How To Chose The Right Type of Climbing Skins for Ski Touring

The are 3 types of climbing skins: Synthetic fibers, Mohair fibers and Mixed fibers. Learn how to choose the right type of climbing skin for your intended use when backcountry skiing. Each type has its pros and cons. All ways buy them new to the width of you ski tip so you can trim to the exact shape of your skis. Mohair is a natural fibre made from goat hair. It glides really well but is does not have the highest traction on the climb. It’s light, packs really well, but will not be as durable a the other types. Synthetic is the most user-friendly. Super-sticky traction on the climb, it’s durable, but they are not as packable as others. They are more rigid. This can be good as it’s easy to install and will stay on the skis better. There are a lot of other qualities to point out but, let’s keep it simple for now. Mix. Like the name suggest, it’s a mix between Mohair and Synthetic fibre, creating a great combo with advantages of both fibres. This is the one I use most often and that I recommend. It’s a bit more expensive but you’ll never go back to Synthetic or Mohair. The Secret to a Great Touring Skin is the Glue. A Black Diamond Equipment employee once told me that the most secret thing at their head-office was the recipe for the touring skin glue. Skin glue is special. It needs to stick flawlessly in cold wet temperatures. You need to be able to remove the skins easily, it needs to be durable. No small feat. Glue technology evolves from time to time and I recommend you ask around which is the one to avoid. I have not used all of them but my favourite brands are Black Diamond Equipment and Pomoca. Again, the most important about climbing skins is that they are shaped exactly to your skis. For this, you will need buy the skins wide enough to cover the widest part of your skis (around the shovel) and trim them to your ski’s shape. No cheating here as even a few millimetres can make the skins slip while climbing in certain situations. If you are an expert, you might be able to get by with less than perfectly cut skins. But beginners or people like me who want no hassle, will definitely put a lot of care into trimming their skins to the exact shape of their skis. 0:00 Intro 1:04 Types Of Climbing Skins 3:38 Climbing Skins Type Comparison 5:52 Pro Tip: Get one pair of skins for each pair of skis and mark them so you dont mix them up 6:07 What Shape Should You Cut Your Skins RECAP 1-Nylon (synthetic fiber) is durable, but rigid and heavy 2-Mohair (natural fiber) is lightweight, but wears out faster than Nylon. 3-Mixed Fiber (Nylon + Mohair) is the optimal blend, the best of both worlds 4-Pick a skin that fits your ski. Drop a comment, let me know what skin type you decide to use. #skiskintypes #climbingskins #backcountry #skitouring