Have you taken up ski touring this winter, or would you like to? The lifts aren't open and you need to find a way to get up there, so you can get back to the pleasure of sliding downhill? Choose ski touring equipment!

Today, ski touring is more than just a trendy sport. Combining physical effort on the way up with real pleasure on the way down, it's sure to take you through landscapes that will leave you speechless. If you want to clear your head away from the crowds on the slopes, ski touring is the answer. But you need the right equipment: skis, touring bindingsand skins.

and sealskins. This equipment (skins) is not totally common to everyone, so Alpinstore explains how it works and gives you a few tips on how to choose the right skins from the best brands: Pomoca, Colltex or Fischer skins.


You can find all our our full range of sealskinsfor an incredible winter!

All you need to know about sealskins

  • Functionality

The sealskin is the essential element for ski touring. It's the accessory that lets you ski without slipping. It is placed on the sole of your skis and becomes the "anti-backwards" effect. Its adhesive surface ensures a pleasant ascent, whatever the conditions.

  • With or without glue

There are two different types of sealskin: glue-filled and self-adhesive.

The former are filled with glue

which gives them an excellent grip on your soles. But this system requires regular maintenance by re-gluing your skins, so that they are ready for every outing. They are often carried in a small bag, and each one is glued to a special mesh, to avoid sticking to each other and to prevent dirt from sticking.

Self-adhesive skins are easier to use and require little maintenance, as they stick together. Working on the principle of molecular suction, they are more expensive to buy, but the way they work makes them an incredible invention.

  • Composition: mohair / synthetic / mixed

Today, seal skins are no longer made from animal hair (seal/elk), but from synthetic fibers. There are 3 types of sealskin:

100% mohair skins: mainly used for competition, mohair skins are renowned for their glide and for their highly effective anti-backwards effect. Be careful, however, as these skins are fragile and can quickly be damaged.

100% synthetic skins: mainly used for specific applications (spring snow or hard snow), synthetic skins are ultra-light and highly resistant. On the other hand, they offer poorer gliding qualities, which is why these skins are not widely offered for sale on their own.

Mixed skins: mainly used for occasional to regular practice, seal skins made of mohair and synthetics are ideal, offering good glide quality, good anti-backwards effect and excellent durability.

  • Grip system

Although skins stick to the sole of your ski, it's essential that they're attached at the top and/or bottom to hold them in place. Skins can be attached to your skis in a variety of ways. There are 4 different attachment systems:

Tip stirrup: often made of metal or plastic, the stirrup is attached to the top of the tip. Often found on sealskins, this system is compatible with a large number of touring skis.

Quick release: used by competitors, this system can be attached or detached in a matter of seconds, without having to take off your skis.

Tip and tail stirrup: most sealskins are sold with a hook at the front and one at the back of your ski. Held at both ends, the sealskin is ideally positioned.

With insert: to save a little weight on your equipment, the insert attachment system can only be used on skis with a small slot at the top of the tip.

Choosing your skins

Now that you know all about the sealskins available on the market, it's time to choose the one that's best suited to your pair of touring skis. To do this, we advise you to consider the following two points:

    1. Ski size

The width of the runner (the level of the bindings) is decisive in your choice of skins.

To make things easier for you, brands often offer a pre-cut pair of skins for each model of touring ski. In other words, the pair of skins is specially designed for a specific model.

If skins are not supplied with your pair of skis, you'll need to choose skins you can cut yourself. In this case, be sure to allow for a little more width than your ski runner, so that you can finely shape the skins.

    1. Practice

The skins you choose will depend on your skiing style.

As explained above, if you're a competitor or expert, it's best to choose glue skins with a quick-release system.

If you're a regular hiker looking for performance, opt for a pair of glue skins, with a mixed fiber (mohair + synthetic) and a front attachment system.

If you're an occasional tourer, you have a choice between self-adhesive or glue skins, and you should opt for mixed skins with front and rear hooks.




The choice is yours! Find all our ski touring models on Alpinstore ...
And if you need more advice, you'll find it in the following article: Our 5 tips for ski touring