Backcountry Ski Skins // From Worst to Best

There are lots of backcountry ski skins to choose and in this review we cover G3, Voile, Pomoca, and Backcountry skins. Some of these skins are straight Nylon but most of the ones reviewed here are the classic 70/30 mohair nylon mix.
‪@POMOCAskins‬

[@GREYWOLFbike]

I’d like to say ‘thank you’ for this video. I was trying to decide between the Climb Pro and Free Pro and your video nailed the pros and cons. :)

[@DinaGarrett]

I've been using the same pair of pomoca k2 skins since 2015 and couldn't be happier. During this time, I never once had to face the problems that I observed with my friends - wet, falling apart, too weak glue, too strong glue and so on.

[@steve927art]

Great review. I've been a loyal Pomoca customer and, although they aren't the lightest of the models, I love the Climb Pro Mohair. The connectors are very solid, the skins perform consistently across a broad range of snow conditions and the grip is excellent. I need to check out the Free Pro 2.0 -they look phenomenally light.

[@ChristianHorton]

I have both the BD and Pomoca free pro 2.0 reviewed and you are spot on. The pomoca are great and must be half the weight/size. The BD are solid skins and will definitely last a long time but now seem giant in comparison.

[@whaleshrimp111]

My last pair of back country cross country skis were Trisulnut wooden skis with harder wood edges. I had 3 pin toe bindings and a saw tooth edged no slip sideways when turning aluminum plate I made myself. They were just fine for the steep and deep powder skiing on top of the peaks around Rabbit Ears Pass outside of Steamboat Springs in the early 1970's.

[@outdooramateur9876]

Great video guys!

[@heinricheugenvonhelmbrecht6905]

Helpful info! Thank you!

[@nicholaswilson3379]

I think I watched 20+ mediocre "amateur videos" before i found my way to "extra mediocre". You all do great work on both of these channels , I think you maybe should plug Extra mediocre a bit or maybe tweek your links somehow because I think some of the mediocre followers may be missing out on the Extra mediocre channel which is a bummer because it is excellent as well. Also a suggestion for Extra mediocre: - water bottles review - water bladders review - Most important - water filters review probably could knock off all three in one video or do more in depth three parter. I am always curious about how to stay as light as possible and water is heavy so I am betting you guys have more mediocre strategies for this. Thanks again and keep up the mediocre work. Take Care & Best Regards

[@sk8nchill52]

😂

[@erikseymour1]

Top skin: not a carpet giant, and glides okay. Sold! I’m kidding. Great video and I’ll def consider moving from climb pro to the free pro 2.0.

[@ryanwexler8901]

Really well done video. Curious, what Pomoca skin would you compare the Voile too? The Climb Pro S or is it more of a Free Pro? The only problems I hear about the Pomocas are the tip and tail attachments so this option is interesting.

[@paulriley6061]

I totally agree with the G3’s being on the bottom, anything steep and you are taking extra steps. I think cost vs durability the Black Diamonds should be near the top. The Pomocas I have lost their stickiness after 30ish ski touring days and the plastic clips seem like they never could stay clamped, although my dog stepping on the back of skis doesn’t help. Best skins: a combo of Pomoca mohair, BD rear retention, G3 front retention and glue. I’d pay more for that :)

[@Oliver-Kirsch]

great video, thank you

[@bullclan]

Great review; keep them coming. Curious what your opinion is on the Black Diamond GlideLite Mohair Mix Climbing Skins (65% mohair; 35% nylon)?

[@cnuila]

You know, I meant to mention that skin as I've used them a few times but didn't have any on hand because I had sold them with some skis. For the money, especially when they can be found on sale a lot of times, they are a solid option for a mohair mix skin. Again, arguably Black diamonds glue works TOO well, but that's a matter of personal opinion. And if you were deciding between the orange nylon Black Diamond skins and the Glidelite, the Gldelite is FAR superior. Much more packable as well.

