Climbing Skins???

[prophet0426]

Just picked up a pair of Alpine Trekkers, and am looking into getting some skins. Wanted to see what the masses use, and hear some suggestions. I am going to be using alpine skis that's why I bought the Trekkers, and those skis are twin tips so I need something that will accomodate a twin tip.

Was thinking about a pair of Black Diamond GlideLite Nylon STS Skins. Has nayone used them before? If so did you like them or not?

 

[Marc]

Just picked up a pair of Alpine Trekkers, and am looking into getting some skins. Wanted to see what the masses use, and hear some suggestions. I am going to be using alpine skis that's why I bought the Trekkers, and those skis are twin tips so I need something that will accomodate a twin tip.

Was thinking about a pair of Black Diamond GlideLite Nylon STS Skins. Has nayone used them before? If so did you like them or not?

I have those very skins, and they have held up well so far (I only have a seaon's use on them, about five or six climbs).

The clip fix tail system will work fine with twin tips. Alternatively, you can make your own rat tail, look on www.wildsnow.com for a good method of doing so.

 

[MrMagic]

i too have a pair of the black diamond glidelite hydrophobic climbing skins, they are about three years old now, held up well i would recomend them

 

[JD]

Are those the skins with the tire tread pattern on the bottom? Black and white? Those are what I have. My only problem was that I tore the metal tab that plastic strap attached to off the back of the skin, but that was during some triple black diamond skinning thru some crazy spruce. Other then that they have been great. I have 45ish days of touring on them.

 

[Marc]

Are those the skins with the tire tread pattern on the bottom? Black and white? Those are what I have. My only problem was that I tore the metal tab that plastic strap attached to off the back of the skin, but that was during some triple black diamond skinning thru some crazy spruce. Other then that they have been great. I have 45ish days of touring on them.

Those are the ones. Black and white. Reminds me of holsteins.

 

[JimG.]

Just picked up a pair of Alpine Trekkers, and am looking into getting some skins. Wanted to see what the masses use, and hear some suggestions. I am going to be using alpine skis that's why I bought the Trekkers, and those skis are twin tips so I need something that will accomodate a twin tip.

Was thinking about a pair of Black Diamond GlideLite Nylon STS Skins. Has nayone used them before? If so did you like them or not?

I also have these and they work great.

The clipfix system makes them very secure.

 

[danny p]

whats the best alternative to skins for boarders? snowshoes and hiking poles that somehow compact or collapse and can be strapped on a backpack on the way down? I read a lot of people's backcountry reports and get jealous. I hiked up Stissing Mountain (pine plains, ny) and rode down once after back to back 2 ft dumps 5-6 years ago. The hike up was horrible..sinking down 3 feet each step....

 

[SkiDog]

G3 or Ascensions.......G3 sells "xlarge" tip connectors that should get over the tip of any "modern" fats.

On the TREKKERS...make sure to LOCTITE EVERY screw on em...they have a tendency to loosen and get too much play...wouldn't want those breaking half way through a tour.

M

 

[SkiDog]

whats the best alternative to skins for boarders? snowshoes and hiking poles that somehow compact or collapse and can be strapped on a backpack on the way down? I read a lot of people's backcountry reports and get jealous. I hiked up Stissing Mountain (pine plains, ny) and rode down once after back to back 2 ft dumps 5-6 years ago. The hike up was horrible..sinking down 3 feet each step....

Its called splitbaord or snowshoes....pole will be needed with either and yes collapsible....black diamond makes some nice ones.

M

 

[JimG.]

whats the best alternative to skins for boarders? snowshoes and hiking poles that somehow compact or collapse and can be strapped on a backpack on the way down? I read a lot of people's backcountry reports and get jealous. I hiked up Stissing Mountain (pine plains, ny) and rode down once after back to back 2 ft dumps 5-6 years ago. The hike up was horrible..sinking down 3 feet each step....

Snowshoes and poles work.

Ascension skis (short skis or even blades) with skins and poles work.

Or a splitboard with skins and poles...I'm not a boarder, but from my understanding the only drawback here is that the board is a little heavy and stiff.

