To that slope you long to go further and carve tracks on. Skins, essential for moving freely in the backcountry, may be the most important piece of BC gear, depending on how you look at it. What climbing skins do professional guides who traverse the vast snowfields of nature rate as superior and use as their means of traveling on snow?
*All prices shown include consumption tax
BlackDiamond ｜ Glide Light Mix FL
A mohair and nylon blend. Lightweight and with excellent glide performance, this model is suitable for long tours.
The STS tail attachment is light and thin, and can be folded inward for easy storage. Gold label adhesive provides strong adhesion and can be reattached repeatedly even in tough environments. An offset trim tool is included for easy side cutting. Available in 110mm and 130mm widths, for a total of four sizes.
Mixed
mohair 65%, nylon 35%
Width: 110/130mm
Length:
S=151-168cm, M=159-176cm
, L=167-184cm, XL=175-193cm
¥30,800 (110mm) ¥33,000 (135mm)
◆Official Website:http://www.lostarrow.co.jp/blackdiamond
"The main reason for its reliability is its excellent glue performance" | Infield Toyokazu Nakano
I love Black Diamond's "GlideLite Mix FL" because of its excellent adhesive performance, which is the main reason I trust it. Even after repeatedly attaching and detaching it throughout the day, I feel confident that it will stick securely to my skis. Its durability, even with somewhat rough handling, makes it a great choice for a first pair of climbing skins. I
use the mohair/nylon mix for its balance of weight and glide performance, but if you need more grip, choose the nylon Ascension Skins.
Review
Warefield|Toyokazu Nakano
After moving to Myoko Kogen and gaining 10 years of experience, he started "Infield" in 2006. He currently works as a backcountry tour guide and telemark ski instructor in the winter, and as a mountain climbing/trekking guide and sea kayaking guide in the summer
CONTOUR｜HYBRID PURE
It uses only mohair to achieve excellent glide performance. Its unique design reduces the amount of material used, resulting in a lightweight design. The adhesive surfaces can be bonded together, eliminating the need for cheat sheets
100% Mohair
. Width: 115-135mm.
Length: XS (142) - XXL (195).
¥27,775 (115mm) ¥30,525 (135mm)
◆Official Website:https://www.whitetimetokyo.com/collections/contour
CONTOUR｜HYBRID MIX
This model offers excellent durability and glide. It absorbs less water on wet snow, making it ideal for the spring season. The adhesive surfaces can be attached together and folded, eliminating the need for a sheet, making it easy to handle. The non-sticky adhesive leaves no marks on the base, and removing it requires little force. The flexible fabric also makes it easy to store
Mixed
mohair 65%, nylon 35%
Width: 115-135mm
Length: XS (145cm) - XXL (~195cm)
¥27,775 (135mm) ¥26,455 (115mm)
◆Official Website:https://www.whitetimetokyo.com/collections/contour
"Using two types of CONTOUR boots depending on the season: winter and spring" |, JUNRINA mountain service Jun Nagai
For the harsh winter months, the "Hybrid Pure" offers excellent glide and grip. For spring, the highly durable "Hybrid Mix" is ideal. The fact that
the adhesive strength can be easily restored with a special cleaner even if it weakens is a particularly excellent and valuable feature. Furthermore, the ability to stick them together for storage on-site, eliminating the need for cheat sheets, is extremely convenient.
Reviewer:
JUNRINA mountain service|Jun Nagai
He quit his job and began working at Tateyama Raicho-so while undergoing guide training. In 2010, he started working as JUNRINA mountain service. He has extensive experience on backcountry trips overseas. In summer and autumn, he works as a mountaineering guide, mainly in the Alps and Joshinetsu region, and in winter and spring as a backcountry ski guide
POMOKA｜FREE PRO
for freeride skiers
Lightweight and compact nylon mohair
mix expert skins
Formula POMOCA (Nylon Mohair Mix)
GLIDE: 200 kcal/h
GRIP: 45g/cm²
Width: 123mm ¥39,380 | 140mm ¥42,680
◆Official Website:https://rexxam.com/POMOCA/
"Lightweight and compact" | Niseko Mecca Hisataka Tanaka
It is lightweight, compact, and thin, so it is best not to walk on rocks
Reviewer:
Niseko Mecca|Hisataka Tanaka
He has experience in the mountains of Hokkaido as well as climbing and backcountry in the Canadian Rockies and New Zealand. He has been working as a guide in Niseko since 2002
"It's light and compact, and..." | RIKI JAPOW GUIDE Riki Nakajima
It's light and compact, and the grip and glide are just right
Reviewer
RIKI JAPOW GUIDE|Riki Nakajima
He obtained a CSIA instructor qualification in Canada and was the first Japanese person to be certified as a CFSA freeski instructor. He expanded his activities from freeski competitions to backcountry skiing, and is currently based at Hoshino Resort Tomamu Ski Resort, where he provides guided and instructed lessons
POMOCA ｜TOUR PRO
POMOCA's best-selling model,
for long tours.
