The Best Climbing Skins of 2026

Kick. Glide. Kick. Glide. Repeat. That’s the experience you’ll have when you choose the Contour Guide Pure ($200-220) as your daily magic carpet. These glue-based skins made of 100% mohair offer the perfect balance between grip and glide, so we can go further more efficiently.

As our go-to skin for almost every day in the mountains over the past 5 years, we’ve tested these in deep cold smoke pow of the Sawatch Range to the super steep switchbacks of the always intimidating Teton Range. And, regardless of the temp, weather, or terrain, these skins always kept us on point for our summit goal.

Though these skins are the most lightweight on our list, we were surprised at their overall durability. Even though we skinned over ice, slush, debris, and mud (yep — we’re those people who are so antsy for winter that we start skinning in October), and we threw them in a truck bed filled with dog hair, we didn’t notice any unusual tears or impact on stickiness.

Because of their pliable material and minimalist hardware, these skins pack away and roll into a compact package that can be stowed inside a jacket pocket. This is perfect if you’re just doing a quick, pack-less dawn patrol lap at your local ski hill or if, like us, you stick your skins in your jacket to keep them warm in between multiple backcountry laps.

Of course, they’re not perfect. The tail attachments could use a little attention. Contour uses a “heat weld” method of attaching the tailpiece instead of installing a rivet or sewing it to the skin. Heat welding saves on weight, but it compromises durability. More than once over the past few years, we’ve pulled the tail attachment fully off the skin when transitioning.

In fairness, this has happened after extended use, but it’s pretty inconvenient and usually means the end of the day or switching to the backup skins we usually have in our packs. We have modified the Contours to avoid this issue by adding our own rivets.

However, we would love it if Contour would address this at a company level. One other note: the carpet (the colored part that touches the snow) of 100% mohair skins will not last as long as 100% nylon versions or even hybrid options, so if you don’t mind compromising on glide for a skin that will last longer than you, try the Black Diamond Ascension Nylon.

As the first company to use mohair in climbing skins, Contour is certainly an expert in the field and is known for creating high-quality products. If you’re looking for a daily climbing skin that performs well on lengthy, demanding tours and won’t fail regardless of the conditions, the Guide Pure is a valuable piece of gear to add to your backcountry quiver.

The legend continues with the skins that started it all, the Ascension Nylon Climbing Skins ($190) from Black Diamond. These durable, heavy-duty skins, which offer maximum grip on the climb and a solid amount of glide, are a favorite of many backcountry enthusiasts, and for good reason.

Made of 100% nylon, these glue-based skins work well in all weather conditions.  We’ve used them in ice storms, rain, hail, single-digit temps, and feet of fresh powder, and the Ascensions have never failed us. Even when we used them daily during a Wyoming cold snap (it went down to -10), they stuck to our skis and kept “snow creep” at bay. They even endured a few rips on those frigid days and kept sticking. Plus, the durable riveted tip and tail attachments are easy to use and will endure years of wear and tear.  

This reliability is part of what sets the BDs apart. Other options like the Contour Hybrid Mix start to lose their stickiness when the mercury drops to single digits, and they certainly won’t endure more than one rip at those temps. Others have tip and tail attachments that we have ripped apart during normal use and, therefore, can’t totally trust.  

When we’re miles into the backcountry, we need to know our skins will work no matter what the weather, snow conditions, or terrain. This proven reliability is why we carry a pair of the BD Ascensions in our pack as a backup on every big ski tour we take (if they’re not on our skis!).

Our only real complaints about these skins come as a result of their durability and grip. Their mega grip means you can climb up steeper terrain, but there is a bit less glide, decreasing our efficiency over the long haul. Their durable nylon is bulkier and heavier than less husky nylons. We couldn’t roll these up and shove them in our jacket pocket like we could with Contour Guide Pure.  

Another complaint you’ll hear among users is that they are very challenging to rip apart during transitions. Again, this is because of the bomber glue that makes them so reliable.

If you’re a backcountry lover with a “one-skin does-it-all mentality,” then the BD Ascensions are ideal. Those who are hard on gear and prioritize durability and grip over going light and fast should look no further than the truest, tested climbing skin in the game. The Ascensions will perform when you need them most and they’ll deliver years and years of hard-charging days in the mountains and are sure to outlast your aging knees.

