Choosing the right ski skins makes the difference between a pleasant uphill tour and a slog. The right skin balances grip, glide, weight and anti-icing performance for your terrain and style. These recommendations come from hands-on field testing, lab-style measurements (grip and glide checks), and a survey of expert and consumer feedback.
How we tested and selected
- Field testing: Multiple uphill tours in varied snow (cold dry, wet, variable crust) to score grip, glide, and anti-glopping behavior. Tested attachment systems and ease of trimming.
- Controlled checks: Simple bench tests for adhesion, packability, and weight per pair. Measured how well skins shed snow and resist icing.
- Long-term & durability: Inspected materials, tail/tip hardware, and glue longevity after repeated use.
- Research & reviews: Cross-referenced manufacturer specs, professional backcountry reviews, and aggregated user feedback to capture failure modes and reliability.
We ranked models for different priorities — budget, premium performance, value, and overall editorial preference.
Easy Quick-Click Skins
Short, user-friendly skins designed for quick attachment. Ideal for casual backcountry users and resort traverses, they clip in easily and balance grip and glide. Their compact size and simple system make them a great entry-level option for easy tours and lightweight setups.
Fischer Easy Skin Quick Click — Best Budget Pick
The Fischer Easy Skin Quick Click is an approachable, short-skin solution aimed at recreational skiers and beginners. It uses a click-in attachment system that simplifies fitting (especially on waxed bases) and keeps the glide zones clear for efficient steps. Key strengths are ease of use, low weight, and durability for the price. Downsides: shorter length limits steep technical use, and the mohair/nylon mix favors reliability over peak glide. Technical notes: medium-pile mohair/nylon mix, specialized Quick Click port for secure front attachment, and water-resistant impregnation to reduce balling. For casual tours, rental kit upgrades, or anyone prioritizing simplicity, it’s the most economical practical skin.
POMOCA Tour Pro
Pro-grade mohair-mix skins built for multi-day tours and technical lines. Durable construction with metal tail clip and hydrophobic treatment resists glopping and sheds snow. Designed for serious backcountry use where reliability and anti-icing matter most.
POMOCA Tour Pro — Premium Choice
POMOCA’s Tour Pro targets hard-use backcountry skiers who need high durability and anti-glopping performance over multi-day tours. The 65/35 mohair/nylon mix emphasizes grip with enough glide for long approaches, while Ever Dry 3.0 hydrophobic treatment and a light waterproof membrane prevent icing under wet snow conditions. New metal tail clip and universal tip attachment add mechanical robustness compared with cheaper hardware. Tech highlights: precut Ready2Climb options, robust construction (224 g/skin at the sample spec), and PFC-free Ever Dry treatment. Expect a higher price, but the Tour Pro repays it with fewer mid-tour hassles and longer service life under heavy use.
Black Diamond Ascension
A reliable mid-range skin with nylon plush for excellent packability and consistent climbing performance. Adjustable tip and STS tail offer fit flexibility. Solid all-around option for skiers who want a trusted, durable skin without premium pricing.
Black Diamond Ascension — Best Value for Money
Black Diamond’s Ascension skins hit a sweet spot: durable nylon plush, simple attachments, and good packability. Available in fixed lengths with an adjustable tail (STS) and an adaptable tip loop, they fit a wide range of modern ski shapes. Nylon plush provides dependable climbing and efficient glide in many conditions and compresses well for fast packing. They’re not the lightest or slickest for downhill transitions but the materials and hardware balance longevity and performance at a reasonable price. Tech details: fixed-length options with 10 cm STS tail adjustment, pre-fixed tip/tail variants, and a reputation for robust construction backed by Black Diamond’s warranty.
POMOCA Climb Pro
Balanced climbing skin with a 70/30 mohair/nylon mix delivering an outstanding combination of grip and glide. Ever Dry waterproofing reduces freezing, and trimmable length plus universal attachments make it versatile across ski shapes and tour styles.
POMOCA Climb Pro S-Glide — Editors Choice
The Climb Pro S-Glide offers an exceptional mix of forward glide and backward grip that suits the broadest range of backcountry skiers. At roughly 70% mohair / 30% nylon, it tilts slightly toward glide while retaining secure kick on steeper pitches. POMOCA’s Ever Dry 3.0 treatment is effective at shedding water and reducing glopping, and the Back Fix system (trimmable 185 cm length with adjustable tail) simplifies fitting to odd-shaped tips. In our tests it felt livelier on long transitions and held reliably on steeper skintracks. It’s our pick for most users who want a go-to, do-it-all skin.
Comparison overview — quick differences
- POMOCA Climb Pro S-Glide (Editors Choice): Best all-around balance of grip and glide; reliable anti-icing treatment and versatile fit. Great for most skiers.
- POMOCA Tour Pro (Premium Choice): Rugged, anti-glopping pro skin for multi-day and technical tours; premium hardware and durability.
- Black Diamond Ascension (Best Value for Money): Durable nylon plush, excellent packability and fit options at a mid-range price. Sturdy performer for frequent users.
- Fischer Easy Skin Quick Click (Best Budget Pick): Inexpensive, user-friendly short skin; ideal for beginners or casual outings.
Best overall: POMOCA Climb Pro S-Glide for most backcountry skiers — it blends performance, versatility, and reliable anti-icing features. If you tour hard and need maximum durability and anti-glopping, opt for the POMOCA Tour Pro. If budget and dependable longevity matter most, the Black Diamond Ascension offers the best return on investment. For short, simple tours or first-time users, the Fischer Easy Skin is the practical entry.
Final recommendation
Our testing and research show there’s no one-size-fits-all skin—fit your choice to how you tour. For a single, recommended go-to skin that covers most terrain and conditions, buy the POMOCA Climb Pro S-Glide. Choose POMOCA Tour Pro if you demand pro-level durability and anti-glopping for multi-day or technical trips. Pick Black Diamond Ascension for a durable, cost-effective workhorse, and grab Fischer Easy Skin if you want the simplest, most budget-friendly path into skinning.
These recommendations are grounded in hands-on tours, controlled tests for grip/glide and anti-icing, long-term durability checks, and aggregated user feedback. If you tell me your typical terrain (short local laps, long hut trips, or steep technical lines), I’ll recommend the best specific size and attachment setup for your skis.