Gear Review

Black Diamond GlideLite Skins

1. sticky, sticky glue
2. long life
3. great attachment system

Black Diamond's GlideLite Skins are a slightly more compressible (though not lighter) version of the venerable Ascension.

Both models feature the same "hydrophobic" DWR treatment to better repel water, and both use the same uber-sticky glue.

These are the skins I'm currently using as my mainstay in the backcountry. I don't see much difference between the Ascension or the Glidelite, however, and I heartily recommend either.

The GlideLite is available in a half-length known as the 'Kicker'.

This nifty option halfs the weight of the skin and dramatically boosts glide, making it a fine choice for low-angle travel.

For everything else, get the full-length Glidelite and start climbing.

Another available option with Black Diamond's GlideLite and Ascension skins is the STS tail attachement system.

This is a simple and effective tail-fix method that eliminates the need for ad hoc tricks like duct taping the tails of your skis.

Put the STS GlideLite on your skis, and they're pretty much there to stay—at least in my experience through good weather and bad.

How sticky is Black Diamond's glue? You get the sense that it just never needs replacing. After climbing Mount Shasta three years ago, I washed my skins in soap and water (okay: there was a lot of pollen in the snow that year). Hasn't seemed to affect my skins at all. Here in '08, I'm still using the same pair worry-free.

If you've ever struggled with a set of skins that just won't stick to your skis, you know what I mean. Good glue is golden. Bad glue will send you home.

The GlideLite is available in various widths, from a skinny 50mm up to a fat 130mm. You can purchase fat skins and cut them to fit your shaped boards, or if you're feeling a little lazy, you can just put straight skins on your shaped skis—in most conditions, you'll be fine.

I've seen other comparative reviews rate Black Diamond's STS attachment system as the best among all the various skins on the market, and not surprisingly, I've been very happy with it myself. The combination of a secure attachment plus extra-secure glue means no hassles in the backcountry, just how I like it. They work—and that's good enough for me.

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