The 6 Best Ski Climbing Skins of 2023
By: Jordan Berde: Assistant Ski Buyer | September 19, 2022
While the basic concept of using climbing skins to go uphill on skis has been around for centuries, the recent explosion in the popularity of backcountry skiing has pushed climbing skin development. The best climbing skins have reliable glue that keeps them stuck to your skis, but isn’t so sticky that you can’t get them apart. They have plush designs that allow them to grip tenaciously and glide smoothly, and they’ve got durable coatings to keep them waterproof.
New This Year:
New for this season, more brands than ever are using mohair and nylon blends, making buying climbing skins easier than ever. Pure Mohair skins offer great glide, but don’t grip as well, and are usually less durable. Nylon skins hold up to years of abuse and grip very well, but don’t glide as smoothly. So when brands blend Nylon and Mohair together in a skin, customers get the best of both worlds. In addition, brands have updated their tip and tail hardware to work with more ski shapes, and some are even experimenting with split skins designed to fit a big width range of skis.This Year's Best Ski Climbing Skins:
Black Diamond Ascension
The Black Diamond Ascension Climbing Skins have been the go-to climbing skin for generations of backcountry skiers, and they just keep getting better. Ascensions are known for their long life, fantastic glide and traction, and superior packability. Now with pre-fixed tip and tail attachments and fixed lengths, prepping your skins is even easier than before. Now stick 'em on and get steppin'! This nylon skin has great durability and grip, perfect for anyone looking for a reliable, durable skin.
| Plush Material | Other Features | Original Price |
| Nylon | Patented STS Tail | $189.95 |
Pomoca Free Pro 2.0
The Pomoca Free Pro 2.0 Climbing Skins are some of the lightest skins Pomoca offer, and that's saying something. They're treated with the latest Glide Pro treatment for speedy ascents and easier skinning downhill and feature Pomoca's Safer Skin Ultra Light membrane for gram-conscious construction that doesn't compromise durability. If you’re ready to upgrade to a light, fast, efficient skin, the Pomoca Free Pro was made for you.
| Plush Material | Other Features | Original Price |
| 70% Mohair/30% Nylon | Safer Skin Ultra Light Tech | $229.95 |
Pomoca Climb Pro S Glide
With a 70/30 mohair nylon plush and lightweight, durable construction, the Pomoca Climb Pro S-Glide Climbing Skins are a great choice for experienced backcountry skiers. They're treated with Pomoca's trademark Glide treatment for superior performance on the skin track and are laid up with glue that remains sticky and stable at all temperatures. These are a premium do-it-all option, great for a wide range of skiers who are looking for higher performance without an absurd price.
| Plush Material | Other Features | Original Price |
| 70% Mohair/30% Nylon | Ready2climb Quick Cut Tech | $209.95 |
evo X Pomoca Pro Glide
If you're looking for the best skins in the business, there's one name that stands out from the pack. That's why we partnered with Pomoca to produce the evo x Pomoca Pro Glide Climbing Skins. Engineered for versatility across the full range of backcountry conditions, these skins combine Pomoca's super grippy mohair/nylon Climb 2.0 plush with their premium Glide treatment for optimal skin track performance. From mid-Winter pow missions to the Spring corn harvest, the evo x Pomoca Pro Glide Climbing Skins are ready to rumble. They’re light, versatile, and have some of the best graphics in the game.
| Plush Material | Other Features | Original Price |
| 70% Mohair/30% Nylon | Special evo Graphic | $199.95 |
Contour Hybrid Mix
The Contour Hybrid Mix 135 Climbing Skins come from the heart of the Tirol in Austria, where skiing is life. As with other things having to do with skiing, they get their climbing skins right. Contour skins feature a unique hybrid adhesive system that combines hot melt glue technology with glueless technology for an exceptional blend of performance and durability. The "Mix" plush of 65% mohair and 35% nylon provides an ideal blend of grip and glide. Contour’s skins have some of the best glide and packability in the industry, without compromising on grip.
| Plush Material | Other Features | Original Price |
| 65% Mohair/35% Nylon | Hybrid Glue | $209.95 |
Contour Hybrid Free Split
Skin up your pow rig with the Contour Hybrid Free Split Climbing Skins and lose some of that weight you don't want or need. The Free Split skins feature Contour's famous hybrid glue and a 65% mohair / 35% nylon plush that gives you excellent grip and glide and are split down the middle to save weight and bulk. For skis with a minimum waist width of 95 millimeters. These are the most versatile skins on the market, with their ability to adapt to nearly any ski in your quiver.
| Plush Material | Other Features | Original Price |
| 65% Mohair/35% Nylon | Split for Extra Versatility | $199.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Backcountry Guides:
- Backcountry Basics - How to Get Started
- Backcountry Gear - Checklist
- Backcountry Backpacks - How to Choose
- Avalanche Beacons / Transceivers - How to Choose
- Avalanche Shovels - How to Choose
- Avalanche Probes - How to Choose
- Avalanche Airbags - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Skis - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Ski Boots - How to Choose
- Alpine Touring Ski Bindings - How to Choose
- Dynafit (Tech) Bindings - Getting Started
- Backcountry Basics - How to Skin
- Climbing Skins - How to Choose
- Climbing Skins - Size Guide
- Climbing Skins - Weight Chart
- Climbing Skins - How to Cut/Trim
- Outerwear & Layers - How to Dress for the Backcountry
- Splitboarding - How to Get Started
Discover Our Favorite Gear:
The Selection Process:
Our ski buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things skiing stemming from years of experience in the ski industry in tandem with their countless hours spent on slopes everywhere from groomers to the remote backcountry around the world. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jordan Berde
Jordan (she/her) is the Assistant Ski Buyer at evo. Before working in this role, she worked at the evo Denver store for two years, where she began as a bootfitter and quickly moved into Store Lead and then Store Supervisor roles. Prior to evo, Jordan worked as a bootfitter at other shops, a mountain bike instructor for kiddos in Colorado, a ski patroller in Alaska, and a liftie in Taos. She's an avid backcountry skier and ski mountaineer and recently summited Mt. Baker as a fundraiser for SheJumps, a non-profit committed to getting more women involved in the outdoors.She started sliding on snow later than most (in her late 20s), but now she’s the friend getting up at 4 am to make sure she can get a dawn patrol lap in before work! Jordan is passionate about diversity and inclusion and making outdoor activities more inclusive to all genders, races, and ability levels. When she's not skiing, Jordan is likely on her mountain bike exploring all that Colorado and Washington have to offer with her wife. Some say she never stops moving…