What is a climbing skin anyway?
A climbing skin is attached to the underside of touring skis, allowing them to climb in the snow without sliding back. In doing so, however, they allow the ski to continue sliding forward. Climbing skins therefore provide grip and ensure that a ski tour is possible in the first place, you do not want to trudge through the snow, but just hike up the mountain with the skis.
KOHLA skins for touring skis are still made of real fur. This comes from the Angora goat and provides the perfect conditions to be stretched under the touring skis. The hair of the Angora goat, the so-called mohair, is hollow inside and thus offers excellent properties. It protects against moisture, glides well and is also extremely light. In some Kohla skins, a mixture of real fur and synthetic fibers is also used (Mixmohair). Mixmohair also has excellent gliding properties when climbing.
You can find more information about climbing skins here!
How is a climbing skin constructed?
A climbing skin usually consists of three components. The actual skin, the carrier system and an adhesive layer (also called adhesive surface), which ensures that the climbing skin sticks to the ski. In addition, there is the tensioning system for attaching the skin to the touring ski or splitboard. The skin While today synthetic fibers are also used in ski skins, it was different in the past. Thus, the fur of seals was particularly suitable to be able to ascend with skis. In other regions, all kinds of natural skins with mostly relatively short hairs were used. Today, KOHLA skins for touring skis still use real fur. This comes from the Angora goat and provides the perfect conditions to be stretched under the touring skis. The hair of the Angora goat, the so-called mohair, is hollow inside and thus offers excellent properties. It protects against moisture, glides well and is also extremely light. In some Kohla skins, a mixture of real fur and synthetic fibers is also used (Mixmohair). Mixmohair also has excellent gliding properties when climbing.
The substrate material
The skin, as the bottom layer, is applied to a carrier material. Two different technologies are used at KOHLA:
Fiber Seal Technology
Fiber Seal technology was developed by KOHLA and is characterized by the fact that it is waterproof and so well protected from moisture, as well as very dimensionally stable. Therefore, the climbing skins are particularly suitable for demanding conditions that require a robust skin.
Basic Layer System
The Basic Layer carrier system is made of a cotton-polyester blend, is also robust and provides tremendous waterproofing.
The adhesive layer or bonding surface
To ensure that the skin sticks to the base of the ski or splitboard and that no snow gets between the skin and the gliding surface of the touring ski, an adhesive ensures that the ski touring skin stays in place. Kohla uses the proven Hotmelt adhesive, which is above all flexible and universally applicable. The Smart Glue adhesive surface, newly developed by Kohla, is very easy to use, holds the skin securely to the ski, which can nevertheless be easily removed again when skinning.
