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December, 2024

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Good backcountry skins that aren't too expensive?

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alec.ogden
Posts: 181 - Karma: 180
in need of some skins that will work for a couple years but aren't more than 150$, any ideas?? thanks guys
Feb 25 2013 12:45AM
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YooperSteeze
Posts: 1248 - Karma: 45
Black Diamond Ascensions are good, and cheap. A site called gear exchange or something like that has older models and blemished ones real cheap. The shop is based in vermont if that helps.
Feb 25 2013 12:49AM
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alec.ogden
Posts: 181 - Karma: 180
Thanks man this helps! +K
Feb 25 2013 12:50AM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
I have BCA magic carpets. $140ish
they're awesome, highly rated by the shop I bought them from and myself after 2 seasons of use. They don't come with webbing for storage like some others, but get some screen window material and you're golden.
really quality skin material and the metal tip and tail attachments have been far more reliable than black diamond and other companies from my experience.

with touring equipment you don't want to skimp too hard or you'll just ruin any experience.
Feb 25 2013 1:13AM
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jblaski
Posts: 5566 - Karma: 1,078
Check out Backcountry.com right now. It's the semi-annual sale, and some of the skins are 30-40% off.
Feb 25 2013 2:05AM
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alec.ogden
Posts: 181 - Karma: 180
Thanks man great comment! +K
Feb 25 2013 2:13AM
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alec.ogden
Posts: 181 - Karma: 180
Thanks man! +K
Feb 25 2013 2:14AM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
I've been using my G3 Alpinist skins for the past season and a half, and they've served me pretty well for day tours. They're currently going for $116 on backcountry.com . I'm on mobile, so I can't get a clicky working, but here you go - http://m.backcountry.com/g3-alpinist-climbing-skins
Feb 25 2013 6:24AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627

BD Ascentions if you skin icy tracks or really steep shit

G3 high tractions if you have square tips or count grams/have a small pack.

Always dry them out every night, use Nikwax skin proof ahead of time to keep snow from sticking to them and always keep a few voile straps in your pack in case you lose a tail strap or get a slipped skin.  Also avoid water like the plague, as dry skins are happy skins. 

Feb 25 2013 12:57PM
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chuckmarty
Posts: 344 - Karma: 453
Girlfriend got hers from climbingskinsdirect.com for pretty cheap. You might find them cheaper on website that are having sales though.
Feb 25 2013 8:34PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/ski/skins/ascension-nylon-sts-skins-cosmetic-2nds

Cosmetic defect ascensions, doesn't even matter, they go on the bottom of your skis. Buy the size that fits the widest part of your skis, and trim them down to match the sidecut.
Feb 25 2013 9:43PM
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kevin_k
Posts: 111 - Karma: 144
So, just to be sure, I have skis that 140 at the tip, so if I were to get skins, I should the 145 and trim down?
Feb 25 2013 10:06PM
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kevin_k
Posts: 111 - Karma: 144
Or 140, rather?
Feb 25 2013 10:16PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
Threads. Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far, giving me some good ideas on what I want to buy.
Feb 25 2013 10:26PM
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alec.ogden
Posts: 181 - Karma: 180
Thanks man! +K I actually just purchased these!
Feb 25 2013 11:35PM
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alec.ogden
Posts: 181 - Karma: 180
Thanks for the help! possibly best rply to this thread!+K
Feb 25 2013 11:38PM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,274
avoid basic G3 skins if possible. they're usually on the cheaper side and they're the most likely to be on sale but i've used them a bunch and they wear out and lose their grip both on the underside and the nylon and they have more issues with glopping than bd skins
Feb 26 2013 12:07AM
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