Standard, but not the best (clipfix for dry snow only)

By Scott Pendleton Ranked #222 - Telemark Skiing July 31, 2009

These skins work well enough. They climb and grip well, even if they don't glide as well as mohair. The glue is plenty sticky and has held up for two seasons, though I hear that it doesn't last forever and re-gluing is perhaps not worth it. The actual skins are the standard in the industry, though a certain upstart company founded by the designers of the original Ascensions sells better skins online for much cheaper. You probably know who I'm talking about, and after buying those for the missus' splitboard, I can say the hype is true and they are significantly better than BD skins.

The clipfix works well in theory though there are major drawbacks. You have to size the skin length right, which is no big deal. It even works fine with twin tips. If you live in a place with dry snow, as I was when I bought these (northern NM), it works just fine and you can forget about it. If you experience wet snow, as I did when I moved so SoCal and as I do when I visit the family in the Pac NW, you will discover the shortcomings of the clipfix. When skins get wet, they stretch. On my 175cm skis they stretch as much as 1-2cm when wet, allowing the clipfix to just slide off the end of the ski as if it weren't there. I bought an STS tail kit, though I haven't gotten around to putting it on yet. Not pleased with the clipfix in wet snow.

Also, like most people my trim tool broke when I was trimming the skins and I had to finish it off with a razor blade.

Even so, when the glue on these gives it up I'll be eschewing BD and buying "climbing skins direct" from that other company whose glue is better, who has better attachment systems, and whose trim tool doesn't break.

View Details: Black Diamond Ascension Nylon Clipfix Skins

Helpful Votes: 1 Yes | 0 No