Ski Skins...Pro's and Con's

[AlaskaCub]

Are any of you running ski skins on your sleds? I have been wondering what the pros and cons are to using em, and also wondering how you pick a pair or are they universal?

 

[AKDoug]

I run plastic skis on all my sleds and have never needed skins. Back in the days of steel skis I ran plastic skins.

 

[MacGyver]

I used to have sky skins on my Polaris wide tracks I think they were 8 or 10 inch wide. In very soft snow they were great. I did have problems with steering on hard pack. I switched to a difference sky and improve steering. I would make changed to my setup and learn how to run in deep snow before adding sky skins, unless you intend on breaking trail in soft snow.

 

[Mr. Pid]

When everybody was using metal skis we all had skins. I haven't had metal skis for several years and haven't thought of skins in that time.

 

[ak.sled]

Ski Skins have their place!

Ski Skins have their place!

If you are doing a lot of deep powder work, the skins still have a place. The oversize skins provide a ton of flotation. For all purpose riding, the new composite skis are far superior, as skins were developed primarily to prevent skis from freezing down and that basically doesn't happen with composites. Another place they do make a difference is on an early machine equipped with reverse. Oversized skins keep the ski tail from digging in while backing up. Chances are that when you take your old wear bars off, you'll break the studs and need to replace them, so if you buy skins, pick up a nice set of carbides too.

 

[bryguy1966]

I got a 96 Arctic Cat Cougar. It was the father in laws and was babied but ridden. I put new carbides on it last week and took it out for a ride over mostly hard pack. On my way back I decided to stop by the dealership and see what news skins would cost (one had a chunk out of it). They were 65 bucks and in stock. The very least they will look better than the old faded green ones says the 9 year old daughter