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Looking to get some real world feedback on who is buying and using what.
Post like this, please:
Company:
Skin:
Days used:
Thoughts:
A personal example:
Company: BD
Skin: Mohair Mix
Days used: 35
Thoughts: Glue is getting really beat up along the edges, and I'm wondering if the G3s work better. Much nicer glide than the Nylon standards I tried the other day. Tip and tail connectors do the job. These have been my go to for a couple years and I'm wondering if I should try something else.
I'm rocken the G3 Alpinist. I have about 50 day or so on them. They fit my Moment Deathwishes great and climb like a bastard. No bad days. Before that I was using the BD 50/50. They were a little lighter but durability was less than stellar. I'm a G3 man now.
Company: Gecko
Skin: Glueless / Mohair
Days used: around 30 days
Thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this product.
In the past I used to distribute them here in the Netherlands but I decided to drop Gecko due to mixed quality and their new tip clip system.
When I first got Gecko's they were the only company selling glueless skins. I'm always interested in new tech stuff but I tested them first. They were pretty cool and the glueless part has some great advantages. Good glide but you can lose some grip in really steep skintracks. They are light and easy to fold. When I tested them on several tours in different conditions the adhesive side gave zero problems. They can be washed clean, you can remove dirt and it doesnt matter if they touch the snow. You can wipe it off and when you put the skins on just iron them out with your hand 2 or 3 times and they are on very solid. I never had to use tail clips, I cut those off.
The skins self had normal durability, just like other skins I used (G3).
In the first years Geckos had strong metal tip loops with a kinck / nod in it. They even worked great with my square Moment ski tips but also with other different types of shapes.
First batches I ordered and got into shops had no problems. Later some batches had problems with the adhesive / gecko side. It would leave black residue on the ski and the adhesive was very vulnerable. Send those back and other batches were good again. Later Gecko changed their tip loops for two plastic Gecko hands as you can see here:
The hands on the tips are placed very close together are angled so that they only work good with narrow tips and really round or even pointy tip shapes. I didnt like that at all, didnt work well with different tip shapes. After that and another batch of bad adhesives I decided to drop Gecko.
Now there are other companies with glueless skins and different variations. Those seem to work better and dont have quality issues and I will get those as next skins. I really think glueless is the way to go. New technologies make them work in all temps, they come with different and mixed hair styles and it has a lot of advantages over skins with glue.
All my Gecko skins are from good batches and still work good. Overall solid skins, good glide and good enough grip. All mounted with the good working metal tip loop. Adhesive sides are still going strong so no need to replace them yet but I will not buy Gecko's as my next skins.
I've had a couple pairs of BD ascension skins over the past 4 or so years.
They have always done me well. No glopping problems. One of mt tail clips (the stretchy orange part) broke, but its not that big of a deal. They aren't the smallest or the lightest, but they get the job done.
I just got a new setup that came with some older BCA Magic Carpets, and I'm not as impressed, they seem bulkier with less glide, and less traction. The tip and tail attachments seem fine. My brother had a pair that had bad glopping issues
G3 Alpinist Backcountry.com version.
Used around 40 days total.
I really have no complaints about these skins. Glue has been great, with no issues, even after multiple laps in a single day. I'm rarely doing over 2hr approaches, so the glide is good enough for what I'm looking for. Grip is fantastic, with the only time I find them slipping is on steep, old skin tracks, where the snow is very firm and packed down. I had them out the other day, with about 2" of snow/graupel on hard pack, and they were climbing like goats. I felt invincible and knew I could climb anything I threw at them.
PS: the twin tip tail connector is worth the money.
jblaskiPS: the twin tip tail connector is worth the money.
I'm also using G3 Alpinists and have a very similar opinion but with only 6 days on them so far. I'm also using the twin tip connector with Line SFBs but I find the tail clip slipping off somewhat regularly (at least once a day on at least one ski but sometimes more). I'm also new to touring and don't know anyone else that uses the twin tip connector. Do I not have it set right or is this not as bad as I think it is? I find even when it's not popping off it is almost never remaining centered on my tails.
BengoUnchainedI'm also using G3 Alpinists and have a very similar opinion but with only 6 days on them so far. I'm also using the twin tip connector with Line SFBs but I find the tail clip slipping off somewhat regularly (at least once a day on at least one ski but sometimes more). I'm also new to touring and don't know anyone else that uses the twin tip connector. Do I not have it set right or is this not as bad as I think it is? I find even when it's not popping off it is almost never remaining centered on my tails.
Perhaps try tightening up the clip a notch or two? I keep my skins pretty tight. One of my favorite pieces of advice I've gotten, is that the skins should be tight enough that the glue isn't necessary. To run them that tight, to get the tail clips on, I actually have to slide them on the edge of the tail, and then rotate them around to the tip (if that makes sense). Also, make sure the 2 clips are nice and wide on the tip.
jblaskiPerhaps try tightening up the clip a notch or two? I keep my skins pretty tight. One of my favorite pieces of advice I've gotten, is that the skins should be tight enough that the glue isn't necessary. To run them that tight, to get the tail clips on, I actually have to slide them on the edge of the tail, and then rotate them around to the tip (if that makes sense). Also, make sure the 2 clips are nice and wide on the tip.
I've got a set of BD Ascensions that are going on 4-5 years now, so definitely 200+ days on them. As was stated before, they aren't the lightest or fanciest, but they work. I will say the first set I got completely quit sticking to my skis on day two and I had to send them back, but the current set is just now going into a state of dire need for some new glue.
I'll probably look for something lighter the next time I get skins, but I can't find too much to complain about with these. I usually don't have much trouble climbing the bro-bra vertical skin track when I need to (on 115mm waist skis), but between the first failed pair and the weight, I'm not feeling terribly loyal.
BD Ascensions. Days used 50+. Glue is just finally getting to a point where I need to put a fresh layer on, other than that they have been workhorses. Not the lightest or the fanciest, but they are durable and stick when I want them to.
Kohla multifit
Mohair Mix
~10 days
Twintip hook is awesome, really worth the extra money. Pretty easy to cut to size, they are wide enough and instructions were clear and simple. They glide well since it's a mix and grip is still nice.
I've been using Pomoca frees for steep vert climbing, 12 days on them and they are exactly the same as day 1, handle very well on ice. Clips are very durable cannot wait to purchase some climb pro glides to get a bit more glide out of them since the frees are mounted up on chetlers.