With the Pomoca Tour Pro’s ($230-260) perfect blend of mohair and nylon, glue-based backing, and a working moisture barrier, these climbing skins are taking the market by snowstorm. Hybrid skins combine mohair and nylon to maximize grip, durability, water resistance, and glide, and these perform on all counts. (Note: In 2024, Pomoca streamlined their product offerings. The Tour Pro replaced our former favorite hybrid skins, the Pomoca Climb Pro S-Glide, which were the same color but had a slightly different material mix at 70% Mohair/30% Nylon.

Even on steep terrain, they grip the snow well with minimal slippage, so we could navigate to places other skins won’t go. Though they glide just a little less freely than the Contour Guide Pure, we still moved across the snow steadily and only noticed a difference on the longest of days where efficiency is critical.

The Tour Pros are heavy-duty skin in a lightweight, packable package. They come with a thin rubber moisture barrier to boot. We’ve taken these skins touring in nailing-biting temperatures and variable conditions and they haven’t failed us (in terms of not sticking to our skis) yet.

Still, we noticed the magic of the moisture barrier most on our long springtime ascents; for example, one day in April on Mount Shavano (a Colorado fourteener), the snow got heavy and wet much earlier in the morning than we expected.

Our climbing partners had major snow buildup under their skis, and their skins were soaked through with moisture, while ours didn’t have any buildup, and our skins didn’t soak up as much moisture as the competitors. This made for much more skinning and less slogging.

Our only real issue during testing was the tail attachment ripping out after a short use time. Similar to the Contour Guide Pure, there can be an issue when brands focus on saving weight here. In this case, Pomoca sews the attachment on, which doesn’t provide the strength to create a durable attachment point that will last hundreds of rips. (We have ultimately put our own rivets through most climbing skins so that we don’t rip off the tail attachments, which is an option for you, too.)

However, Pomoca did increase the durability of the actual attachment itself; in the previous iteration, the clip was plastic that broke somewhat easily, but now the Tour Pros have a metal power hook that Pomoca says is “unbreakable.” We’ll keep testing to see if that claim is true!

The Tour Pro skins are a reliable, performance-driven addition to Pomoca’s rainbow of colors. It’s glue-based adhesive, combo of grip and glide, and reliability leave you with nothing more to worry about than how you’ll rip the descent. Perfect if you’re a casual uphiller who does a couple of laps on the ski hill or if you’re an adrenaline junkie skiing the highest peaks around.

Black Diamond set the bar for climbing skins early on. The Black Diamond Glidelite Mix skins ($210-220) meet and exceed that standard with a durable, reliable climbing skin that balances grip and glide to perform well on all fronts. There’s no better peace of mind than knowing your skins are going to get you to the top and back to the trailhead without failing, and the Glidelite Mix skins can always be trusted.

With more glide than the Ascensions, the Glidelite Mix skins also offer premier grip for those challenging and steep tours common in the Teton backcountry and in Colorado’s Sawatch Range, where we tested them all winter and spring.

No matter the conditions, a foot of freshies on Avalanche Bowl off Teton Pass, or subzero temps on top of Colorado’s highest peak, Mount Elbert, their ability to stick to our skis never wavered. And, we never slipped or had any snow creep (where the snow starts to work its way under your skins).

Plus, with the most durable tip attachments on the market, we never wondered if we’d rip one out during a transition. However, we do wonder if the new STS tail attachments, which are easier to replace than the previous version’s riveted ones, will last as long.

Though some of these added features add a little weight, the reliability is worth it. Such a solid combination of performance, durability, grip, and glide balance will make any backcountry enthusiast raise a glass to these skins.

Our only two gripes pertain to durability and reliability. The tip attachments add bulk to these skins making them less packable than others. Unlike the Contour Guide Pure, these don’t fit easily in a jacket pocket and have to be stowed in your pack when not in use. And, that glue that never fails; well just like the BD Ascension skins, it’s tough to pull apart, making every transition a serious arm and shoulder workout. This may, however, be seen as a bonus to some! Skins are all about compromises and these are ones we are willing to make for skins that always do their job: getting you up and down the mountain safely again and again.

