but it is a lot less expensive than that used for downhill skiing.
Skaters use skis that are short and flat, better for their sideways strides.
Classic skiers use cambered skis, bowed in the middle, so that when you weight one ski it grabs the snow, allowing you to push off into the next stride. Cross-country boots serve two important functions. One, they keep your feet dry and warm. Two, they provide a system that connects the boot to the ski. Ski boot designers have made tremendous improvements in their models in recent years.