[@CaseyRice]

Not a skin question but........have you guys checked out WNDR skis yet? SLC company so thought maybe you might have looked into. My local shop in Portland is recommending them as a first-timer getting into backcountry saying they are pretty forgiving. Lovin the videos guys. Thanks

[@daveygroothoff1366]

I love my black crow pellis skins, pre-cut, guess they are made by some other skin manufacturer, there is however a place for black diamond ascensions - steep, icy, springtime climbs in the alps were you don't want to take fall :)

[@michaelfox6367]

Black Crow skins are made by contour i believe! Generally a pretty well regarded skin.

[@daveygroothoff1366]

@@michaelfox6367 thanks good to know!

[@nobodyisbest]

Contour makes an excellent "smart glue" skin that works really well. But Pomoca skins are nice too.

[@raspberryridge8840]

One gets biases that have longer lives than the products. I had a pair of Black Diamond skins that made me feel like I was too old to ski! Then I got pomoca mohair and they set me free! But when I need to reglue I'm wedded to Black Diamond glue, I've been disappointed with G3 glue. So I like hearing others views on newer stuff. BTW I started skiing with strap-on seal skins. A Hell you don't want to experience.

[@TheDionBlasterMethod]

Good review. Ever try any of the micro suction cup skins? No glue involved which can be nice for storage or getting them on the ski quick, but honestly the Kastle ones I own aren't great. Doesn't like to stick in the cold or once any amount of snow has gotten on it. Was just curious if you or any other mediocre fans have tried other models with that tech.

[@cnuila]

Haven’t tried them, and most of the stuff I hear is exactly as you describe. I don’t need that hassle in my life, 😂

[@TheDionBlasterMethod]

@@cnuila For sure. And I was trying to save on the hassle! Did the opposite.

[@GavinHarte]

Ever tried Montana skins? Got some of their new Adrenaline this year.

[@cnuila]

Seen them around but don't know much other than you can get good prices on them sometimes

[@PaulBeiser]

Super video, great info. Gosh, just went to the Pomoca website, so many different models to choose from. How did you settle on the ones in the review? Hope The Mediocre Team is doing well.

[@cnuila]

It can be a bit of a rabbit hole for sure. Many of the skins are essentially the same but just have different “treatments” on them that up the performance but also the price. You kind of have to nerd out on the specs though.

[@PaulBeiser]

@@cnuila Thanks, need to make a spreadsheet on all of their skin specs from that page :-), and of course search for more reviews (probably first check Lou Dawson's site).

[@philippemartin6427]

You guys should check out Montana skins, I’ve been using them all season and they’re my new favourite!

[@tcrossau]

Absolutely hated the BCA magic carpet. Loving the Pomoca dynafit skins at the moment.

[@thomasbrown6169]

More more more!

[@teleroel]

I didn't know about Pomoca skins, but since I started using these in 2018 I don't want any other.

[@chrismccaffrey1232]

I’ve been struggling with my Pomoca skins icing, unsure what to do. Also, the plastic tail clip is a huge pain in the ass

[@chrismccaffrey1232]

Also found they don’t climb very well, but they glide well and are pretty light and parable

[@dan.b]

Did you try Colltex?

[@chrishansen2842]

Will we be seeing a video on crampons??

[@cnuila]

good idea, we'll see what we can do

[@Coldhardt007]

Have you tried kohla skins? They're pretty big over here in europe, i wonder how they would compare to the Pomocas.

[@cnuila]

I think the Fischer pre-cut skins for my old Hannibals were made by Kohla. They were nice and packable, and the plush itself had great glide and grip, but the glue would stick to itself so hard, I would almost dislocate my arm trying to pull them apart. That’s really where I think Pomoca has the edge on a lot of skins. Their glue formula is just the Goldilocks of adhesion and easy ripping.

[@Coldhardt007]

@@cnuila Yea thata one thing I noticed as well, which is why i'm using them with the greay plastic slides. Works well for me but is for sure not the most weight or time saving :D

[@kamenk1382]

Kohla is so good. I have a 70% mohair mix and im loving them.

