Skins for Kartel 108’s?

GrapeHunter

GrapeHunter

Active member
Im starting to get into backcountry for this season and I need a set of skins for my Kartel 108’s. I’ve never toured before and literally know nothing about skinning/climbing or even how skins clip onto skis. Does anybody have any recommendations for climbing skins that will fit my skis? Also, will I need to attach something to the tails of my skis just so that I can get skins on them? These Kartels are my one quiver ski, so I use them in the park/all over the mountain and it would drive me nuts to have something stuck on my tails just for skins. Somebody please help out this poor uninformed boy.
 
topic:grantlewis_dntm said:
Im starting to get into backcountry for this season and I need a set of skins for my Kartel 108’s. I’ve never toured before and literally know nothing about skinning/climbing or even how skins clip onto skis. Does anybody have any recommendations for climbing skins that will fit my skis? Also, will I need to attach something to the tails of my skis just so that I can get skins on them? These Kartels are my one quiver ski, so I use them in the park/all over the mountain and it would drive me nuts to have something stuck on my tails just for skins. Somebody please help out this poor uninformed boy.
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For a ski like the Kartel with really blocky tips and a twinned tail, I've had the best luck with G3's tip and tail hardware (bar-style tip hardware like Black Diamond's often doesn't work well with blocky tips). I'd go with their standard Nylon (Universal) or Nylon mix (Glide).
 
120 mm or 130 mm would be fine. g3s are pretty user friendly and cheap if you poke around for them. Best tip and tail setup imo, but be sure to get proper length because you only get like 10 cm of play on the tail strap adjustment. Also their skin trimming tool that comes with is the best and idiot proof. That being said I get about a season or less out of them before the g3 glue turns to slop and starts sticking to my bases.
 
I haven't had any issues with the Black Diamonds on my K108s. The bar at the tip adjusts just wide enough to grab ahold pretty well. That said I haven't broken too much trail on them, which I imagine is where you could have an issue with snow pulling the bar off?

Someone else may be able to elaborate on that from their own experience but mine have been totally fine.

And if anything the tail clip works better on the less-pointed tail so you're all good there.

For sizing I went 125mm so the flat contact area is all covered and there's just a little bit of base showing on the sides at the tip and tail where the rocker is most dramatic anyways.
 
I have had a few pairs of the G3 for my K108 over the years and they are great. I have the twin tip tail adapter and it does a great job of staying in place. My girlfriend skis the Jessie 108 and with G3 and does use the regular tail connector and it stays in place for the most part, as long as you have the skins adjusted properly.The BD skin get a far amount of build up in more dense snow but I feel that their glue is slightly better (really tough to pull apart skins some times) compared to some the G3 skins. Just make sure to take good care of your skins and don't get pine needles or other various items stuck in the glue.
 
I can only find a pair of 145 G3 High-Alpinists rn. Im fine with the extra glide but will that width be okay for the 108?

The tips of the 108 are a 137 so I think the connectors should be fine.
 
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Trimming these new/old skins to the 108’s ?

I found these used skins (4-5 days of use) on eBay and bid on them, won them for $60! So excited to start touring and ripping up the backcountry.
 
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