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With redesigned tip and tail attachments and an adjustable, lightweight design, the Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS Skins are the go-to skins for day-in, day-out backcountry touring. Ten centimeters of length adjustment lets you customize the Ascension to different skis while also allowing for set tensioning on your quiver-of-one.
Bottom Line: Versatile, packable skins for life in the backcountry.
Great Skins, takes about 5 small days to get these bad boys to glide like they should but after that you are golden. BD have always been my choice for skins and always will be.
I first bought a pair of these skins over five years ago. I put them on a pair of Seth Pistols and began traipsing into the woods with friends in Colorado. Since then, those same skins have graced the bases of more than ten different skis and to this day are still going strong.
In their most recent conversion, they are now assisting my girlfriend in her advances into the backcountry. They are much shorter now than when I first cut them, but the glue and fibers are all in place and easy to manage.
With my girl rocking my old skins, it was time for me to buy some new ones, and after asking around and looking at other options, I have settled on what I know best: the Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS Skins are the real deal. I will never skin on anything else!
How would one go about sizing these on a rockered ski? I have the new Gotama's (137-106-122) with the rocker tip and tail. I'm thinking that getting the 140 to give me full coverage on the tip is a waste since #1 it's rockered and by definition won't have much pressure and #2 most of the traction comes from the back on any ski. So I was thinking of going 125, but then I'm thinking with the rockered tail maybe it makes sense to go with the 110 and just worry about full coverage under the foot. Thoughts?
You size skins for rockered skis the same way you do for regularly cambered skis. You look at the tip and tail dimensions and figure out what size will get you the most coverage. Some people will say you want to get the size that will completely cover the ski base from the tip to the tail to maximize traction. The fact of the matter though is that when you are skinning, especailly with a ski with tip rocker, most traction is generated in the back 2/3 of the ski. So from a little bit in front of the binding on back. Also, we're talking about millimeters here. A very small measurement. So if you went with a 125mm skin, which I think you should, based on the gotama's dimensions, you will get complete tail coverage, and complete coverage underfoot, the two most important areas for traction. And in the tip at 137, there is a difference of 12mm. That means that you have 6mm of base/edge on each side of the skin. That is just over a 1/2 a centimeter, a very small amount, and the amount that will probably have to be trimmed away anyway to expose the edge. Bottom line is the 125 is your best bet. No sense in paying more money for material you will just end up cutting away anyway.
The traction you get from skins is mostly in the back of the ski, but getting full coverage would be good if you're going to be hiking steeper terrain. You could do fine with a 125mm, but 140 would give you total coverage. If I was going to buy new skins, I'd get the most coverage possible.
Skins are all pretty much the same from what I have experienced, but after so many pair in the past many years I have found the key is to keep them dry and they work. These came with easy cutting tool for shaping the skins to my skis and so far they have worked great, although I have not used them in super steep conditions. Otherwise the product seems bomber and durable.
Yep they start at 65mm and increase by 15mm in width up to 140mm. Best way to estimate what skin size to get is by the tip width of your ski. If the tip and tail are close in dimensions, you can go by the tail dimension to save a few bucks and you will still get excellent surface coverage. Due to the fact that most traction is generated from the back 3/4 of the ski, and not much traction is generated from the tip of the ski.
These are the toughest, most durable skins on the market and will stand up to any abuse you can throw at them. I prefer the glidelites personally, they are a little lighter and thinner. But the ascensions are one of the top picks by many backcountry skiers, and for good reason. They are thick, tough, and provide excellent traction in all conditions. Great choice for those of you who tour a lot and are really hard your gear.
The length of the fabric is 188cm. The tip of the skin won't touch the very tip of the ski, so that will buy you another cm, and the tails also give you about 15cm. So, pretty much any length ski up to 200cm. I'm not 100% on this data, but that's what I'm remembering about my skins. Hope that helps. Happy turns!
Some tips for kicking ass with skins: If the skins will be dedicated to one pair of skis, sew the tip loop. Use a file to notch the tail of your ski so the sts clip can't slide off to the sides. When regluing, screw BD's advice of soaking glue up with paper: use the paper to protect your iron, get the glue hot over a section of skin, then use a metal scraper to remove glue like it was a hotwax job on your ski.
