AT JONG Question: Which Skins on Bros?

I'm finally breaking down and buying a full AT setup. Picked up Scarpa Spirit 3s and Dynafit bindings today. I haven't done any skinning on my own before so I've never set it up myself. What size skins do I get for my soon-to-arrive Soft Plus 188 Bros? Ski dimensions are 125-99-114. Do I get 130mm skins and cut them down? 120's and trim most of the skin, or do I get skins around the waist width (which looks like its a little cheaper) of 100mm?

Also, there are the BD Ascension and BD Glidelite. I can't see what the difference really is. Except that the Glidelites are lighter. I think the Ascensions have some sort of non-stick tape down the middle, but can I accomplish that same thing by putting some electrical tape down the middle of the Glidelites?

I tried the search function but didn't really find an answer to my questions. Thanks for indulging me. If there is other advice I should have, feel free to share.

100s would be fine, as would 110s.
if you get bd's under 120, ask for the larger tip loop to fit the tip

ascensions climb better and have less glide
glidelites climb well, just not as good, glide better, and are lighter

good to see that you are moving more towards 2 planks.

As for skins, you should be ok with 100-110mm, no need to go any larger unless you plan on skiing straight up the mountain.

I plan on skiing straight down, not straight up.

I may volunteer patrol at Alpine next season. In which case this gear will come in handy. Especially since they won't let me patrol on my board.

check this thread, http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=74045

I asked the same question. I ended up with 120mm ascensions. Trimming the skins tonight, assuming my bros have been mounted.

When I had Bros, 110 Ascensions and asked for the bigger tip loop.

There is no reason not to go wall-to-wall. Get 110s, or 120s. Why go with 100? They won't climb as well on icy traverses, they won't glide better, they won't be appreciably cheaper, they won't be easier to deal with in any way. Less grip, no advantages, why not go wall-to-wall? Skins are for going uphill, make them work optimally for that.

Buy skins that are as wide as the skis' tails, or slightly bigger. Trim to fit. Pretty simple.

For my Bros I got 115mm climbingskinsdirect.com skins with the simple tip piece, then added on STS tail pieces. This is cheaper than any of the ascensions, seems to climb just as well, and glides much better. I was pretty surprised on a recent yurt trip how much farther/faster I would glide than all my friends on various ascensions. However, they do glop up just as bad as any ascensions.

Thanks for the advice and thanks for the link bluebird. I'm surprised I haven't been "Search JONG'd" already. I did try search but searching on 3-letter words (Bro) doesn't work well.

My Dynafits are itching to get mounted. I can't wait.

Ironically most places online seem to be out of 120mm Glidelites. I've got a few weeks before Pat finishes my Bros so its not a big hurry.

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Originally Posted by pechelman

100s would be fine, as would 110s.
if you get bd's under 120, ask for the larger tip loop to fit the tip

ascensions climb better and have less glide
glidelites climb well, just not as good, glide better, and are lighter

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agreed: 100s are fine; 110s are plenty; 120s are a waste of $$. when skinning, you want the waist to be covered wall-to-wall. if the bros are 99, then you need 95mm of coverage. most of your weight should be concentrated under foot while skinning. you will put very little weight on the tip (slightly more on the tail). therefore, you don't really need that wall-to-wall coverage.

also, having skins that are 100 under foot climb really well--even the steepest tahoe skin tracks w/o switchbacks (it's a technique thing that you will learn). going bigger is really unnecessary as it will cause you to exert more energy to slide and you will not really notice better performance.

that said, in my experience glidelites climb every bit as well as regular ascensions. glidelites pack a bit better. both are perfectly fine -- probably should come down to the better deal for you.

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Originally Posted by Sphinx

There is no reason not to go wall-to-wall. Get 110s, or 120s. Why go with 100? They won't climb as well on icy traverses, they won't glide better, they won't be appreciably cheaper, they won't be easier to deal with in any way. Less grip, no advantages, why not go wall-to-wall? Skins are for going uphill, make them work optimally for that.

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well, buying 120s in that case involves trimming alot and winding up with much of the money in the trash. he can save $10-$20 by going with 100s, without really sacrificing any performance.

wall-to-wall coverage at the tips is really a waste @ those widths -- there's really not much pressure on the tips anyway, and i can guarantee that 100 is PLENTY for any steep tahoe skin track. the technique is more an issue than having an extra 16mm of coverage at the tip.

also, on a truly 'icy' traverse he'll be on his edges, so the skins are much less relevant.

just my $0.02 from my own experience. do with it what you will.

For icy skin tracks put the $ saved towards ski crampons (harscheisen)

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Originally Posted by Sinecure

Thanks for the advice and thanks for the link bluebird. I'm surprised I haven't been "Search JONG'd" already. I did try search but searching on 3-letter words (Bro) doesn't work well.

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go to google and add the parameter "site:tetongravity.com/forums/" to your search. then you can search for any term (even 2- & 3-letter terms).

also, using "Bro*" might work.

your question is not specific to bros, but it is more one to do with the philosophy of what skins to use for a given ski of any dimension. generally, the size one chooses is related to the waist of the ski (waist -4mm = the minimum size you'll need). you can go with that if the ski is relatively straight. if it has more sidecut, you'll want to use a size closer to tail-4mm.

sizing based on the tip is serious overkill.

in your case, buying 100s will be fine. buying 110s will mean that there is only an extra 3mm exposed on each side at the tip vs. a wall-to-wall cut. in other words, it's not necessary, it's a waste of money, and that difference in skinning will really not be noticed (one could even argue that any benefit in traction would cost you more effort on the way up/in areas where you don't really need that traction).

congrats on your new setup!!! get out in the BC & have fun.

If you don't have it already, be sure to get the appropriate associated BC gear & training.