Purchasing guide
How to choose your touring skis? How to choose your ski touring boots? Size chart. How to choose your ski touring bindings? How to choose your skins? How to choose your ski touring knives? How to maintain your skins?
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HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR SKINS?

For seamless ascents and descents, skins are an essential part of ski touring. Put to the test with each outing, they need proper care. Here’s how to maintain your skins.

Re-gluing: the mandatory maintenance for skins

There are two types of skins: self-adhesive skins that don't require glue to stick to your touring ski soles, and glue-on skins that demand special care. Generally, you should re-glue your skins at the start of each season. However, depending on your frequency of outings, you might need to perform re-gluing mid-season if you notice they don’t adhere well anymore, or if the glue starts threading or sticking to the sole upon removal.

The first step to re-glue your skins is to remove the worn glue using a heated scraper. Then, proceed with the actual re-gluing. You can use either a spatula to spread glue from a tube or a glue roll.

GOOD TO KNOW: SKINS AND SCALES ARE COMPATIBLE

Having skis with scales doesn’t mean you can’t use skins. You simply need to attach them to the retention zone, ensuring they don’t overlap onto the ski edges.

Maintaining skins during a ski tour

Whether they are glue-on or self-adhesive, skins are difficult to apply if they’ve been exposed to cold, so always store them against your body before putting them on. Conversely, ensure the ski soles are completely dry before attaching them. Surprisingly, re-glue adhesives dislike snow!

Once your skis are on, the skins will prevent you from sliding backward. However, due to repeated movements or ice buildup under your tips, they might peel off at the back. That’s why it’s highly recommended to always carry double-sided patches or a re-gluing spray to finish your hike in good conditions.

If you remove your skins mid-tour, ensure they’re stored correctly to protect them from dust and avoid needing to re-glue them again. Protective socks designed for skins are ideal, but placing them back on their protective plastic and into a cover works as well. Never fold them onto themselves as it can create glue clumps, forcing another re-gluing session once back home.

GOOD TO KNOW: SNOWPACKS ARE AVOIDABLE

When snow is wet or sticky, it can clump up on your skins, a phenomenon known as “snowpacks.” To avoid this and maintain good glide, apply an anti-clumping solution at home or carry cold wax during your hike to treat your skins as needed.

How to store your skins?

Maintaining your skins also involves proper storage when not skiing. The first step is letting them dry. However, skins are sensitive to heat—don’t place them in direct sunlight or near a fireplace. Once dry, lay them on their netting or protective plastic before sealing them in an airtight plastic bag. Exposure to air dries out the glue, and there’s nothing worse than pulling out skins only to find they need re-gluing!

Skins are an essential part of ski touring equipment, so treat them with care by re-gluing diligently and storing them properly. After all, maintaining your skins ensures 100% enjoyable outings!

THREE KEY POINTS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR SKINS:

  1. The most important aspect of maintaining skins is re-gluing.
  2. During your hike, keep skins close to your body when not attached to skis.
  3. Store skins carefully to avoid unnecessary re-gluing.

Ski touring skins