Extending the Life of your Ski Skins

Good Morning,

Today is my last blab about ski skins  I thought it would be helpful to share some tips with you about how you can extend the life of your ski skins. None of us like having to continually invest in new ones, so here are a couple of easy things you can do. 

First,  choose a set of ski skins with a good adhesive. Next, make sure they fit the waist of your ski through the tail, really well, (you don't want them to extend past your ski edge). The reason is, is that this is the part of the ski that's going to be doing most of the uphill work. Talk to your ski retailer if you need help and you can even have your retailer trim them to fit.

Cheat Sheets for Ski Skins

Take the time to invest in some cheat sheets. These are sheets to lay against the adhesive side of your skins as you fold them to put them away. This will allow the adhesive to be less stressed because it is not sticking to the fabric and your glue will last longer.

Buy yourself some good glide wax, and use it each time before you ski. Your retailer can recommend a good brand. Finally, for added ski skin longevity, always comb your skins when done skiing. Do this, by starting from the tip of your ski skin to the tail.

I hope this short series has answered some of your questions, and gave you a good overview of what these are and why you would want to have a pair of ski skins. Thanks for reading. I'll see you on the trail-- Campingman

Ski Skins: A Brief History Overview

Good Morning,

Today I want to talk briefly about the history of ski skins and give you an overview of the different kinds to help you make an informed decision before buying any of your own. 

Mohair Ski Skins

Before modern day ski lifts were invented, ski skins were the accepted method of getting to the top of a slope to be able to ski down, or to go cross country to a neighbor's house or whatever. They enabled you to get around faster and easier in the snow, ok? They were originally made from seal "skins", hence the name ski "skins." Luckily for you, (and our seal friends) they are no longer made from seal skins. There are two actual types of material used to make them, and a third, sort of variant of the first two. These two types of material are Mohair and Nylon. There is a third variant as I said, a mix of Mohair and Nylon.

Which is better?

The Nylon ski skin is the least expensive, the most durable and best for climbing. It is though, the slowest for gliding. The Mohair ski skin is the best for downhill skiing and for climbing, as the Mohair reacts much like seal skin. By that, I mean, when the Mohair fabric is swept in one direction, it lies flat (great for skiing) and when the fabric is swept in the opposite direction, it stands up. Thus, providing the resistance for climbing with your skis on. Just slide your ski forward and then back ever so slightly, step down on the ski for the traction, and there you have it. That's how simply they work. The third type, Mohair mix is the least expensive and pretty good for down hill, and average for climbing. But the item of interest?  They tend to be the least durable of the three types of skins. 

Nylon Ski SKins

Let's face, they will all wear out, but give yourself an edge. Lots of companies make these, so take your time and read up on the type or brand you choose, before you buy.

Buy the skin that you feel is best for your skill set and/or needs. Tomorrow I will do a quick wrap up on these puppies! Until then, stay safe, and I will see you on the trail. ~ Campingman

Ski Skins... what are these?

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I know I did, and I am still stuffed. Deep fried turkey ...mmmm, so good! Anyway, before I digress too much, I wanted to introduce a new topic: ski skins. I plan on sharing quite a bit over the next week or so, so today is just an introduction.

What are ski skins? Or what are climbing skins? I'll bet that I have heard those two questions asked hundred's of times over the years, so I thought I would share some of what I know about this (oft times) little known product. I find that once I explain what they are and what they are used for, our circle of back country skiers using ski skins increases exponentially. So, here's a brief overview.

First, why the two names ski skins and climbing skins? Easy answer. They are the same thing, and here's how......skins (strips of material) that are placed over a pair of skis, to allow you to climb up slopes before skiing down? Get it? The next question is: "Why would you want to do that when you can just take the chair lift?" Again, an easy answer.

If all you want to do, is ski down a groomed ski lodge manufactured slope with about forty gazillion other skiers, then a pair of skiing skins are not for you. Simple as that.

However, should you want to explore some of the back country or even do some cross country or wilderness skiing? Then ski skins are a great way to do just that. I suppose I don't have to mention, that normally, there are no lifts in the back country, so there must be alternatives? That's where these Ski skins come in, as they are designed for adventuresome skiing or skiing in places where there are no lifts. Tomorrow I will take that story back a bit to see (briefly) where the idea for these came from. Until then, keep safe and I'll see you on the trail. - Campingman