A lot has happened to skin skis since they first hit the market, making the current generation a race-worthy option and not just a convenient alternative for busy weeknight workouts.
Backcountry touring, recreational skiing and winter play, efficient weeknight workouts, citizen racing, ski marathons and high-level competitions: There is a skin ski model for every need. But how to pick the right ski for you?
Team Madshus racer Petter Soleng Skinstad, who in 2016 became the first to win the 54-kilometer Friday Birkie in Norway on skin skis, explains that there are a couple of things to keep in mind when picking skin skis:
- Consider how and where you will use your skis
- Be honest about your weight, technique and skill level
Properties and fit trumps price
Skinstad points out that getting the right ski that fits your weight, skill level and intended use is more important than price.
“Before you buy skin skis, you need to take stock and really consider what you are after: where and how will you use the skins skis? This will to a large extent narrow down the options. Furthermore, you need to be honest about your weight, technique and skill level in order to get the best fit,” says Skinstad.
He points out that this is also true for skate skis and traditional skis, but even more crucial for skin skis.
“Your weight and technique determine how stiff your ski should be and what kind of camber and flex you need in order to get the most out of your skin skis. If you brag about your technique or say you weigh less than you do, you will often end up with a skin ski that’s too stiff and you’ll have trouble getting kick. That’s likely to ruin the experience and doesn’t help motivation,” says Skinstad, and explains:
“With traditional classic skis, you can to a larger extent adjust a ski that’s too stiff by lengthening the kick zones or adding more layers of wax under the toe and forefoot for better kick. With skin skis, you don’t have this option. The skin is where it is on the base, and it comes with a set thickness and profile. While you can adjust the kick some with moving the binding farther to the front for better kick or backward for better glide, your options are more limited than with traditional waxable classic skis,” Skinstad says.
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What separates the different levels of skin skis
There are skin ski models for every kind of skiing: elite-level racing, citizen racing and training, touring and backcountry, as well as different skin skis models for juniors and kids.
“All the recent top-level skin skis are good enough to race events such as the Birkie, and there are several skiers who have been among the top 200 at the Vasaloppet on skin skis. The biggest difference between the different models and lines, is the flex and the ski construction,” Skinstad says.
The most expensive models are aimed at elite-level racers with solid technique and who double-pole a lot. These skis generally feature a livelier flex, but also require better technique in order to get kick.
“The models right below the top-of-the-line models are generally based on the same construction and materials and will have most of the features and performance of the top-of-the-line models, but with a slightly gentler flex which delivers reliable kick to skiers who may not have quite as good technique,” Skinstad explains.
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Best in Test
At Madshus, we believe that we have the perfect skin ski for every skier, regardless of proficiency level, terrain and conditions.
But don’t take our word for it: Madshus skin skis are rated “Best in Test” time and time again.
The prestigious Outside Magazine Buyer’s Guide, one of the world’s most trusted source for ski- and outdoor news, features and gear reviews, recently named Madshus Redline Classic Skin Skis “the best cross-country skis” for the 2022/23 season.
“The real sell on this ski was that it never had a bad day despite the wildly erratic temps we skied on it, which ranged from -15 F (-26 C) to nearly 50 F (+10 C). These stuck well with very little backsliding no matter what the weather brought on any given day,” the tester say, summarizing the Madshus Redline Classic Skin as follows:
“The ski is ideal for an intermediate to elite racer who can’t stand waxing skis. Because it handles so well in a variety of snow conditions it’s also suitable for skiers who can’t afford or don’t want a warm and cold-weather classic ski.”
Last winter, the Madshus Endurace Skin Skis were rated “Clearly Best in Test” by the Norwegian consumer magazine Din Side and Dagbladet. After testing and comparing the Endurace Skin Skis, the testers concluded that “these are skis I want to ski all day long.”
The winning features? Endurace Skin is well-suited for all conditions and easy to handle for most skiers regardless of proficiency level.
“The Madshus skis are light and reliable, and simply super-easy to love for everyone. They are the most versatile of all the skis we tested this year, and a safe bet for nearly every kind of skier,” according to the statement of the jury.