Black Diamond Skiing

Skin material

• Blend: A combo of nylon and mohair, these skins balance grip, glide, durability, weight and price
• Synthetic: Typically nylon or polyethylene plastic, synthetic skins are durable, provide great traction and are more affordable than mohair
• Mohair skins: Offer excellent glide, solid grip and are lighter than nylon skins

Climbing skin width

• Skins are sold in 5mm width increments
• Wider skins provide better traction, narrower skins save weight
• Maximum coverage: Choose skins about 5 mm narrower than the widest part of your ski.
• Save weight: Choose skins about as wide as your ski’s waist

Climbing skin length

• Skins are sold in length ranges to match ski sizes  
• Use the tail attachment system to fine-tune fit

What type of skiing will you be doing?

• Downhill skiing: Helps balance and time turns; most are fixed length
• Backcountry skiing: Adjustable poles let you lengthen for uphill travel, shorten for descents
• Cross-country skiing: Longer and lighter, designed to help you glide forward efficiently. Poles for skate skiing are longer than for classic skiing.

Sizing downhill poles:

• Stand in your ski boots on a level floor
• Grip the poles just below the basket
• Your elbow should form a 90° angle
• If the angle is less than 90°, try a shorter pole
• If the angle is greater, get a longer pole.

Basket type:

• Standard: for most conditions
• Powder: for deep snow
• Powder and standard: Interchangeable baskets