What Skins to choose

BD Ascension skins are the 'benchmark' for skins, period.

G3 is hardly a slacker company wrt BC stuff. Not that I'm deep into touring land, butI don't know of anyone having issues or major complaints with current skins from either BD or G3. Look at the features & assorted reviews and pick your poison.

 

And climbingskinsdirect.com seems to have something of following as well. 

 

Whatever you choose - get your hands on a G3 trim tool. Last year you could buy them separately for like 3-4 bucks. If you are not a proficient skin trimmer, they will pay for themselves in the first few minutes of use. In fact, that's how long it'll take you to do a perfect trim job with them - after attaching tip loops if doing std BDs. Speaking of BD tip loops - they are not the biggest deal to do, but definitely more hassle than just grabbing the right length G3s (size up w/ G3s if in doubt - that's been my experience anyway)

 

IMO it is easy to overthink this...

 

 

 

What he said.

 

I believe the Ascension skins give better climbing traction, but almost zero glide, whereas the G3s glide better, but do not stick as well.  If I were you I would go on TelemarkTips forum and see what they say. It is a much bigger pool of skin users.

As a backcountry newbie myself last season, I bought the BD GlideLite STS. I haven't been totally thrilled with their performance on the climbs, especially steeper/icier terrain, and after doing a bit of research I concluded that I should have gone with the Ascensions. I'll probably hang on to the GlideLites for flatter tours, but can you guys give me a sense of how much better the uphill grip on climbs would be if I invest in a pair of Ascensions next season? 

I'd go with Colltex if you can find them, but otherwise would recommend the BD Glidelites over Ascension. They grip just as well and have better glide which DOES make a difference with fatter skis on big days. Grip is over rated and a poor substitute for a track that climbs steadily without requiring brawn to navigate. IOW, steep tracks do mandate more grip and more energy to climb, but there are other ways to skin a slope.

Lots of other skin reviews here.

Also read the the latest version of BCA's Magic Carpets has great grip and glide better than nylon/mohair mix skins.  From what I read Colltex mohair is about as good as it gets but trying to find them in the US is difficult.

Actually, this is no longer the case.

 

The new 2012/2013 Ascentions (and probably all BD skins) have a new less sticky glue.

 

Apparently, the old sticky glue was too sticky, and it caused people to have to develop actual muscles to pull their skins off.  And as everybody knows, you shouldn't require muscles to ski.

 

As a result, your new improved BD skins will not stick to your skis in cold temps.

 

What do I mean by cold?

 

Lets say 20d and below, like we sometimes get in the sierra.  And if you happen to get that white cold stuff called snow on them forget it.

 

How do I know all this?

 

I made the mistake of purchasing said product, thinking it was the same ol' time tested skin.

 

Wrong.

 

As a result of my ignorance, I had to posthole out of a drainage, waist deep colorado powder, for about 1,000 vertical feet.

 

Yes, it could have been worse, say 2,000+ vertcial.

 

Do yourself a favor, and don't buy these skins.

 

I would look to Climbing Skins Direct.