Comments on: Choosing Climbing Skins

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:47:56 +0000

Aaron, the grip of the G3 Alpinist skins is about as good as the Black Diamond nylon skins on a fresh packed-powder track. However, when the track becomes glazed from use or if the snow has gone through melt-freeze cycles, then the G3 skins slip more often and more unpredictably. The G3 skins have a lot more glide than the Black Diamond skins, though. That makes for much less effort climbing, unless the track is such that you are slipping a lot.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:28:37 +0000

Does anyone know how the G3 alpinist skins climb compared to other brands? Really want to know for Colorado snow. Thanks!

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:56:08 +0000

Dostie,
How did the grip and glide on the Skins Direct, Glide Lite, and G3 Alpinist compare in your tests?

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:50:34 +0000

Anyone use Gecko’s – - I think the company is out of Switzerland …

By: pete sanford

pete sanford — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:03:34 +0000

Nice article andrew. this may not be your forte but do you have any skin suggestions for the warmer, wetter snow of the PNW? I’ve been really satisfied with BD glidelites for my touring in SW BC but my skins will need replacing by next year. any suggestions?

By: Scruppo

Scruppo — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:54:12 +0000

I agree with Dostie on waxing and with the performance of CSD skins. When new, though, the glue can make it very hard to separate the skins (last year’s batch). I’ve had great luck with the new (BD I think) liquid skin wax applied the night before as well. Gives the CSD skins about the same glide as my Dynafit mohairs. Oh – and I’m usually skiing in Summit Co, CO.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:29:01 +0000

I’m pretty sure they don’t make the Glidelites everyone is referring to any more (as of this year gidelites are either all mohair or mohair nylon mix). So those are out. The orange ascensions climb great, but are so stiff they are annoying to pack, and they dont glide well at all. The glue on my couple year old climbingskinsdirect is pretty bad, maybe they’ve changed it…. But they do climb and glide well…

By: Dostie

Dostie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:29:01 +0000

Good beta Andrew. Been skinning with mixed skins (different skins on each ski to detect subtle if any differences) for about three years now to find the ones I like best. It’s pretty much a tie between Climbing Skins Direct and GlideLite. I rig every skin with a STS tip and tail. Reliable, secure, and the easiest to use.

I find the Ascension skins are rather boardy compared to anything else, and the glue of the GlideLites is equal. G3 glue, although one of the stickiest out of the box is prone to “leaking” on the edges or at the tip. CSD’s have great glue, it lasts a long time, and they’re easy to handle. Same for GlideLites.

On powder days Colltex Mohair’s rule. The glue isn’t very strong, but with an STS tip and tail kit, is adequate for warmer Sierra temps so they rip off fast, and their suppleness makes ‘em easy to fold.

As a matter of course, unless it’s a cold powder day (more common than the Sierra reputation would admit) I find it worthwhile to wax my skins at the trailhead religiously to minimize icing. Do you bother with that in Wasangeles?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:10:21 +0000

After years of using nylon skins I’m now addicted to Trab’s mixed 70% mohair / 30% nylon skins. They grip every bit as well as the purple ascensions I’ve had in the past, even here in the Wasatch with our legendary steep skin tracks (slippage is rare and confined to the same circumstances as I experienced with the nylon skins). The glide is noticeably better than nylon skins, so much so that on a typical relatively flat approach I have to make sure to start out in front of a group to avoid running up the back of someone’s skis (this include podium place finishers in the Pkeg who otherwise kick my slightly overwieght ass on the ascent). The only downside is they wear out quicker than all nylon skins (about 200 days vs. 400 days for the nylon, then again the nylon skins are just getting broken in with decent glide around 400 days). Mohair also tends to absorb more water than the nylon skins, negating some of the light weight characteristics of the skins, however clumping in the spring is no different.

I’ve also used Trab’s split mohair skins (same as Colltex, however much sexier as they’re the only tiger striped skins around – gotta luv the Italians) with good success as well, however you do have to prepare for minor slippage on micro obstacles such as boulders, deadfall and cornices. Easy enough to prevent, just plant your poles strategically behind you when you start up a short steep pitch. One nice thing about the split skins is clumping is a non issue since they’re too narrow for large clumps to develop. The skins “self clean” themselves as you drag them along the climbing track, allowing only dime to half golf ball size clumps to develop which are barely noticeable. Folding split skins is easy (providing there’s no webbing between the skins), just stick them together side to side instead of end to end using 3 fingers as a guide (pull the skins longitudinally through the gaps between your fingers). Works good even in windy conditions + you can roll them up into a small ball that easily fits into a coat pocket (remember when skins were narrow enough to do so easily?).

I’ve heard euro skin glue sucks because enviro regs prohibit the use of toluene in skin glue. As such the glue manufacturer’s aren’t able to dissolve as sticky of substances to formulate the glue. Maybe this is just hearsay however it seems to make sense as toluene is a relatively strong solvent.

By: Stan

Stan — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:45:45 +0000

For the best glide and fast climbing I haven’t had better skins than Coltex in full mohair, the racing model. For my fat skis I use BD skins with the tractor like pattern (sorry, forgot the model name) and they work quite well, and they seem quite to be quite durable – using them for like a 4th season.

The glue on Coltex, being European skins, is somewhat finicky in cold Canadian conditions, but with some care when putting them on they work. It is worth to note that I don’t use the back hook on my fast skins, that plays a big role how they handle the cold too.

And I too like the Gold Label for the Euro skins, works good, but can stink up your motel room the night before a race very much :)