Sizing climbing skins isn’t complicated, but getting it wrong is surprisingly easy. Too narrow and you lose grip. Too short and the tail lets go when it matters. Too wide or too long and you’re trimming forever for no reason.
The goal is simple: full base coverage where it matters, without excess material you don’t need. Here’s how to get there.
Climbing skins look simple. A fuzzy strip, some glue, clip it on and go uphill. In reality, skins are one of the biggest contributors to how efficient, frustrating, or enjoyable your touring day feels. Glide, grip, glue, durability, packability — every choice shows up with every single step.
There’s no single “best” skin, but there is a best skin for how and where you ski. Here’s how to think about it.
I love mellow skin tracks. I love being able to glide effortlessly up a slope while staying flat on my skis. Each time I went to Utah I found myself cursing about those "in your face straight up" skin tracks. It seemed like I spent my entire time on the highest riser position. Being on a race heel with only 1 riser, I cursed a lot. More efficient or not? I'm not sure there is an answer to that...
"My skins were glopping so bad, I was carrying the entire skintrack uphill."
Spring. Powder in the morning, corn in the afternoon. Leaving before dawn for long epic missions for those lines we think of all winter. Skin failure problems and glopping, which varies greatly depending on brands.
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