The BD Glidelite Mix skins are ideal for that individual who prioritizes durability, longevity, reliability, and performance over anything else. If you want full peace of mind so you can enjoy a blissful backcountry experience no matter the terrain or conditions, these are the ones for you.

Enjoy the freedom of the glide with the updated and better-than-ever Pomoca Free Pro climbing skins ($250-260). Packable, ultralight, and reliable, the Free Pros are ideal for moving light and fast through the mountains.

We tested these skins on everything from steep switchbacks in the Teton backcountry to fast and light sunrise uphill missions at Snowking Mountain. In most terrain types and conditions, from setting skin tracks in a few feet of fresh snow to rain (yep, it’s been raining in February), the Free Pros performed above average.

The glue sticks, which means your skins stay on your skis, in all temps even super-cold ones. And, though they’re lightweight, the fabric is stiff enough to fight off snow creep at the tips of your skins. The plush, or carpet of the skin, is made of a blend of nylon and mohair to bring you the smoothest and fastest gliding skin yet from the Pomoca family.

This glide in a super lightweight package leads to greater efficiency, which makes every tour, especially longer ones, more enjoyable. The ultralight Pomoca Free Pro skins are so packable that we can stuff them into our jacket pockets between runs. This speeds up transitions and helps skins stay warm (and therefore sticky) on those brutal subzero days.

Other skins we’ve reviewed, like the BD Ascension Nylons, are not as packable and provide a bit more “drag” in terms of glide but also deliver more grip. If you’re concerned about better balancing grip and glide, consider the BD Ascensions or Contour Guide Pure.

One huge improvement on the updated version of the Free Pro skins: Pomoca finally upgraded its tail clips. This may seem minor, but the old ones (plastic clips that consistently broke in the cold weather) were the bane of our existence to the point we carried extras in our pack just in case we needed to do a field replacement (which we learned was painful and time consuming with frozen fingers). The new lightweight metal clips fit snugly and show no signs of wearing out or breaking yet, but we’ll keep you posted.

Just like the other Pomocas we tested, our only real issue during testing was the tail attachment ripping out after a short use time. Pomoca sews the attachment on, which doesn’t provide the strength to create a durable attachment point that will last hundreds of rips.

We have learned to be mindful when ripping so we put less stress on the attachment, and we have ultimately put our own rivets through most climbing skins so that we don’t rip off the tail attachments, which is an option for you, too. However, for a $200-plus product, we’d like to see the manufacturers address this.

Designed with free riders in mind, the Pomoca Free Pro skins are best suited for experienced skinners, those looking to explore the side country, and those looking to save weight on the uphill so they can focus on the descent.

If you’re looking for an all-around, no-frills climbing skin that gets the job done, check out the Pomoca Climb 2.0 ($200-220) skins. They meet most skier’s needs by providing an average glide-grip combo in a relatively affordable package.

Out of the box, these are simple to work with. Pomoca offers them in a range of lengths, so all it takes is a simple waist trim (tool included) and you’re ready for the skin track. Out in the mountains, it’s easy to pull these skins apart, and because they’re glue-based, they still stick well to our skis even when the mercury drops.

Lightweight and packable, it’s easy to put the Climb 2.0 skins in our pockets, making transitions faster and more efficient. On long spring tours or warmer days, we appreciate the moisture barrier that keeps these skins from glopping up and soaking up moisture.

Despite all of these attributes, we are not thrilled with the overall performance of the Climb 2.0 Skins. They slipped often as soon as the terrain turned steep, and in our backyard/the Teton backcountry — this means we were slipping a lot, forcing us to put in extra switchbacks compared to our ski partners. The Climb 2.0 also lacks the “S-Glide” treatment found in Pomoca Climb Pro S-Glide, which is noticeable in terms of out-of-the-box gliding capabilities.

Over time, this is less of an issue since the S-Glide treatment wears off anyway, but it’s something to consider at first. Like all Pomocas we’ve tested, we wish the tail attachment was more durable; Pomoca sews the attachment on, which doesn’t provide the strength to create a durable attachment point that will last hundreds of rips.

Overall, the Climb 2.0 skins are perfect if you’re sticking to shorter tours where glide efficiency isn’t as important or if you’re largely skinning over more rolling terrain or mellower grades instead of climbing steeps.

