Black Diamond Ascension STS Skins

Rated: 5 by 14 reviews.

Berg's Ski Shop

Ascension is the standard on which all skins are built, from the glue to the plush...
Ideal for attending to today'­s skis that have a wide range of tail shapes, the patented STS System features a one-touch, easy-to-tension camming tailpiece with a tough, New 10% stronger stretchy elastomer strap that provides 10 cm of length adjustment for use with multiple pairs of skis. The NEW Ascension skins feature durable, hydrophobic construction and offer tremendous durability, climbing security and have been redesigned to be 10% more supple and packable. Our reversible tip loop fits a wide range of skis.
Features:
  • Construction: Flex Laminate
  • Sizes:
  • Tip Loop Sizes:
  • Small: Skins 50'±70 mm
  • Medium: Skins 80'±100 mm
  • Large: Skins 110'±130 mm
  • Weight: 570 g 1 lb 4 oz per pair (90 mm)
  • Usage: A combination elastomer and camming system for simple and speedy transitions that also allows quick adjustment in length.
  • Color: Orange

Black Diamond Skin Tips:
  • Skin size is based on the maximum width of your ski tip. For example: a 112-79-102 ski would most efficiently use a 110 mm skin.
  • Check out our tutorial video at www.bdel.com/community/videos/glidelite_skin_trim.html for trimming advice or try our precision trimmed skins '³ cut for BD (and similar shaped) skis.
  • Our Standard Skins, sans tailpiece, are a great solution if a skin tailpiece doesn'­t adapt to your skis. Trim the skin to just before the end of the running length of the ski.
  • To keep glue fresh, store your skins long term in a cool, dry place with cheat sheets on. Only remove sheets when your skins are above freezing.
  • Secure tip loops permanently by sewing them in place and trimming the excess skin flaps off.
  • Lastly, after using your skins allow them to dry before storing.

Mountain Gear

Ascension Skins from Black Diamond are renowned for their grippy, high-traction performance on steep climbs. With the secure STS system, you have adjustability to change the skin's tension as conditions fluctuate. Approximately 5 cm of length adjustability also means you can use 1 pair of skins for multiple pairs of skis. Specifications based on size 90 mm.

Features:

  • Best of both worlds: choose a skin about 10 mm narrower than the tip for skis with less than 20 mm sidecut, about 15 mm narrower for skis with 20 – 30 mm sidecut, about 20 mm narrower for skis with more than 30 mm sidecut. Then just trim them to fit with included trim tool.
  • Constructed from non-absorbent nylon with a hydrophobic treatment to increase water repellency and performance; adhesive back features a glueless strip to make removal easier in the field
  • Lightest & most compact (recommended only for skis with less than 20 mm sidecut): size approximately 5 mm (no more than 10 mm) narrower than width of the ski waist; no trimming necessary - just center them on the ski
  • Maximum climbing ability: size equal to or slightly less than the width of the ski tip; trim to fit with included trim tool
  • Skin Tight System (STS) offers a broad range of adjustment so you'll only need one pair for most of the skis in your quiver
  • Swaged cable tip loop is super strong and fits a wide range of ski tip profiles
  • There are 3 choices in sizing skins for your skis:

Marmot Mountain

This year Black Diamond Ascension skins have been markedly improved. They are 10% more supple and packable, and the tip loops are now easily adjustable for different width skins and are easily replaceable. Tail straps are now 20% stronger and have more stretch to help keep the skin snug. Ascension Skins sport a fast drying orange color and the easy-to-adjust STS attachment system. Ascension glue is the stickiest, longest lasting glue on the market. Larger sizes (from 80 to 140mm) have glue-less strips running the length of the skin to make it easier to apply. Nylon skins last 3-5 times longer than Mohair skins especially in conditions other than dry powder snow. The Ascension hydrophobic plush and nap of the nylon fabric is the most durable available and the easiest to trim due to a lamination process, which leaves the edge clean and unfrayed.

REI

The Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS skins attach easily to nearly any ski and are renowned for tenacious glue and excellent durability.

