– The Backcountry Ski Site
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Site

  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

G3 Alpinist High Traction Skins 2012/2013 — Quick Look

by Lou Dawson July 26, 2012
written by Lou Dawson July 26, 2012

Testosterone. Some say the legendary chemical causes wars, unplanned pregnancies and nearly every other detrimental condition known to mankind.

I’d include death-wall steep skin tracks in that list.

The evidence is clear. Some of you guys like to go straight up hill, even to the point of leaving your partners behind slipping and sliding, sometimes even resorting to setting their own switchbacks as you forge upward on your oblivious path of manly destiny. Even so, everyone seems to come back smiling, to dig out brews from the trailhead snowbank and laugh about how funny it looked when Bill skied backwards down the skin track at 20 mph with his skins on. More, before you scour me in the blog comments, it’s true that sometimes a steeper track is practical, such as when setting odd lines to avoid avalanche danger, or when breaking trail in snow so deep it clogs your ears on the up track (Hokkaido, it’s on the list).


Rob Moore (right) shows Louie and Lisa Dawson the new Alpinist High Traction skins.

Rob Moore (right) shows Louie and Lisa Dawson the new Alpinist High Traction skins. Note the new graphics, specific to this model.

So, for those of you whose skin tracks could easily become ice climbing routes, enter G3 High Traction skins.

During our recent PNW travels, we managed a stop by G3’s headquarters in Vancouver, Canada. Product developer and engineer Rob Moore showed us around (more on that in another post), but as I know many of you WildSnow readers are especially interested in climbing skin technology, here’s a quick report about just the skins.

First, know that G3 makes all their climbing skins in-house, meaning they get contracted textiles from overseas, formulate and job out the making of their glue, but put everything together right there in Vancouver. As with many small manufacturing operations, doing it that way has its economic downsides compared to overseas manufacturing, but is terrific when it comes to quality control. One thing about G3 — despite a few hiccups now and then, they obviously don’t skimp on quality.


Alpinist High Traction (HT) skins are said to be about 20% more grippy (depending on snow conditions) and have noticeably, though not excessively, less glide. In our skin testing over the years, we’ve noticed that the regular G3 Alpinst skins glide incredibly well for nylons, but do lack a slight bit in the traction department. I asked Rob about this. He said it’s not that tough to spec out nylon skin material that has different ratios of glide vs traction, and the regular Alpinist hit a sweet spot for a lot of backcountry skiers. Hence, they won’t be changing the regular skin — simply offering the HT version.

A few issues come to mind regarding this sort of climbing skin. If only one person in a group has HT skins during a trail break, what good is he if other skiers can’t follow? Thus, will the Alpinist High Traction skin drive a trend to this sort of fur, instead ofglide-optimized mohair type carpets? Will we be carrying two pairs of skins in our backpacks: one for the approach, and one for the climb? Interesting times.

Look for Alpinist High Traction skins this fall at your favorite shopping venue. If you need more testosterone, I’ve heard it’s available on the market as well.


Lou Dawson

WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.

www.loudawson.com
0
Email
previous post
Road Access in Marble, Colorado — Future Looks Bright
next post
Delorme inReach Review — Take Texting to New Lands

Trip Reports

  • A Small Hut for Big Skiing in the San Juans: Aladdin’s Lamp

    April 23, 2024
  • Revisiting a 2011 Trip Report: Adventure in the Pickets — Thread of Ice Ski Descent

    December 9, 2022

Avalanche Department

  • Ask a Forecaster: Q&A with CAIC’s Andrew McWilliams

    March 10, 2024

Tips & Tricks

  • Transition Efficiencies 101 with Tech Binding Heel Units

    January 6, 2023
  • Visualizing the Backcountry as a Splitboarder: Minimizing the Challenges of Movement by Anticipating Terrain

    December 5, 2022
  • TURBOCHARGE YOUR TRAILHEAD BEACON CHECK

    November 15, 2022

Recent Comments

  • Daniel on Backcountry Ski Boots Buyer’s Guide: The Touring Boots Worth the Money
  • Jim Milstein on Best Touring Packs for Guides and Daytrippers
  • Bergen Tjossem on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review
  • Maciej on Much more than a steep ski: Fischer Transalp 92 CTI Long-Term Review


  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Terms of Service
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2025 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Polar Star Inn Hut Report: Mellow...

March 7, 2025

Best Touring Packs for Guides and...

March 3, 2025

Moment Wildcat 108 Tour Long-Term Ski...

February 10, 2025