the Expert Skin, boasts high water repellency and durability
65% Mohair / 35% Nylon
GLIDE: 213 kcal/h
GRIP: 52 g/cm²
Width: 120mm ¥39,380 | 140mm ¥42,680
◆Official Website:https://rexxam.com/POMOCA/
"A good balance of climbing and descending performance" | Kuroda Mountain Guide Office, Makoto Kuroda
I wouldn't recommend them for beginners, but if you push down properly, they provide good traction and are easy to climb, and on flat ground they move forward, making walking easy. Even when you're skiing on a slight downhill slope, you can get ahead of others, saving you effort. They have a good balance of climbing and descending performance
Reviewer:
Kuroda Mountain Guide OfficeMakotoKuroda,
With private guides for small groups, we support original mountain trips suited to each level. We provide services that value not only skiing but also the spirit of travel
Separate gloves for skiing and hiking | Spur Akita Mountain Guide Service, Mariko Sato
When I was choosing snowboards for the first time, I was recommended these because they offer a good balance between sliding and climbing, and I've continued to use them ever since. I've used snowboards from other manufacturers before, but compared to these, I've had fewer problems during hikes and they're very reliable. These are the only ones I use now
Reviewer:
Spur Akita Mountain Guide Service| Mariko Sato
He competed in alpine skiing until high school, then moved on to basic skiing. He has competed in the All Japan Ski Technical Championships. Something happened that made him fall in love with mountain skiing, and he decided to become a guide, studying at the International Natural Environment and Outdoor College (i-nac) and becoming a professional guide
"The balance between glide and grip is excellent" | TERUI DAICHI
I use POMOCA's "Tour Pro." It has the perfect balance of glide and grip. The glue is strong yet easy to remove. By bonding the glued surfaces together, snow does not stick to the glued surface, leading to a lighter weight. If you have a weaker grip, you can make it accordion-shaped for easier removal
Reviewer:
Daichi TERUI
While attending university, he aspired to become a mountain guide and studied under international mountain guide Hirofumi Ishizaka. Upon graduating, he became a certified guide by the Japan Mountain Guides Association. In his early twenties, he began heli-ski guide training in Northern Europe and experienced mountaineering and ski touring in the European Alps
"It can be used for many years even with the frequency of use of the guide." | Masaaki Sato
There are other lighter, thinner seals available, but these are durable. The rocks on the Happo-one Ridge are exposed, and thin seals can easily tear, but with "Tour Pro" you can walk safely. Even with the frequency of use we use as guides, these seals can be used for years
Reviewer:
Masaaki Sato
He has been fond of skiing since he was a child, and has had experience in competitive and basic skiing, moving to Hakuba Village at the age of 20. He became interested in backcountry skiing at the age of 24. He gained experience at Port Snow Hakuba and Power Zone Hakuba before going independent
POMOCA ｜SPLITBOARD PRO
specifically designed for splitboards.
Lightweight and compact nylon mohair
mix expert skin
65% Mohair / 35% Nylon
GLIDE: 200kcal/h
GRIP: 46g/cm²
Width: 145m
¥40,920
◆Official Website:https://rexxam.com/POMOCA/
"Pomoca is light and slippery" | WARP Arima Arata
I think Pomoca is lighter and has better glide, but the good thing about hybrids is that they don't use glue, so there's no problem with adhesive residue remaining on the base, and you don't need to replace the adhesive surface, so if you maintain them properly, they can be used almost indefinitely.
The downsides are that they are more prone to peeling if the base gets wet or dirty, and you need to get used to using them in a way that avoids getting them wet or dirty when changing modes. If you carry a cleaner with you, you can restore them completely anytime, and once you get used to using them, you don't need to carry a cleaner, but I always take a cleaner with me when I go on a trip.
Reviewer
WARP|Arata Arima
In the 2002-2003 season, he and his friends founded WARP, the first guide club in the Minakami area. They are active mainly in the Tanigawa, Hotaka, and Kagura areas. As a freeriding-focused guide club, they continue to focus on developing local areas rather than focusing on peak hunting
"It's extremely lightweight and compact, making it very convenient!" | GRANIX mountain guide Satoshi Arakawa
Compared to skis, splitboards require a larger surface area for stickers, so I chose something as light as possible. This POMOCA "SPLITBOARD PRO" is not only extremely light, but also very compact. It's compact even when using cheat sheets, but I also like the fact that you can stick the adhesive surfaces of the stickers together, which makes it compact and lightweight. The glide and grip are just right, so I find it very useful
Reviewer:
GRANIX mountain guide|Satoshi Arakawa
the desire to provide guests with the best possible backcountry experienceいながら、I primarily operate in the mountainous areas of Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture. In the summer, I work as a mountain guide, leading tours in mountainous areas throughout Japan. Guiding experience: 13 years