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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Winter Camping and Activities :: XC 'Skin' Skis
 
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schweady
02/28/2018 12:53PM
 
Anyone have any strong opinions on XC skis that use skins for their no-wax solution? Apparently, they've been around a few years, and the technology is advancing to the point that many serious skiers are now using them.

I have been a wax purist all of my xc life, spending 40 years on my hickory/lignostone Sigmund Ruud beauties and then a waxable set as an 'upgrade' just a few seasons ago.

There is nothing like the experience of that "perfect wax day," but they seem to have been fewer and fewer for me lately. I know I am getting older and want to recognize my need to accept some "shortcuts."

Thoughts on skins? Favorite models for classic skiing on groomed recreational trails?

 
mc2mens
02/28/2018 10:27PM
 
I have a pair of Karhu Kodiak skis I've used for the past 25 years for backcountry skiing in the Rocky Mountains and in northern Minnesota. I lived in the Rockies for 15 years and skied daily. There, I always carried a set of skins in my backpack and strapped them on my skis when needed, which was pretty frequent.


Last weekend, I went on a winter camping trip near Ely with my brother. I had skins on my skis. He was using similar bc skis made by Karhu, without skins.











The guy in the front of the photo is me. The dot in the background is my skinless brother.
 
jwartman59
02/28/2018 11:52PM
 
I haven’t used skins myself, my son has for training but not racing. I confess I had a box full of kick waxes, a good deal of them from the 70’s. My son saw this a few years back and thought he was dealing with a dotard. I spent a few bucks on high end kick wax, what a difference. For me there is nothing that compares to the feeling of perfectly waxed skis on a perfect trail. Conditions may be right for corn snow soon, we haven’t had this recently, it’s a blast to ski.



 
Banksiana
02/28/2018 07:28PM
 
I bought a pair of skin skis (Fischer) this year. I call them my global warming skis. These are fairly cheap recreational models- I could not find a pair of race skis with skins that fit me. They grip really well in a wide range of conditions. They do not glide nearly as well as my wax dependent skis. I would be interested in trying a higher end pair.


Used them today to add a classic loop after skating at Hidden Valley in Ely- temp in mid thirties.