Experienced skiers can put on and remove climbing skins with their eyes closed. Those taking their first steps on the slopes might find it less intuitive and a little confusing. Find out more about how skins work and how to attach them perfectly!
Skins are strips of material with an adhesive side to stick them to the skis and a synthetic outer that provides both grip and glide when walking uphill on the snow. Before attaching them, we recommend reading the instructions carefully and following the correct sequence.
First of all, make sure you have the right size and shape: skins are usually precut and must be the same length as your skis. Width may vary, from covering the whole ski surface to being slightly narrower. Most skins come with an elastic band, clip, or clasp at the tip to better fasten them onto the skis and a stiffer notch at the bottom. In this case, you can attach them starting from the top and moving down.
All you need to do is fasten the top clip, unroll the skin while applying some pressure, and clip the bottom notch. Before taking off, check the skins are stuck evenly on the whole ski surface. You can put your skins on when you are already out on the snow, laying the skis down on a dry surface or holding them upright.
After your tour, don’t forget to remove them and follow the instructions to put the protective film back on!
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Cover photo: Reuben-Krabbe_ Black Diamond
