Climbing skins are the unsung heroes of backcountry skiing. When they are functioning properly, you aren’t thinking of slipping on kick turns or struggling during transitions. But when your skins are packed with snow, and the glue is not sticking, or a tip or tail breaks off, your day on the skin track can turn into a nightmare. While maintaining your skins at home is an important part of skin maintenance, we sat down with Alex, our Reroute Supervisor, to discuss field repairs for your climbing skins to keep them in shape from tip to tail while out in the backcountry. Alex has been skiing his whole life and embraced earning his turns a decade ago—he has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to backcountry skiing repairs.

FIELD REPAIR KIT

To be prepared while out touring, you will need a repair kit stored in your touring pack— “I don’t tend to pack too much of a repair kit on shorter tours”, says Alex but does mention bringing “a multitool, and two ski straps.” For longer tours, here are some key essentials to consider in a field repair kit tailored specifically for maintaining climbing skins.

1. A Binding Buddy is essential for your bindings, but also a valuable tool to have in case the screws on your skins get loose. That usually means your tips are about to fall off.

2. Ski straps are a literal tour saver. If a skin breaks or it doesn’t stick due to glue failing, ski straps will keep your skins on your skis. There are 100 tour-saving uses for ski straps, so it’s a good idea to have 2-3 straps handy for a normal day of touring, more if you are on a longer hut trip or deeper in the mountains.

3. Glob Stopper Skin Wax is useful during spring tours when temperatures creep up and waterlogged snow sticks to your skins, causing the dreaded skin-glop-step.

4. Finally, a scraper can help get rid of snow or ice on either side of your skins. Some folks use their snow cards from their observation kit, or “use a credit card” like Alex, instead of carrying a single-use scraper tool.

BASIC REPAIRS

REMOVE ICE AND SNOW BUILDUP ON YOUR SKINS

A scraper tool works great for the mohair side of your skins. But if you are getting snow buildup on the glue side of the skins, it’s easier to scrape the glue side of the skin on the edge of your ski. To remove ice buildup first, firmly stick your ski in the snow to prevent it from moving. Then hold your skins, glue side, to one edge of your ski and quickly slide the skin back and forth on the edge—the ice should come right off, and you’ll feel like Bob Ross cleaning a paintbrush.

USES FOR A SKI STRAP

A ski strap is most useful for a catastrophic field failure: if your skins rip and a tip or tail piece breaks off, or the glue on the skins finally fails. A ski strap will reduce glide, but it’s a better option than a loose climbing skin flapping around the skin track. Usually, a ski strap around the top and bottom of your skin is enough to keep the skin on. If a skin fails due to glue failure, having a strap at the top and then one directly in front of and then directly behind your bindings (where you get the most traction) can keep you on the skin track.

FORGETTING YOUR SKINS ALTOGETHER

We have all done it or know a friend who has—you’re at the trailhead, and your skins are still drying at home. It’s not as bad as forgetting your ski boots— “I’ve had to turn around for my boots,” says Alex. But it’s worse than forgetting your poles. Depending on where you are, you can make do with ski straps and a pine tree branch. Branches provide enough friction and traction for mellow touring, just don’t expect to do well on steep, icy kick-turns. Unfortunately, this can be a day-ender depending on your touring plan, but even if it’s not, expect a slippery tour and a chorus of cursing.

WHEN TO USE GLOB STOPPER

You use skin wax to prevent snow from clumping on your skins in warm and wet conditions. This usually happens on long, sunny spring tours. But, if you live in a warm climate or your range is experiencing an unseasonably warm season, carrying skin wax the whole season is a good idea. You can apply the skin wax the day before, but in the field you simply remove your ski, remove any snow that has clumped onto the skin, and work the wax bar against the grain of the skin. After you go over the whole skin against the grain, work the wax bar in the opposite direction, smoothing out the skin. Then you should be all set to continue our tour.

BASIC REPAIRS

Along with field repairs, Alex offers up tips on maintaining your skins in the field to prevent the need for repairs on the skin track.

“Create and practice transition techniques that optimize keeping the skin glue clean and free from snow and debris.” This means being mindful of your skins when taking them off your skis and preventing the glue side from touching the snow. There are many different techniques for taking your skins off; whichever one you choose, get proficient at it to keep your skins snow-free.

Once your skins are off, if temperatures are cold or especially wet, ice can build up on them. Alex suggests storing skins in your jacket to help keep them warm, “generally I like to store skins in my jacket if I plan on using them for multiple uphill climbs to keep the glue soft and hopefully dry. If it's my last transition before finishing my tour, I'll store them in my pack or somewhere out of the way.”

Finally, good skinning technique is an easy way to prevent snow and ice from building up on your skins. If you are backsliding or stomping out kick turns a lot, snow can get under the skin on the glue side, and the skins will become less effective.

CONCLUSION

Basic field maintenance and repair can keep your skins usable for longer, but Alex has a final piece of crucial advice for taking care of your skins. “When you get home, hang your skins to dry in an area where they will have the opportunity to dry overnight. Do not leave them stored in your pack!”

Keep your backcountry kit ready by learning more about repairs and maintenance through Reroute, or you can read more of our backcountry touring tips, like what to wear for backcountry skiing and touring pack essentials.

KEY TAKEWAYS

  • Climbing skins can make or break a tour. Avoid a day-ender by knowing basic field repairs that prevent issues, like ice build-up or glue failure.
  • A small repair kit goes a long way: a multitool, 2–3 ski straps, a binding buddy, skin wax, and a makeshift scraper tool can solve most skin problems in the field.
  • Ski straps are the ultimate emergency fix, capable of holding failing skins in place when tips, tails, or glue give out, even if they reduce glide.
  • Snow and ice buildup are common but manageable, whether by scraping ice off, warming skins in your jacket, or using Glob Stopper wax during warm, wet conditions.
  • Good transitions and post-tour care matter, including keeping glue clean, storing skins warm during the day, and always drying them overnight at home instead of leaving them in your pack.
Molly climbs The Thumb on Lone Peak.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Molly is Black Diamond Equipment’s copywriter. Her expertise in outdoor apparel and equipment comes from a decade-long love affair with backcountry splitboarding and climbing. She likes low-angle powder laps on high-avy days and sending long desert splitters.