Comments on: Choosing Climbing Skins

By: joseph.szasz

joseph.szasz — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:19:46 +0000

hey andrew,

any sugestions on skins for the spring summer in the cascades. moving over there and want the right tool. awesome website. thanx

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:08:34 +0000

I have the ascension skins. Over time I’ve gotten a residual build up of the adhesive on my bases and wondered what solvent (or alternative) works best for cleaning the bases before I re-wax?

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?