[@Ranar14]

Pomoca skins and BD glue imo is the best combo. BUT NOT the stock BD applied glue. That THICK AF layer that BD and G3 love putting on is just there to try to make them idiot proof. Using the tube of BD Gold Label glue and applying it thinly like Coltex and Pomoca (and Trab...but I think one of those brands just mentioned does theirs) is the way to go.

[@DamonBowe]

what devices are you guys using to record your activities? Tried checking strava, can't figure it out there. I need a new GPS watch and am exhausted by the options already.

[@cnuila]

Strava is kind of the de facto standard right now. All we really use it for is the basic free tracking so we can shame and be shamed by our friends. Danny just uses an Apple Watch and I have a Garmin Instinct solar, which admittedly I only use 20% of its potential, but it seemed the most straightforward user interface.

[@deanpesci2880]

I may be an ignorant moron, which is obviously worse than a mediocre amateur, but I always found that the appropriate wax never let me down, no matter what I was trying to ascend....granted a brief scraping session was often needed for the trip back down, but there was always something a little more pure about the wax approach. Call me crazy.

[@finstudent]

And to think I used to use Voile Snake Skins.

[@darrellcope2071]

What do you think about the volkl skins? I got a pair of katana V works and I’ve been trying to find the skins, not sure if it’s worth the money

[@cnuila]

They’re rebranded Colltex skins so while I haven’t used them they should be solid. Volkl uses a neat pin attachment too so it might be nice to get the custom skin. You’re right though, seems to be a hard one to track down.

[@dhbikerczar]

Which in your opinion are the best for climbing? I have the BD Ascension and I think they are climbing better than the G3's I had till last year. I'm a really big guy (250lbs) so the weight doesn't bother me, but following track up can be a bit tricky. I'm not a total gear junky so I figured I would ask.

[@cnuila]

For strict grip over any other priority, it’s hard to beat the BD Ascension, or maybe the new G3 Alpinist universal or high traction. I would say it’s more advantageous to practice better skinning technique. As I’ve gotten more proficient on the uphill, I notice less and less difference between different skins grip but skins that glide better are soooo much more enjoyable.

[@dhbikerczar]

@@cnuila I’ve been hiking for my turns about 20 years. My form isn’t perfect but but it’s probably not horrible. The area a ski a fair amount it seems like people like to lay the steepest possible skin track. Those s little short 150lbs guys cruise right up, this jolly green giant struggles, especially with how warm it’s been this winter. If I lay the skin track, not stupid steep it’s fine. Your video review seemed pretty good so I just thought I would check. Thanks!

[@cnuila]

@@dhbikerczar I feel your pain. Here in the wasatch it seems like most of the skin tracks are set by caffeine overdosed U of U students trying to squeeze in a run before class and want to zip straight up the hill. In that case there’s no hope, lol, I slip and slide all over the place no matter what skins I have.

[@dhbikerczar]

@@cnuila I’m just north, Pocatello. Maybe it’s ISU students here. :)

[@mikehenrick8407]

Any experience with contour skins? I am a pomoca fanboy also but heard good things

[@cnuila]

I only know they’re another good brand that also makes the skins for other ski manufacturers.

[@svsanchago]

@@cnuila Countour/BCA hybrid glue is a game changer. I can't stress enough how amazing they are. YOU WILL BE MINDBLOWN AND WONT EVER GO BACK!!!

[@cnuila]

@@svsanchago you know what I have a brand new pair of Hagan skins and they are the contour hybrid it looks like. Can’t wait to try them.

[@lita7676]

Does your pomoca leave any residue on your skis? Have you run into any issues with glue residue on skis?

[@boazcesaretti]

no they don't. this happened to me with my G3 skins, mostly because my base was dry, unwaxed. fresh waxing and iit didn't happen again

[@cnuila]

I’ve never had pomocas leave any residue. The only skin I had problems with this was the black diamond. It was brand new and my ski base was super dry. Like another said, wax your skis regularly and you shouldn’t have a problem. Just make sure the bases are scraped and brushed of any wax so it doesn’t contaminate the glue.

