Thread: sizing skins?

I am new to the touring backcountry scene. I'm have been shopping for skins for some time now. I'm wondering if someone could help me out and let me know if i am able to use skins that are narrower than the ski. For example a 100 width ski with 80 width skin.

No. Start your search here

http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=01...55:goe34wkkkv8

I had skins cut to a 108 waist ski 181 length, tweaked them around now they fit my 117 waist 189 length no problems really, but i'm a poor student and like to reuse whenever possible.

Short answer is no. Especially if your just starting out make it easy on yourself and get full width to make your uphill work easier.

You'll be much happier when not sliding backwards...

1st off, this has been covered sooooo many times, use the search function next time

my short answer is yes, but with significant drawbacks (as mentioned above in losing grip on the snow for the uphill)

and you certainly wouldn't want to go that much narrower than the skis

for instance 95mm skins on a 100 mm ski might not be so bad, but 80 on a 100 is leaving quite a bit of base material right under your foot uncovered, you're going to be slipping back (especially on steeper uphill)

Skins need to be wider than skis so you can wrap them around edges and stick firmly to top sheets.

^^^^Exactly. That is why I never tour on anything wider than 82 under foot.

I've actually started winding my skins around the skis a bit like handlebar tape on a bike. You need three of four pairs to get complete coverage but I fee it's better to be safe than sorry.

Skins are a fabrication of the military-industrial complex. All you really need is some towels and duct tape. Stick it to the man.

Originally Posted by counterfeitfake

All you really need is some towels and duct tape.

Actually, that's perfect for those snow conditions.

That will offset the weight of his tech binders nicely.

I'll add another vote for full-width skins, and make sure they're cut very carefully so the skin covers the whole ski base (Ptex or whatever) but leave all of the metal edge uncovered. A time might come when your life depends on it -- like needing a little skin and a little edge both at once in an exposed spot. In those situations it sure feels good to know you cut your skins perfectly. AND when you put the skins on your skis of course it's crucial to put them on perfectly, if you'll be doing exposed steep skinning.