Basic Care For Ski Touring Climbing Skins

Climbing skins require a bit of care. With these tips you can make your skins last at least 5 years. Learn about skin storage, skin repair, and installing skins. Protecting the glue on your skins is the key to prolonging their longevity. Keep them clean, and safe from debris when they are not on your skis. Before you apply them your skis, make sure you did a good wax scraping so the wax does not come off and contaminates the skin's glue. And always put them on when the ski is cold. Ideally, out them on at the trailhead and not at home. 0:00 0:09 Installing Skins Never put your skins on your skis when the skis are warm. The bond will be too strong and it will be difficult to remove the skin from the ski in the cold. Always put your skins onto a cold ski. 2:07 Drying Skins. When you get back from your laps, hang your skins to dry in a clean, dust free environment. Keep them away from a direct heat source, or else the glue will literally run off. 3:15 Storing Skins. You can use the skin saver for summer storage, but it is not mandatory. Fold them, glue to glue, put them in the storage bag and drop them in a big storage bin with your other touring gear. 4:35 Repair Kit Skins can break in the backcountry. Be prepared. Pack a spare ski strap, replacement hardware, installation tools, and duct tape! Everything goes into a little nylon bag and travels in your backpack. #skiskin #climbingskins #backcountry #skitouring