[@lita7676]

@@cnuila thank you! Love this content! Excited for more!

[@lita7676]

@@boazcesaretti thank you!

[@svsanchago]

try contour/bca hybrid glue next. You'll never go back

[@seahog32]

Kinda unfair to compare Pomoca to a few second-tier players while omitting it's only real competitor Colltex. IMO Pomoca and Colltex glue are on par on their racing level skins. That applies to the glide and grip as well even if some argue that glide of Pomocas is marginally better on dry cold snow while the Colltex have their edge on wet and warm snow (or was it the other way around?). In the touring class though Pomoca seems to be using the same glue as in their racing line-up while Colltex goes for more sticky glue that is often almost impossible to separate when it's folded on itself ("glue savers" recommended/required). That possibly makes the Colltex skin less prone to failure in challenging conditions but, on the other hand, they can be a pain in one's behind trying to pack them up in windy conditions, if you happen to lose your glue saver, etc. In my personal opinion the Pomoca wins here. There may be a few other noteworthy players (Kohla and Contour come to mind) but Pomoca and Coltex take the lion's share of the market. And finally, most if not all the ski-manufacturer branded skins are made by either Pomoca or Coltex. As mentioned in the video the Voile skins are Pomoca. As far as I know Ski Trab and Movement are Colltex. Dynafit used to be Colltex and they recently switched to Pomoca. Switching likely happens frequently and without any formal announcements.

[@jackhuminski3390]

Should include price here lots of people take that into consideration

[@cnuila]

True, although all the listed retail prices are almost the same in the 200 dollar-ish ballpark. Street prices, and sales/online coupon codes make the biggest difference, as every pair I own was purchased far below what’s listed on their website. That’s a long way of saying... I’m lazy😁

[@barkbook1440]

Meanwhile I’m using all used skins I got for around $20 each haha. Works great.

[@lukasblum8051]

Colltex?

[@cnuila]

My Ski Trab skins are made by colltex and the plush is great but the glue is definitely not as good as Pomoca. Movement skins used to be made by Colltex as well but they have since switched to Pomoca.

[@teach1644]

I torch on pine tar and coat with purple klister…

[@WildMidwest1]

You seem to be in the wrong channel, or joking… I can’t tell which. What you’re describing is old school wooden XC ski prep. Did I ever hate klister back in the day! What a goopy bubblegum mess.

[@teach1644]

@@WildMidwest1 oops sorry. I was talking about my girlfriend…

[@WildMidwest1]

@@teach1644 😜

[@madisonian50]

Pomoca>Contour>Colltex>the other crap

[@cnuila]

Pretty accurate, although sometimes Free trumps all.

[@simonmarinov6038]

I have heard thet the pink ones are super vragile leaving pink marks across a slope. P.s i worgot to write you other day when ripping on for buying sou much stuff. Here are some sites which have best sales when it comes to ski sport-conrad.com and sport-bittle.com i buy from them alľ the time they have great deals. Try kohla the are my best pick when it comes to glue

[@Coldhardt007]

I dont believe they ship to the US ;)

[@OkOk-hp3nn]

Lol do you live in oberbayern?

[@cnuila]

Personally I haven’t had those issues, but I’ve only used them for one season so time will tell. I do know that right now they work great, and put a smile on my face every time I easily rip them off and pack them up.

[@Coldhardt007]

@@OkOk-hp3nn Bayern des samma mir

[@TheKBlunt]

been using those BD skins and I am no fan

[@cnuila]

Yeah, they’re durable and reliable, but there’s just so much better out there right now.

[@cypriano8763]

g3 is total crap, have had many pairs and they all suck. cant pull em apart but wont sick to the skis after 2 laps. terrible. the pink pomoca are 100% my fave. G3 empires, i have a pair, the aint that old??

[@thetraveljack]

Many mediocre fans huh.. harsh

[@natewinning7643]

Save the gear reviews for someone else...Lets see more adventures.