Comments on: G3 Alpinist High Traction Skins 2012/2013 — Quick Look http://www.wildsnow.com/7888/g3-high-traction-skins-review/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Tue, 21 May 2013 16:09:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/7888/g3-high-traction-skins-review/#comment-48810 Lou Dawson Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:09:44 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=7888#comment-48810 Dede, G3 Alpinist skins are known for emphasizing glide over traction, and yes, they don't grip as well as one would sometimes like. That's why they made their High Traction version. From the sound of it, you should switch to something else immediately. Either the Ascension or the G3 High Traction. Reviewing skins for traction is difficult, that's why you don't see a lot that in the media. Results depend so much on snow surface, weight of person vs width of ski, technique, and so forth. Even placing one skin on one ski and one skin on another is fraught with variables, not to mention how do you get enough skins to be cutting a bunch of them up... Another thing that's going on is that the pendulum of gnar is swinging back to lightweight efficient gear. So you're going to hear a lot more marketing verbiage about how well various skins "glide." When in reality there may not be a whole lot of change. I have to laugh (in a good way) about G3 coming out with a high traction skin when everyone seems to be going back to mohair and learning how to set efficient skin tracks. And yes, a lot of this is cultural. In Europe all you'd ever need is some G3 Alpinists or any brand of mohair. Go to the Wasatch, and suffer unless you have wall-to-wall velcro on the bottom of your skis as well as ski crampons. Lou Dede, G3 Alpinist skins are known for emphasizing glide over traction, and yes, they don’t grip as well as one would sometimes like. That’s why they made their High Traction version. From the sound of it, you should switch to something else immediately. Either the Ascension or the G3 High Traction. Reviewing skins for traction is difficult, that’s why you don’t see a lot that in the media. Results depend so much on snow surface, weight of person vs width of ski, technique, and so forth. Even placing one skin on one ski and one skin on another is fraught with variables, not to mention how do you get enough skins to be cutting a bunch of them up…

Another thing that’s going on is that the pendulum of gnar is swinging back to lightweight efficient gear. So you’re going to hear a lot more marketing verbiage about how well various skins “glide.” When in reality there may not be a whole lot of change. I have to laugh (in a good way) about G3 coming out with a high traction skin when everyone seems to be going back to mohair and learning how to set efficient skin tracks.

And yes, a lot of this is cultural. In Europe all you’d ever need is some G3 Alpinists or any brand of mohair. Go to the Wasatch, and suffer unless you have wall-to-wall velcro on the bottom of your skis as well as ski crampons.

Lou

]]> By: Dede http://www.wildsnow.com/7888/g3-high-traction-skins-review/#comment-48809 Dede Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:48:45 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=7888#comment-48809 Lou, have you gotten out to compare this year's Ascensions with the G3 HT's? I'm looking for the highest traction skins available as I seem to have the problem of great "backwards glide" with my '11-'12 G3 Alpinist skins. I'm not sure how much the problem is technique (I've just switched from tele to AT, so the system is way more rigid), or perhaps my DPS Nina 99's, which have a very short running surface because of the long rocker (but they're so light! and so fun!). I'm hoping a higher pile skin will at least help a little-- in my 22 years of backcountry skiing, I've never had so much trouble going up hill! I tried adding ski crampons, and they just kept me from slipping sideways... I still slid backwards. I was thinking I'd just get the Ascensions, but apparently they've modified the pile for improved glide. So, what's the grippiest skin out there this year? And, feel free to add icy traverse skinning technique tips for those new to Dynafit bindings! :-) Lou, have you gotten out to compare this year’s Ascensions with the G3 HT’s? I’m looking for the highest traction skins available as I seem to have the problem of great “backwards glide” with my ’11-’12 G3 Alpinist skins. I’m not sure how much the problem is technique (I’ve just switched from tele to AT, so the system is way more rigid), or perhaps my DPS Nina 99′s, which have a very short running surface because of the long rocker (but they’re so light! and so fun!). I’m hoping a higher pile skin will at least help a little– in my 22 years of backcountry skiing, I’ve never had so much trouble going up hill! I tried adding ski crampons, and they just kept me from slipping sideways… I still slid backwards.
I was thinking I’d just get the Ascensions, but apparently they’ve modified the pile for improved glide. So, what’s the grippiest skin out there this year? And, feel free to add icy traverse skinning technique tips for those new to Dynafit bindings! :-)

]]> By: Kevin http://www.wildsnow.com/7888/g3-high-traction-skins-review/#comment-45959 Kevin Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:53:11 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=7888#comment-45959 I have a friend who loves to break trail and seems to always try to go straight up the steepest slopes. Needless to say, I don't end up calling him much. There is an art and beauty to the perfect skin track. One should take pride in making a track that is usable to those that follow. As far as glide versus grip, that seems to be somewhat regionally specific. Where I tour, there is very little approach, so glide does not reaqlly matter. What I want is grip. It is good to see G3 improving grip, as I thought it was lacking in their old skins. I have a friend who loves to break trail and seems to always try to go straight up the steepest slopes. Needless to say, I don’t end up calling him much. There is an art and beauty to the perfect skin track. One should take pride in making a track that is usable to those that follow. As far as glide versus grip, that seems to be somewhat regionally specific. Where I tour, there is very little approach, so glide does not reaqlly matter. What I want is grip. It is good to see G3 improving grip, as I thought it was lacking in their old skins.

]]> By: PhilT http://www.wildsnow.com/7888/g3-high-traction-skins-review/#comment-45954 PhilT Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:22:56 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=7888#comment-45954 I have flopped between G3 and BD for my skins a couple of times. I love the glue on G3 skins, but preferred the traction/glide compromise of the BD skins. While I hear that the new BD glue is supposed to be an improvement, I think this season I'll pick up a set of these new HT G3 skins and see if they get me what I've always dreamed of - the grip of BD with the glue of G3. I have flopped between G3 and BD for my skins a couple of times. I love the glue on G3 skins, but preferred the traction/glide compromise of the BD skins. While I hear that the new BD glue is supposed to be an improvement, I think this season I’ll pick up a set of these new HT G3 skins and see if they get me what I’ve always dreamed of – the grip of BD with the glue of G3.

]]> By: Kihm http://www.wildsnow.com/7888/g3-high-traction-skins-review/#comment-45950 Kihm Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:58:16 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=7888#comment-45950 Bravo to G3 for stepping up to the plate and designing a skin with better traction. Your girlfriend will love em. Next the boot manufacturers will have to design a better walk mode to allow more flexibility toward the back which, to me anyway, is more important than a skin with excessive traction. ;-] Bravo to G3 for stepping up to the plate and designing a skin with better traction. Your girlfriend will love em. Next the boot manufacturers will have to design a better walk mode to allow more flexibility toward the back which, to me anyway, is more important than a skin with excessive traction. ;-]

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