Why Do Mohair Skins Need Care?
One of the greatest advantages of modern skin skis is that we don't have to worry about choosing the right kick wax before every outing.
Blue, violet or red?
Hard wax or klister?
How many layers, and where exactly should they go?
Mohair skins take care of much of this for us.
But there's one small catch.
Skin skis don't need traditional kick waxing. That doesn't mean they require no maintenance at all.
How Do Mohair Skins Actually Work?
Mohair is a natural fibre obtained from Angora goats.
In cross-country ski grip skins, it is used either on its own or blended with synthetic fibres.
The fibres are arranged predominantly in one direction.
During the kick, when we load the ski and try to push it backwards, the fibres create the necessary resistance against the snow.
During forward movement, they should allow the ski to glide as freely as possible.
In other words:
Grip during the kick. Release during the glide.
Sounds simple.
Unfortunately, snow occasionally has other ideas.
Problem One: Dirty Mohair
During skiing, all kinds of contaminants can collect in the skin.
Dust, dirt from old snow, traces of ski wax and other substances that gradually find their way onto the tracks.
These contaminants may cause individual fibres to stick together and change the way they behave.
The result can be less reliable grip and poorer glide.
That's why it's important to inspect the skin regularly and clean it when necessary.
Ideally, use a cleaning product specifically designed for ski skins.
An aggressive general-purpose wax remover isn't necessarily suitable.
Some solvents may damage the adhesive or other components of the skin.
Problem Two: Water and Icing
Another problem is water.
Mohair fibres can absorb moisture, and under certain snow conditions water may accumulate in the skin and subsequently freeze.
Changing conditions around freezing point can be particularly unpleasant, especially when moving between wet and colder snow.
Snow begins sticking to the skin.
Then more snow.
And even more.
Suddenly, we have two impressive lumps of snow beneath our skis.
Excellent grip.
Almost no glide.
This is where suitable impregnation helps.
Its purpose is to reduce wetting of the fibres, snow adhesion and the risk of icing.
Impregnation is therefore primarily a practical way to reduce water absorption, contamination and icing – not a treatment against some supposed oxidation caused by water splitting during skiing.
Problem Three: Mechanical Wear
Of course, mohair skins aren't indestructible either.
With regular use, their fibres gradually wear down.
They may become shorter, break or change their orientation.
Eventually, this can reduce grip performance.
The rate of wear depends on skin quality, ski construction, snow conditions and how the skis are used.
And here is one important point.
Impregnation cannot restore the original length or mechanical properties of worn-out fibres.
If a skin is badly damaged, replacing it may be necessary.
So How Should We Care for Skin Skis?
Fortunately, it isn't rocket science.
- After skiing, check the skin for dirt, icing and mechanical damage.
- If the skin is dirty, clean it using a product specifically designed for mohair or ski skins.
- Allow it to dry thoroughly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Apply a suitable skin impregnation treatment as directed, generally following the direction of the fibres from tip to tail.
- And don't forget to maintain and glide-wax the front and rear glide zones of the ski.
How often impregnation is needed depends on the product, weather conditions and how frequently you ski.
So a complete service isn't necessarily required after every short outing.
But especially before challenging conditions around freezing point, it's worth making sure the skins are clean and properly treated.
One Last Thought
Skin skis are an excellent alternative to traditional kick waxing.
They save us plenty of time and often quite a few nerves as well.
But they aren't entirely maintenance-free.
A clean and properly impregnated mohair skin can provide more reliable grip and better glide, particularly by reducing contamination and icing.
Regular inspection also helps us recognise mechanical wear before it becomes a serious problem.
So while skin skis don't need traditional kick wax, they certainly deserve a little attention.
After all, I doubt an Angora goat would be particularly delighted if we never cleaned its coat for several years.
And still expected perfect grip and glide from it. 😀