How to Cut Skins for Skis

Climbing skins are made with nylon mohair and are placed on the bottom of skis so a skier can climb uphill in the backcountry to access untracked lines. While some skiers simply buy a skin that fits their ski at the narrowest point and attach it, experienced skiers know you get much better performance from your climbing skins if it runs from edge-to-edge on the bottom of the ski. An edge-to-edge skin requires buying a skin that fits your ski at its widest point and trimming it to the pattern of your ski.

Things You'll Need

  • Skis
  • Climbing skins
  • Trimming tool
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the tip ring or clamp of the climbing skin to the ski, such that the skin is centered on ski and the nylon is pointed up.

    • 2

      Expose the sticky part of the skin by removing the paper--if you have not done so already--and smooth the skin out on the base.

    • 3

      Run the trim tool that came with your skins through the skins along one edge of the ski. Cut slowly and carefully.

    • 4

      Trim the other side of the skin the same way you did the first side.

    • 5

      Check that the edges of your skis are exposed and the skin covers your ski bases. Repeat the trimming, if necessary, to fine-tune the skin cut.