Care

Glue coated climbing skins are a high tech product that needs good care. Skins are a reliable partner on all ski touring activities, but their handling is delicate.

The plush side is quite easy to handle. If the grip is getting weak you either have to traverse or even use the crampons. Another problem with the plush side are clogs of snow due to wet and sticky snow, then all you need is a wax block or/and a fluid impregnation like Glide Plus.
In most of the cases the more severe and serious troubles come from the glue side because they might force you to give up a tour, that is why this side has to be treated with care. First you have to be aware that the glue's job is most difficult:
a very strong adhesion is basically required, but after reaching the summit you want to be able to take off the skins without any residues of glue on the base of the skis. And this in a temperature range of +10°C to far below -20°C, wet or dry snow or even on ice! In addition to that you will want to use your skins a second or third time the same day...

The biggest enemy of glued skins is water: throw your skins into the snow and you can be pretty sure that it will not work well...
For several uses during one tour we recommend:
- take your skins off the skis with our Montana Skinny protection bag
or
- use the protection foil
or
- in case of a competition, fold them glueside onto glueside
- in all cases make sure that you take the skins inside your jacket to prevent them from freezing
- a tape might be very useful in case the glue doesn't work any more