Paired with some AT or telemark bindings and a hulking set of quadriceps, climbing skins are like your own person ski lift that requires no diesel fuel, packs up to the size of a Nalgene, and costs just a bit more than a day pass at your local mega resort. Some skin manufacturers make pre-cut designs, but most require at least some custom trimming to your skis before you can paste them on and set off into the backcountry. Here are a few tips for cutting your new skins to fit and keeping them fully functional throughout the season.
Cutting
Before cutting skins (or waxing your skis), secure your binding’s brakes with that indispensable Voile ski strap that’s always in your backcountry pack.
Some skins, such as the G3 Alpinist or the BD Ascension Custom STS, come in custom length and width ranges that reduce the amount of trimming. Some other skins have broader dimensions that give you a wider range of fits (useful when crossing brands), but require a bit more cutting and fitting time. Most manufacturers recommend exposing at least the full metal ski edge on both sides when cutting your skins, but the backcountry die-hard might want to increase that by a few millimeters to increase edge hold on icy traverses and skin tracks.
The crew at the Black Diamond Journal created a super helpful video tutorial for cutting and fitting the company’s skins:
How-to Video: Trimming Black Diamond Fall 2009 Skins from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.
Care
In moist snow conditions or on warm spring tours, snow can clump up on the bottoms of your skins in a serious way, hindering your glide and ruining a day of backcountry skiing. To prevent this, use some BD Glop Stopper Wax or Free Glide Skin Care Spray (or you can even just use a candle). Most skins also come with a sheet of skin saver, a mesh backing that helps your skin’s glue stay sticky and makes for clean, easy storage at home or during a descent. Pull off clumps of glue, pebbles, sticks, and other debris from the sticky side with a pair of needle nose pliers. Apply some BD Ascension Gold Label Adhesive glue to thin spots, especially around the ends of standard skins without tail attachments. Let dry 24 hours, i.e., don’t do this the night before skiing! G3 and Black Diamond also makes entire ski-length sheets of glue touch-up for when you’re in need of a total overhaul.
After a tour of any length, be sure to hang your skins out to dry before storing them in your gear bin or ski pack. Avoid placing them near hot surfaces like a furnace or woodstove, as this can affect the glue.
Have some tips of your own? Post ‘em up in the Comment Section below.
Shop Climbing Skins at Backcountry.com
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Tags: alpine touring, backcountry skiing, climbing skins, DIY, do-it-yourself
my girlfriend just bought me a pair of black diamond ascention skins that have been demo’ed. I have them cut to fit and used them today. they’re awesome. the only problem is with the adhesive. it’s “balling up” and coming off, affecting the ski bases. I bought a 4oz. can of gold label but haven’t applied any yet. what is the best method for an “overhaul” of renewing the adhesive. is there a way to clean up and prepare the adhesive side prior to applying a new layer of skin glue?? the skis are new and have not had a fresh wax job yet. Before I wax them, I want to know the skins are ready. Any suggestions?? thanks. – Andrew.
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Hey andrew – did you look at StraightChuter’s link above (in the gray box)? He has a great method for doing an overhaul. Check it out. If that doesn’t work, ask on Backcountry’s BD Ascension Climbing Skins Page. Somebody there will have the answer.
Basically, you can take them to a dry cleaners. Straight Chuter explains all.
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[...] They’re way lighter and less bulky than straight nylon but still stick very well on climbs. Trim them right and you won’t be [...]
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