How do I care for my climbing skins?
Before you attach your skins to your skis, wipe down your ski bases. Make sure they are completely free of snow, ice, and dirt. Apply your skins from tip to tail, ensuring that the tail doesn’t come in contact with anything, like snow. Make sure the skins stick evenly to the entire ski surface. Once completely attached to the base, press the skins down to make sure they stick well.
While skiing, keep an eye on your skins to make sure you don’t kick your tails off. Be sure no snow is getting under the skin (known as snow creep). A properly cut skin should minimize this problem. When you remove the skins at the top of your run, keep them as snow-free as possible.
Fold each skin glue-to-glue. Keep them as centered and lined up as possible so that no glue is exposed. Otherwise, it will collect lint, dog hair, or snow. Store them in your jacket, pocket, or pack while skiing down.
When you get home, with the skins still folded in half (glue to glue), drape them over a chair or hook. Allow to dry for a couple of hours at room temperature (away from any open heat source). If you’re going to use them the next day, leave them as they are.
If you’re putting your skins away for longer, let them dry. Pull them apart. Put the skin saver back in, and fold them back glue to glue with the skin saver now in between, creating a barrier between the glue. Roll them up and keep them stored at room temperature.
It’s important to care for all skins, which includes folding them properly in between laps like Ryan is demonstrating here with the Contour Guide Prue climbing skin; (photo/Elk Raven Photography)