Climbing skins - Ascension Clip Fix or G3?

[TomR]

I checked the archives first, so if this came up and I missed it - sorry. But, I'm looking to get skins for my shiny new BD Crossbows and my wife's BD Arc Angels. Been reading company literature (i.e, propaganda), various online retailers, and decided to go to the source of all wisdom (Cascade Climbers). Any opinions on the two and which work "best" - i.e. stay on the ski, don't pop off, durability, glue quality, etc. Thanks for any feedback.

[cracked]

here

 

BTW, if you do a search for 'skins', search the subject line only, and click on 'display main posts only' you will find several threads.

[thelawgoddess]

i have the clipfix for my tele set-up, but i just bought an AT setup for which i have ordered a pair of g3's. i'm anxious to see which i prefer, but i think i'll be happy with both. the g3's do seem to have the advantage, though, of being much easier to adjust length-wise. the clipfix can be tricky to get the tension just right so that the clip doesn't become unclipped while you're skinning around. not that it's anything more than a minor annoyance, but anyway.

[highclimb]

i have both BD Skins and G3 skins for different skis. the new G3's are pretty sweet. i think i would prefer the G3's tail connection over the clip fix. also you can use the g3's on numerous sized skis, where as witht he clipfix you set them for one ski only.

[thelawgoddess]

just to clarify - with the clipfix you do set them for one ski, but you *can* change the length (by adjusting the placement of the shovel loop); it's just not a super-easy, quick-fix deal like with the g3's.

[snoboy]

I have/like the G3 setup. I have heard of the Clipfix being fussy.

 

Lots of discussion on this at www.telemarktips.com

 

Or check out the rat tail system on www.wildsnow.com. Used that for years.

[Ursa_Eagle]

TLG, did you get your G3's yet? If so, what do you think?

[JoshK]

I'll throw in a vote for the ascension glidelites; the ones with the cow patterned print. I got them cause nothing else in the width I wanted was available and I really like them. It's a good connection system (similar to G3 I think) and they seem to climb well.

 

I also had a pair of BCA low fats and they definitely were lighter. I didn't use them for long but they seemed to work fine if you are interested in saving some weight.

 

I heard some bad things about the glue on the G3s, any one know about this?

 

Also, for the G3 users...how can they climb well? The feel of the hairs going against the grain doesn't feel nearly as pronounced as on the Ascension or BCA skins...do they still climb the same?

[thelawgoddess]

TLG, did you get your G3's yet? If so, what do you think?

i did - finally. i have a pair of the new silver g3 completes. *imho* the g3 tail system is better than the bd clipfix system. (so if you want to stick with ascensions, i would recommend the sts over the clipfix.) i have really not used my ascensions in enough varied snow conditions to give a truly fair comparison, but my first impression is that the g3 skin itself is not as "strong". i would like to take the ascensions out in the same type of snow/conditions i felt the g3's were having trouble on before i swore by that, though.

[Ursa_Eagle]

Everything I've read about the G3's is that their glue was inferior until they improved it this winter, and now they're on par with the other good skins out there. I think I'll prolly go with the glidelites, there's just something cool about the cowprint.

[Bronco]

Glidelites are great, just make sure and doublecheck the size of the tip loop carefully to see that it won't possibly allow the skin to slip down on a short downhill section.

 

Oh yeah, SKINS ARE AID!

[thelawgoddess]

Everything I've read about the G3's is that their glue was inferior until they improved it this winter,

actually, what i heard was that their glue was a bit too "superior" - when you folded one in half it took 4 people to pull it back apart ... and then all the glue would be on just one half.