Imagine having a new car but not having tires. Without skins, a splitboard is in a similar situation. 90% of your time spent backcountry will be on the uphill, so the skins you use for that ascent are crucial. They keep you on the surface in that deep backcountry powder you’ll ideally be seeking, while hikers and snowshoers sink to their waists. Skinning is also the preferred method for skiers. But with splitboards, we snowboarders can take advantage of the skintrack highway as well. Without skins, you might as well be bootpacking. Skinning is a work of art, and there is nothing in this world like a perfect skin track on an untouched slope.
The skins connect with your board in two ways. A special steel loop fits snugly against the tip of the board, while skin glue keeps the skins attached to the base. Skins are built specifically for uphill traffic from a single-direction fabric that allows you to slide easily uphill with minimal resistance, but arrests a potential backwards slip.
As a splitboarder, your skins should be your very best friend, and Voile owns the market when it comes to skins shaped specifically for a splitboard. The noses of the skins they make are rounded on one side and straight on the other, working with a splitboard’s specific shape. In addition, the split-specific hook at the nose area is shaped especially for snowboard attachment. Great traction from the “Tractor” keeps you from slipping on the steepest of uphills. While one can cut, shape, trim, and otherwise rig skins that are built for skis for their splitboard, why go to all that trouble and potentially screw it up? The Voilie skins fit almost perfectly right out of the box. Especially if you are just beginning to splitboard, I really recommend you use these.
Kyle’s preferred Voilie skins are the 140mm wide Tractor Skins. These use hydrophobic nylon that won’t gather snow, and a tenacious glue to cover the running surface of the board. Voilie skins can be ordered to fit most brand lengths of snowboards.
- Best for: When you want good traction from skins shaped specifically for a splitboard.
- Specs: Weight: 10 oz., Surface Type: Nylon Mohair, Surface Covered: 140mm X 150cm, Warranty: 1 year.
- Reviews: User Reviews from product page at Backcountry.com
- Info. On Use: Notes on Trimming, Care and Use from Prior, Skinning 101 from Splitboard.com.