|
Stacked up against current ticket prices, a pair of climbing skins is worth about 2.5 resort days. An average pair of well-used and maintained skins lasts from one to five years. No lift queues, fresh tracks and unsurpassed vistas.
The skin itself is a length of webbing-like material as long as the ski. It has adhesive on one side and a one-way grip on the other and attaches to the bottom of the ski. The grip is achieved using countless backward facing bristles which prevent the ski from sliding back but allow it to glide forward.
The magic of the skins is in the adhesive. It resists water, remains functional at temperatures above and below zero, leaves no residue on the base and is reusable.
Pictured here are the G3 Expedition skins. Catch #14 of theSKImag where backcountry editor, Doug Chatten, gives care, maintenance and selection tips for skins.
|