 

[JD]

Trekkers I have mixed feelings on. Great for getting up a groomed or regularly used trail. PITA if your busting trail in deep snow or tromping around god-knows-where trying to find a good place to descend.(which happens a fair bit when exporing the NE above 3000feet) Go with lighter gear and Naxo/fraiche/tele when $$$allows and it will be more fun exploring. Also. Start underdressed and cold or else you'll be soaked with sweat in 5 minutes. Staying dry while skinning is KEY for a long day. Esspecially under your pack. Have fun.

 

[dmc]

whats the best alternative to skins for boarders? snowshoes and hiking poles that somehow compact or collapse and can be strapped on a backpack on the way down? I read a lot of people's backcountry reports and get jealous. I hiked up Stissing Mountain (pine plains, ny) and rode down once after back to back 2 ft dumps 5-6 years ago. The hike up was horrible..sinking down 3 feet each step....

Splitboard with Voile' tractor skins.
Get the smallest collapsed poles as possible so you can put them in a pack or strap them on so they don't interfere with the ride.. Set a skin track and ride all day..

Ascent skis are an option as well.. Little skis that are only used to climb.. Skins are part of the ski - they never come off.

Snowshoes are OK.. But they have issues in certain terrain..

 

[Marc]

Trekkers I have mixed feelings on. Great for getting up a groomed or regularly used trail. PITA if your busting trail in deep snow or tromping around god-knows-where trying to find a good place to descend.(which happens a fair bit when exporing the NE above 3000feet) Go with lighter gear and Naxo/fraiche/tele when $$$allows and it will be more fun exploring. Also. Start underdressed and cold or else you'll be soaked with sweat in 5 minutes. Staying dry while skinning is KEY for a long day. Esspecially under your pack. Have fun.

Great points all around, although I'd say there isn't much you can't do in trekkers that you can in AT bindings, but it won't be nearly as fun, or easy, on the way up in particular.

Starting cold is key for me, and I still end up stripping down layers. And I still sweat anyway, even with just a single layor polypro.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

G3's. Trekkers are an OK way to get a start in AT, but with a stiff Alpine boot, it's a tough climbing experience. (My first tour with trekkers was up the Sherborn with Lange Tii's...my calfs were screaming long before Hermit lake.)

 

[dmc]

(My first tour with trekkers was up the Sherborn with Lange Tii's...my calfs were screaming long before Hermit lake.)

Damn dude.. thats core... Everyone I know that had those boots love them but bitched about them equally..

 

[Marc]

G3's. Trekkers are an OK way to get a start in AT, but with a stiff Alpine boot, it's a tough climbing experience. (My first tour with trekkers was up the Sherborn with Lange Tii's...my calfs were screaming long before Hermit lake.)

I left mine unbuckled and wore a nylon dress sock under my ski socks when I toured with the Trekkers, and I was ok. Maybe, with such variation in Alpine boots, it depends on the boot.

The only big drawbacks I saw were the weight, of course, and the elevators on the trekkers are a PITA compared to my Freerides.

 

[ski220]

Return the Trekkers and get your money back. They WILL break if used anywhere other then a golf course. Spend the bucks and get some real A.T. bindings. You'll be happy you did.

 

[kbroderick]

I've got a pair of Glidelite Mix STS, cut to be wall-to-wall on my B2s, and a pair of straight 70mm Ascension Clipfixes that I generally use with my T3s. Based on that experience, I'd recommend STS over Clipfix. I've also found the Ascensions to perform better overall than that Glidelites, but I think that's in large part due to doing more lesser-angle skinning and less steep skinning (where wall-to-wall would really be a benefit).

 

[Marc]

Return the Trekkers and get your money back. They WILL break if used anywhere other then a golf course. Spend the bucks and get some real A.T. bindings. You'll be happy you did.

False.

 

[Hawkshot99]

False.

Have you used them? I was really interested in them till I saw his comment, and a few others on the net, but many saying they are great. I would use them not for true touring but going off the sides of the mountain, short ways.