  • New adjustable tip attachment fits a wide range of ski tip shapes; tip loop width adjusts from 80mm to 105mm
  • Tip design eliminates the traditional fold-over section at the front of the skin, thereby reducing weight and bulk
  • STS tail attachment fits any ski you have on hand and provides 10cm of length adjustment; 20% stronger than previous versions
  • Orange plush skin material is sturdy and durable yet supple and packable
  • Includes detailed instructions, skin trimming tool, Cheat Sheet mesh storage sheets and a nylon storage bag
  • Length of the skin itself is 188cm; including the STS tail, total length adjusts from 195cm - 200cm
  • Please note: weight spec represents a pair of untrimmed skins

SummitOnline.com (2010)

The Ascension Nylon STS Skins by Black Diamond are the perfect hard-working ski accessory. They are pre-cut to fit the length of your ski and provide a great savings in trim time and effort. The Ascension Nylon STS Skins were redesigned to be 10% more supple and packable in a nylon ripstop bag. These nylon skins also have patented STS adjustable tails that are now 20% stronger and give 10 cm length adjustment. The orange plush material used to create the Ascension Nylon STS Skins not only feel great, but it is also quite durable and sturdy. This Black Diamond item was also redesigned to have an adjustable tip attachment to fit a large range of ski tip shapes.

This description was also provided by: Skis.com (2010)


Campsaver.com

Designed to easily attach to today's skis' wide range of tail shapes, Black Diamond's Ascension Nylon STS skins feature durable, hydrophobic construction and offer tremendous durability and climbing security.

Features:

  • Available in 15 mm increments from 65 to 140 mm
  • Easily adjusts to different skis in your quiver, but also allows for one-and-done tensioning for fast transitions
  • Orange Plush skin material is durable and sturdy
  • Patented STS adjustable tails are now 20% stronger and provide 10 cm of length adjustment
  • Redesigned adjustable tip attachment to fit a wide range of ski tip shapes
  • Redesigned to be 10% more supple and packable in a new nylon ripstop bag

Paragon Sports

Designed to easily attach to today’s skis' wide range of tail shapes, Ascension Nylon STS skins feature durable, hydrophobic construction and offer tremendous durability and climbing security.

Features:

  • Easily adjusts to different skis in your quiver, but also allows for one-and-done tensioning for fast transitions
  • Orange Plush skin material is durable and sturdy
  • Patented STS adjustable tails are now 20% stronger and provide 10 cm of length adjustment
  • Redesigned adjustable tip attachment to fit a wide range of ski tip shapes
  • Redesigned to be 10% more supple and packable in a new nylon ripstop bag
  • Weight Per Pair : 751 g, 1 lb 10 oz (110 mm)

TetonVillageSports.com

Designed to easily attach to today's skis' wide range of tail shapes, Ascension Nylon STS skins feature durable, hydrophobic construction and offer tremendous durability and climbing security.

Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS Skin Features

  • Redesigned to be 10% more supple and packable in a new nylon ripstop bag
  • Patented STS adjustable tails are now 20% stronger and provide 10 cm of length adjustment
  • Redesigned adjustable tip attachment to fit a wide range of ski tip shapes
  • Orange Plush skin material is durable and sturdy
  • Easily adjusts to different skis in your quiver, but also allows for one-and-done tensioning for fast transitions
  • Weight Per Pair:751 g, 1 lb 10 oz (110 mm)

Oregon Mountain Community (2009)

Black Diamond skins are efficient, trouble-free and easy to use. This year we’ve made things even simpler by offering pre-trimmed Ascension Skins, fitted to a range of Black Diamond (and similar shaped) skis. We’ve also adjusted skin sizes to cover a better range of ski shapes and added an extra large 130-mm size for gargantuan skis. This builds on other improvements, including the fortification of our legendary glue, refined fiber length for a balanced glide/climb ratio and an additional hydrophobic treatment to prevent water retention.


Oregon Mountain Community

Ascension climbing skins have been the standard of comparison for many years; this year, the standard got higher. As tough and reliable as ever, Ascension Nylon STS skins have several improvement. Redesigned tips fits more skis, the tail attachment is longer and stronger, and best of all, a bit less "boardy" to make folding and stuffing easier.


Backcountry.com

With redesigned tip and tail attachments and an adjustable, lightweight design, the Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS Skins are the go-to skins for day-in, day-out backcountry touring. Ten centimeters of length adjustment lets you customize the Ascension to different skis while also allowing for set tensioning on your quiver-of-one.


Sierra Trading Post

Ascension STS climbing skins from Black Diamond Equipment easily attach to a wide range of tail shapes and feature a hydrophobic build for durability and climbing security.

