It’s amazing how easily I can geek out on backcountry skiing gear. I was recently excited to wrap up a day filled with skiing and barbecue by cutting some new G3 Alpinist Skins. And, more importantly, using the skin cutter supplied with the skins. I’ve sworn off any cutter that came in a climbing skin box in lieu of a straight razor for years now. I’d butchered too many sets of skins with rebranded envelope openers. Props to G3 for providing a skin cutter that is beefy, contoured, and measures the distance off the edge extremely well so you don’t monkey around with multiple cuts. Once cut each side — done. Brilliant.
Low profile tip connectors, top and bottom. So far these seem much less likely to slip off the tip of the ski. Not a huge problem for me in the past, but still happened more than I liked.
The G3 Alpinist Skins are a bit lighter weight than my last set of BD’s (based on cut and folded size, not actual weight). I’m most looking forward to how the tip connector works for me. Using two clips instead of a single large loop, I have high hopes for a more secure skin connection.
Well keep you posted on performance later this season by filing a more extensive review.
Cut, rolled, and ready to rock. Incredible cutter to left would be worth the price of these skins even if they were made of gold and diamonds.
Check them out at Backcountry.com.
(Guest blogger profile: Dave Downing and his wife Jessica live in Whitefish, MT, where he is a freelance designer and owner of Ovid Nine Graphics Lab. Dave has been told that there is nothing to see in Montana, so please move along.)
Dave “Snowman” Downing lives in Whitefish, Montana where Dave is a freelance designer and owner of Ovid Nine Graphics Lab Dave’s ski career began due to a lack of quality skiing video games for NES.
