Care for ski skins: How to keep your climbing skins clean, grippy and durable

Unkempt skins, on the other hand

• clog faster (form snow clumps more quickly)
• pick up dirt more easily
• lose grip
• fray
• at some point hardly stick at all

With consistent care, you not only save yourself frustration on the mountain, but also expenses for expensive new ones.

Dry, clean and warm: that's the golden formula for a long "skin life".

Because you decide how well your skins work and how long they last during the tour.

Moisture makes the skins heavy, reduces grip and causes the snow to form lumps. Mohair skins in particular, which glide extremely well, are sensitive to heavily soaked snow.

What you can do:

• Avoid crossing over very wet snow if possible.
• In wet snow, regularly wipe off water with a ski edge or scraper.
• Pay particular attention to moisture build-up on passages with very wet snow.

What do you do if your climbing skins get really wet?

Then you can simply wipe them off with your hand from the tips down along the edge of the ski. This allows you to remove most of the moisture without any tools.

Staying on track saves your skin a lot of trouble. Shortcuts through the forest may be tempting, but they are also dangerous for the material:

• Needles get stuck in the fur.
• Resin sticks stubbornly to the skins.
• Stones and gravel damage the fibres.
• Dirt from thin snow passages impair the sliding properties.

The better you look after your skins, the longer they will remain in top condition.

If you wear your skins under your jacket during the descent, the glue will stay warm and reactive. To do this, simply fold them in half with the adhesive side facing inwards. This makes the ski skins easier to put on later and ensures they adhere more cleanly, making them less susceptible to absorbing dust or moisture.

Care for ski skins also means drying them properly. However, you should bear this in mind:

Moisture + heat = damaged skins and ruined glue.

Many people make the mistake of trying to dry their skins too quickly - but this can destroy them. Direct heat damages both the sensitive fur and the adhesive. That's why you should never …

• place them directly on the radiator.
• dry them in the sun.
• Hang them up in a steamy bathroom.
• spread out on the hotel carpet.

Patience is the key to success here. It's best to hang your skins on a coat hanger - this allows them to dry evenly and in an airy place without damaging the adhesive.

Hang the skins correctly to dry:

• In a clean place
• At room temperature
• Glue side open
• Adhesive side protected from dust

You should always look after your climbing skins and protect them from dirt as much as possible. If your route was not perfectly clean, you can clean them as soon as they are dry:

1. Carefully remove needles, small stones and resin residue with tweezers.
2. Wipe the skin with a slightly damp cloth.
3. Treat stubborn areas with a special skin cleaner.
4. If necessary, allow to dry again afterwards.

Most manufacturers also offer special care products and cleaning sets for their furs.

Simply cut off any loose fibres with fine scissors or nail clippers. It is then advisable to seal the material with a lighter. But be careful: only use a small flame and do not damage the adhesive side!

Coat wax and waterproofing are not mandatory, but they are real game changers in demanding conditions. Especially if you are often out and about in changeable weather or wet snow, the care products pay off:

• Coat wax reduces water absorption and minimises the risk of sticky snow on the skin, especially in changing or wet snow conditions.
• Waterproofing sprays improve the water-repellent properties of the fur.

However, you should only use products that are suitable for your coat type. It is best to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

The following applies for the summer break: caring for ski skins also means storing them correctly. Ideally, you should use the protective foil that comes with the skins. Once you have applied them, the skins can be stored in the skin bag - ideally in a cool, dark place that is not too dry but also not too damp.

The glue for ski skins is the area where many people first realise that their equipment is showing some signs of wear. Fortunately, some things can be repaired before you have to think about a complete replacement.

The glue is often the first thing to fail, even before the skin itself is worn out. Fortunately, there are clear warning signs that show you when action is needed.

Look out for these signs:

• The skins come loose at the tip or end when climbing.
• Snow works its way under the adhesive surface.
• The glue looks greasy or contaminated.
• Glue residue sticks to the ski.

Then it's time to take care of the glue on your skins.

Sometimes it is enough to keep the skins warm and remove loose dirt. However, if the glue is really worn-out, only professional treatment will help:

• Have the adhesive renewed (re-coating) at a specialist dealer's service centre.
• Have the ski base thoroughly cleaned before putting on new or renewed skins.
• Avoid experimenting with aggressive solvents yourself.

It is better to leave the subject of "removing skin glue from skis" to the professionals. This way, the base remains undamaged, and adhesion is guaranteed in the future. Contact selected INTERSPORT Rent centres for this - your touring skis and skins will be professionally serviced there.

Find an INTERSPORT Rent centre

Almost everyone who loves climbing snowy mountains on two skis knows a few classics. If you want to look after your ski skins properly, you should be aware of these typical problems:

Cause: Moisture or temperature changes

Solution: Wipe off moisture, keep skins warm, use the manufacturer's anti-stud agent

Cause: Cold adhesive, dirt or overaged adhesive

Solution: Warm the skins, clean the adhesive surface, have the base cleaned, have the glue renewed.

Cause: Resin, needles or stones in the fur

Solution: Allow to dry, remove particles with tweezers, use manufacturer's cleaner.

As you can see, there are a few things you can do to keep your ski touring equipment as good as new for a long time and deliver the best performance. However, to get the most out of your gear, you should also master the right ski touring technique. We wish you lots of fun on your next ski tour!

You should always clean ski skins if you have visible dirt, needles or tree resin in the fur. This is particularly common after spring tours or forest tours. The sooner you clean your skins afterwards, the less dirt can accumulate.

You can prevent this by keeping skins as dry as possible, regularly wiping off moisture and using suitable skin wax or anti-stud products in critical conditions.

If heat and cleaning no longer help, it's time to have the adhesive renewed at the INTERSPORT Rent shop. A re-coating will restore many skins for several seasons.

The best way to store your climbing skins is with a protective foil and the net supplied by the manufacturer. They should be stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Please do not store your skins in the boiler room or in the cellar if it is damp or if there are significant temperature fluctuations.

You should replace your climbing skins when the fur is clearly worn, the adhesive remains weak even after renewal or the material becomes cracked and uneven. Then it makes sense to invest in new skins.