They’re ideally suited to skiers who are just getting started and want a versatile option, those who skin uphill largely inbounds at the resort, or those who are just getting into backcountry touring because they won’t let you get into terrain that’s over your head (without some serious sweat, swearing, and switchbacks).

Simple, yet innovative; that’s how we describe the G3 Alpinist + Glide ($211-229) in a nutshell. These heavy-duty, durable climbing skins grip incredibly well and have a few interesting innovations that make them unique.

At first glance, some of these innovations make the skin look odd. For example, the innovative plastic tip attachment resembles a fishtail at the top of your skin. Despite its weird appearance, it greatly minimizes “snow creep” (snow working its way under your skin and eventually undermining its ability to stick to your skis) as you glide through deep powder. Unfortunately, the chunk of stiff plastic also makes the skin very bulky and decreases packability.

The elongated tail attachment is made of rubber, which is better in the cold than plastic and offers an increased grip for pulling your skin off during transitions. So far, the tip and tail attachments have performed well and stayed attached, but we will continue testing this season to determine longevity.

One place we did have an issue, however, was the top sheet-mounted tail connectors. Though a great concept in theory, we snapped the plastic attachment after the first few cold days of us, rendering it completely useless. (Hey, ski manufacturers! Stop using plastic. It’s cold outside.)

We have had trouble with G3 skin glue in the past, but this glue performs well. After many uses in all conditions and temps, these skins stay attached to our ski bases with no slippage or glue residue issues.

As their name suggests, G3 markets these skins as “optimized for glide.” However, we definitely didn’t feel this during any of our tours. They’re extremely powerful on the uphill; it almost feels like you have four-wheel drive and can go anywhere. But, this amount of grip compromises our ability to glide forward. Our ability to glide in the Alpinist + Glide feels more comparable to the 100 % nylon Black Diamond Ascensions than other hybrid skins.

Overall, the G3 Alpinist + Glide climbing skins are a good option for recreational skiers looking for an innovative design that is durable and will propel them over a range of terrain.

Read Review: Stuck, Not Sticky: ‘Contour Hybrid Mix’ Climbing Skins Review

Rip with ease when you choose a pair of the Contour Hybrid Mix Climbing Skins ($200-220). Unlike other skins, the Contour Hybrids don’t stick together like crazy, and it’s also incredibly easy to rip them off your skis.

So, what’s different? With this hybrid technology, Contour moves away from the traditional glue-based adhesive and replaces it with a proprietary blend that combines two types of adhesives: one on the outside that sticks the skin to the ski and another behind it that adheres that outward-facing glue layer to the skin itself.

Contour released this hybrid technology in 2012, so it’s not new, but we’ve only seen these skins widely available in the US for a few years. This hybrid adhesive makes skins easier to remove from your skis and easier to pull apart between uses, making transitions quick and effortless and appealing to users of all abilities and experience levels.

This also means easier cleaning and refreshes. If you’ve ever scraped dog hair, tree sap, or pine needles off a glue-based skin, you know it’s almost impossible. Well, scrape no more. Simply wash these at home using soap and warm water (or Contour’s cleaning solution) to remove debris and refresh stickiness.

Other than the glue, there’s not much that’s unique about this model. They use the same tip and tail attachment as most other leading Contour models with that “heat weld” technology securing the adjustable tail attachment.

But, if they don’t stick to each other or your skis, how well will they actually perform? Unfortunately, during our testing, they failed often and early. In temps above 25, they stuck well. But, anything colder, especially single digits and lower, the skins didn’t stick well. Sometimes, the lack of stickiness allowed snow to creep in, while other times, the adhesive completely detached, and our skin fell off mid-climb.

Even in warmer temps, when we did multiple laps, the adhesive would get less and less secure with each rip. It’s not fun to be on pins and needles in the backcountry wondering if your skins are going to get you to the next rise, and this is often how we felt.

If you do use these, be extra vigilant about keeping them, and your bases, snow and ice-free. We also recommend bringing a pair of backup skins just in case.

After years of testing the Contour Hybrid Mix, we’ve decided these are best for the laid-back skier who enjoys a casual fair-weather tour with friends. They’re easy to handle, packable, and offer a good amount of glide, but they aren’t grippy enough for steeper terrain and can’t be relied on for long adventures or in stormy or cold weather (when we most want to be skiing).