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Powder Journal
Glueless Climbing Skins- The Future of Backcountry Skiing? | 10/31/2010, by Waheenie
Nelson BC has long been an exporter of high quality, innovative products to the US (you know exactly what I'm talking about...). And now, the Canadians are about to change the world of backcountry skiers, again.
We haven't tried them yet, but a man named Kaj Gyr in Nelson has developed GLUELESS climbing skins. That's right:
backcountry climbing skins with no glue.
No mess, no stickiness, no frustration. They're called Clip Skins, and yes- they attach ("clip") to your skis with small clips on the sides of the skins. (I sure hope that this isn't the beginning of a clip/clipless debacle like the nomature of mountain biking pedals!)
Is it possible that these are going to tranform the entire backcountry experience? I was excited about the fact that my current skins had reached the perfect saturation of dog hair (covered enough so that I don't have to use cheat sheets but still sticky enough to stay on my skis). But the concept of climbing skins without glue altogether is even better. Here's a video overview of the glueless clip skins:
I sure hope that the days of all out battle with my climbing skins are over. No more freezing my ass off as I pull with all my might to get my skins apart. No more hours lost on the ridiculous process of cleaning & re-glueing skins. No more wasting money on new skins when I'm too lazy to re-glue my dirty ass, dog-hair covered skins.
*Clip Skins- please be quick & easy to put on my skis!
*Clip Skins- please be easy to store & maintain!
*Clip Skins- please have a good grip on the snow for steep & icy skin tracks!
*Clip Skins- please be lightweight!
*Clip Skins- please be low volume and easily fit into my backpack!
*Clip Skins- please stay securely on my skis so that I can trust my footing on dangerous slopes!
*Clip Skins- please repel snow so that I don't get stuck in my tracks with ice chunks and glop.
*Clip skins- please be as user friendly as the Black Diamond STS attachment system for the tail of the skis!
*Clip Skins- please have a smooth glide so that I can keep up with faster skiers on the uphill!
*Clip Skins- is is possible to order pre-cut skins?
Magical glue-free climbing skins that change my life, a complete disappointment or somewhere in between? As soon as I test Clip Skins glueless climbing skins, I'll report back with a complete gear review. If you hear anything, or try them yourself, please let us know what you think in the comments below!
That's Our Opinion. What's Yours?
brad wrote on 11/01/10 at 3:44:15 pm pst:
I just spoke to Kaj last week and he says that the new version due out any day now is uber slick and works great - waiting to get my hands on a pair for this winter as well - it sound like one of those "what took so long to think of that" ideas. Should be good!
powderjunky wrote on 11/01/10 at 4:39:41 pm pst:
Brad, I agree I can't wait to try these
WarPigSinFin wrote on 11/02/10 at 11:29:07 am pst:
I really hope these work well, too. Maybe they need a demo team in the J HOLE. I'd be happy to show everyone out there how clip skins work.
Zeddskis wrote on 12/08/10 at 2:32:21 pm pst:
Went to Nelson yesterday. Since my car was still shod with summer threads, Kaj generously offered to drive down from his place up the mountain to pick me up downtown... Cool guy! Back in his shop, he fitted my new Clipskinz to my Movement Thunders in no time flat. Looks awesome. Tight! They come off the skis just like that!
Guess I'm a ripper as of now!
Can't wait to get out there this week!!!
zeddskis wrote on 01/11/11 at 11:10:39 am pst:
Went out a couple of times with the clipskinz. Easy on easy off as advertised.
I was faster offing and onning them than my mates with da glue!
Came off twice on the same ski in deep pow but easily back on. No biggie. Three clips need an adjustment, musta left too much space by the edges.
Will get back out there this week once I have made the readjustments.
SkiingtheBackcountry- 1st look clipskins review wrote on 02/06/11 at 6:10:31 pm pst:
Here's our first reaction to the clip skins:
http://www.skiingthebackcountry.com/ski-articles/FirstTestingWithClipSkinsGluelessClimbingSkins
Stay tuned for a more detailed review!
