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Cutting skins to size – a perfect fit for maximum performance

A climbing skin can only perform to its full potential if it fits the ski perfectly. If it is too wide, too narrow, or cut uncleanly, it will compromise grip, glide, and, in the worst case, your nerves on the mountain. Cutting skins to size does not require any complicated specialist knowledge, but is a one-time step that will make all the difference over many tours. Whether you're buying new skins or adapting them to new skis, with the right cut, the skin pile will be exactly where it's needed – for secure grip on the ascent and clean gliding on the trail. In this article, we'll show you what's important when cutting, what tools you need, and how to adapt your KOHLA skins to your skis precisely and gently.

Before cutting

Make sure your toruing skis are free of dust, dirt, and wax residue. Any wax residue that is not removed can severely impair the adhesive properties of the skin.

For cutting, you will need:

Your new ski touring skin, a ski, ruler or tape measure, knife (e.g., the KOHLA cutter knife supplied), ideally a clamping device, and a brush.

1. Preparation

Your new KOHLA ski touring skin comes with a cutter knife, a description of the respective ski touring skin including installation instructions, a skin bag, the appropriate fastening system for mounting depending on the type of your touring ski, and of course the cut-to-size skin with the release film. You will also need a ruler and a clean brush. It is best to clamp your skis in place so that they are stable during cutting and cannot slip.

2. Placing the ski touring skin

First, remove the skin from the foil and attach it to the tip of the ski using the front attachment system (bracket). With one hand, stretch the skin flat along the base of the touring ski, and with the other hand, smooth it out in the middle of the ski. Make sure that both sides of the skin start parallel to each other.

3. Placing the ski touring skin

The two rear points should also be parallel to each other.

4. Adjust the K-Clip correctly

Next, adjust the KOHLA Elastic Strap attachment with the K-clip to fit your touring skis or splitboard. Tighten the Elastic Strap so that the ski touring skin is slightly taut when the K-clip “clicks” into place. Then smooth out the climbing skin again and make sure it lies flat.

5. Check

You can check whether your skin is perfectly positioned by turning the ski over and measuring the distance from the edge of the ski to the edge of the skin on both sides with a ruler. Ideally, these should be the same. If there is a difference, correct the position of the skin until the distances are the same.

6. Cutting

Take the cutter knife and extend the blade to a length of 2 to 3 cm. Start cutting the ski from front to back in the direction of the skin. If you cut against the direction of travel, the ski touring skin can be irreparably damaged. Place the knife a few centimeters before the first skin contact on the edge. Hold it at a 45° angle and cut along the ski edge in one stroke. This is important so that the touring skin does not protrude over the edge. The edge must remain free so that it can provide lateral support during the ascent on the ski tour.

7. Fresh blade

Use a fresh blade for each cut to ensure optimal results. Repeat the same process on the other side of the climbing skin. Be careful not to accidentally damage the base of your touring ski when cutting along the edge with the knife.

5. Clean the edges

You can use the cut-off fur remnants to clean the edges of the fur remnants. To do this, simply run the adhesive side over the edges and loose hairs will stick to it. Now repeat all the steps for the second piece of fur.

6. Enjoy your tour

Now your skins are cut to size and you're ready for your next ski tour. To prepare your skins optimally for your next tour, it's best to impregnate them directly with products from the KOHLA Green Line.

Using protective net correctly

Smart Glue technology:

With skins featuring Smart Glue technology, you can stick your skins together without using the release film. This is actually advantageous, as the adhesive technology is reinforced when the skins are stuck together again. We only recommend using a release film for storage over a longer period of time, e.g., over the summer, to protect the adhesive from drying out.

Hot melt technology:

A film is mandatory here! This is a very strong adhesive that can only be pulled apart again with considerable effort. For this reason, we recommend always using the release film.