Can be sewn, but they now come with a screw-on clamping piece that works very well if you know they are going to be dedicated to 1 pair of skis. Folding still works of course
I picked up a pair of these to use with my black diamond Havocs. Since getting them I have been considering cutting them down so I can also use them on my Karhu Guides. I'm afraid that the size difference is so great that my climbing ability on the Havocs will be greatly lessened. Typically when I use my Havocs I'm skinning up something for the sake of coming down so climbing traction is important to me. I wouldn't need them as much on my Guides, however I typically, use my guides more than my Havocs, usually in rolling terrain with the occasional moderate climb. I have had a few climbs on my Guides where I had to take them off and hike up vs. being able to ski up if I had skins. Am I safe to use one set of skins for both skis or should I just wait and buy a second set of skins? Thanks!
Since its more important to have better climbing ability on the havocs even though you don't use them as much, why not keep them as is. And either pick up an inexpensive skinny set here or check out ebay. There are lots of people selling skinnier 60/70mm skins all the time.
These look very durable and grip very well. My friend skis with the nylon mix by BD and he definitely has a little more glide. As for grip, I'm not sure. We have not skinned anything too steep yet this season.
you got it! there is a metal tab that slides into the elastomer and that clips on your ski. there are different wholes to slide it in depending on the length of your ski.
have used this skin about a dozen times this season in the wasatch and it is super solid. just be careful about taking your skins on and off, the glue is really sticky and it is very easy to catch debris (if this occurs a little cold water and rubbing should remove most anything).
the skin sticks to the ski very well, and climbs excellent. so far no problems and as long as the glue is looked after should last awhile.
You can grab these in a 140 if you want full coverage. Trim down so the edges are all that is showing on your bases, and install the tip piece. BD has instructions that come with. These are good everything skins in my opinion, since they have the tail attachment for secure fit, and good glue for all conditions.
These give great traction going up the steap stuff, but don't let you move much at all going down little hills. Also if the snow is wet, it kind of sticks to the skins.
The main difference is the way they attach to the tail. The clipfix uses two clips in the corners of the skin. The sts, has a leash with one clip. It offers more adjustability/customizability for using the skin with different skis, and you can create more tension depending on where you put the clip in the leash, so you get a better more secure fit throughout the life of the skin.
These are the industry standard for climbing skins. They will work for you, no matter what. The only thing I can see being a possible issue is the glue wearing out, as it seems to have lost a bit of stick after a few days. Still, that is a fairly easy fix.
Tip - I would make sure to have a straight razor on hand when trimming the skins. The blade on my BD tool actually bent while trimming the second skin making it unusable. No worries though, the straight razor actually performed better.
Iv'e owned three sets now and will probably purchase again. I am hard on gear and these have stood the test of time. They are thick and large to pack compared to others(ex. glidelite). Not so easy to pocket to keep glue warm. I only have touched up glue on one pair which was used for 3 seasons, more due to junk build up than loosing tack. I've used partner's skins and none have seemed to hold as well on the uphill.
If there is one skin that does it all, its these babies.
When Mt. Baker got snow early back in October, a friend invited me along on a tour of Heliotrope ridge. In the past, I've boot packed most backcountry routes, but this time he gave me a pair of his skins to try out -ascension nylon sts's. Being that it was my first time on skins, I thought I was going to be in for a long day, but as soon as I started up, it was as if I was walking on asphalt. From sun sheer ice to powder to crust, I never slipped once. With these skins, I found myself walking straight up the mountain.
I bought my own pair the very next week. If you want one skin that will do it all, dont even think about getting anything else.
All Black Diamond skins are 195-200 cm. This does not include the Custom skins that are pre-cut to specific lengths. The STS tail gives you 10 cm of adjustment range.
These are super solid skins, I have used these on all my fat skis (K2 Hellbents, Atomic Thugs, Vole Drifter) They are built well, easy to trim to the ski, stay relatively sticky in cold temps, and glide well.
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