Skins:  To cut or not to cut

Hi All,<br><br>I am currently using 50mm skins on skis that have a 70mm waist. They are currently adequate for my needs, but I know that I will eventually need to get a new pair of skins. I have seen info before about getting skins that are wide enough for the tips and tails, and then cutting them to fit the sidecut of the ski. My question with this is, does this cause problems when storing the skins? What does the glue that is exposed by the wider tip and tail stick to when folded? In this regard, I am considering getting skins that will fit the waist and not cutting.<br><br>Thanks,<br><br>Peter

I'm using a skin that is cut to fit the entire ski and think it's the way to go. The big picture concept is to have as many mohairs as possible in contact with the snow in order to give maximum gripping power.<br><br>Also, cutting to fit means that you are working with a uniform surface underfoot as opposed to a part mohair, part ski base platform. It sounds like this is your current problem with 50mm skins on 70mm skis. As you shift your weight forward and roll the ski outward/inward into the hill for edge grip you go from skin to ski base and slip.<br><br>I don't know about you, but at my age little slips add up pretty fast and eat up precious energy that I'd rather have for making turns downhill.<br><br>True, when folded there are adhesive edges of the skins exposed; maybe 5-10% of total surface area. After a full first season and into their second, the skins seem to be holding up just fine. I store them in a bag to keep them as clean as possible...but really approach the issue as I would any other tool related problem: They are meant to be used and will eventually wear out. At this point I seem to be changing skis faster than skins...<br><br>-D

Unless you have some xtreme sidecut skis, the exposure on the edges of your skins is minimal once you fold them together. Get the skins that cover your fattest width of the ski, and use the trim tool (comes with them) to trim down the edges so only your edge is exposed. This will give you 4X4 capability in the backcountry-you will be astonished at the slopes you can climb.<br><br>ski on.

Can't you just slap the two skins together for storage, thus eliminating the overlap issue?

That's my method and it works good. Although I'm not sure it's that benificial. When I get home from a trip I stick them together, allow to dry, then store in bag. One year and counting on original glue.

My skins are cut custom to my Miras and very little edge is exposed when I fold each skin onto itself. Having skinny skins on fat skis sucks.