Length:188 centimeters
Manufacturer Warranty:1 Year
Material:Nylon
Recommended Use:Backcountry skiing
Suggested use:Backcountry
Tail Attachment:STS adjustable
Weight:577 / 664 / 751 / 838 / 924 grams
Weight per pair:1 lb 4 oz
Width:80 / 95 / 110 / 125 / 140 millimeters

Black Diamond Ascension STS Skins Reviews Summary:

RatingNumber
of Reviews
510
44
30
20
10

Reviews:

More than a 1000 ways to skin a mountain

Rating:*****

I first bought a pair of these skins over five years ago. I put them on a pair of Seth Pistols and began traipsing into the woods with friends in Colorado. Since then, those same skins have graced the bases of more than ten different skis and to this day are still going strong.

In their most recent conversion, they are now assisting my girlfriend in her advances into the backcountry. They are much shorter now than when I first cut them, but the glue and fibers are all in place and easy to manage.

With my girl rocking my old skins, it was time for me to buy some new ones, and after asking around and looking at other options, I have settled on what I know best: the Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS Skins are the real deal. I will never skin on anything else!

Chris Tatsuno at Backcountry.com

Grip Nasty!

Rating:*****

If there is one skin that does it all, its these babies.

When Mt. Baker got snow early back in October, a friend invited me along on a tour of Heliotrope ridge. In the past, I've boot packed most backcountry routes, but this time he gave me a pair of his skins to try out -ascension nylon sts's. Being that it was my first time on skins, I thought I was going to be in for a long day, but as soon as I started up, it was as if I was walking on asphalt. From sun sheer ice to powder to crust, I never slipped once. With these skins, I found myself walking straight up the mountain.

I bought my own pair the very next week.
If you want one skin that will do it all, dont even think about getting anything else.

Harkin Banks at Backcountry.com on 12/21/2009

A few tips to make these even better

Rating:****

Some tips for kicking ass with skins: If the skins will be dedicated to one pair of skis, sew the tip loop. Use a file to notch the tail of your ski so the sts clip can't slide off to the sides. When regluing, screw BD's advice of soaking glue up with paper: use the paper to protect your iron, get the glue hot over a section of skin, then use a metal scraper to remove glue like it was a hotwax job on your ski.

Malcolm Herstand at Backcountry.com on 12/02/2009

sts skins

Rating:*****

have used this skin about a dozen times this season in the wasatch and it is super solid. just be careful about taking your skins on and off, the glue is really sticky and it is very easy to catch debris (if this occurs a little cold water and rubbing should remove most anything).

the skin sticks to the ski very well, and climbs excellent. so far no problems and as long as the glue is looked after should last awhile.

joshua moran at Backcountry.com on 01/16/2010

only skins i'll use

Rating:*****

Iv'e owned three sets now and will probably purchase again. I am hard on gear and these have stood the test of time. They are thick and large to pack compared to others(ex. glidelite). Not so easy to pocket to keep glue warm. I only have touched up glue on one pair which was used for 3 seasons, more due to junk build up than loosing tack. I've used partner's skins and none have seemed to hold as well on the uphill.

Ian Lauer at Backcountry.com on 12/08/2009

for those of you that abuse your gear

Rating:*****

These are the toughest, most durable skins on the market and will stand up to any abuse you can throw at them. I prefer the glidelites personally, they are a little lighter and thinner. But the ascensions are one of the top picks by many backcountry skiers, and for good reason. They are thick, tough, and provide excellent traction in all conditions. Great choice for those of you who tour a lot and are really hard your gear.

Matthew Tabrys at Backcountry.com on 09/27/2009

Earn those turns

Rating:****

Skins are all pretty much the same from what I have experienced, but after so many pair in the past many years I have found the key is to keep them dry and they work. These came with easy cutting tool for shaping the skins to my skis and so far they have worked great, although I have not used them in super steep conditions. Otherwise the product seems bomber and durable.

Tyson Bolduc at Backcountry.com on 01/13/2010

Black Diamond Ascension Nylon STS Skins

Rating:*****

These are the industry standard for climbing skins. They will work for you, no matter what. The only thing I can see being a possible issue is the glue wearing out, as it seems to have lost a bit of stick after a few days. Still, that is a fairly easy fix.

Nate Blouin at Backcountry.com on 12/18/2009

BD Cutting tool

Rating:****

Tip - I would make sure to have a straight razor on hand when trimming the skins. The blade on my BD tool actually bent while trimming the second skin making it unusable. No worries though, the straight razor actually performed better.

bri2512257 at Backcountry.com

They Grip

Rating:*****

These look very durable and grip very well. My friend skis with the nylon mix by BD and he definitely has a little more glide. As for grip, I'm not sure. We have not skinned anything too steep yet this season.

Mike Rose at Backcountry.com
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