Redpine On that day (fresh snow, -3°C, sunny), both skis provided similar grip while climbing. However, the grip tape ski exhibited more glide than the skin ski. I haven't tested with grip wax, but I suspect the grip tape would still offer superior glide. Cross-country skis typically have significa...

I hate equipment noise. I tried some silicone spray, but maybe I didn't have the right kind. It worked initially, but the equipment noise returned relatively quickly. I had some Minwax lying around, and I thought, 'Why not?' It seems to be working well; I've had 5-6 good outings so far without needi...

Mtlsam Reading some of your posts, you often mention your skill level. I haven't seen you ski, but I can feel a strong passion present. There's nothing like having a good foundation and practicing, but in some cases, I believe the right equipment choice can make a noticeable difference in gaining c...

Capercaillie Man, those Fey Brothers skis are a dream. I have a strong feeling I'm going to end up with a pair sooner rather than later. The 75mm 3-pin system, whether we like it or not, is hard to beat, but I would not give up on the idea of TTS so quickly. Your analysis is very interesting; I'm s...

- Follow up IMG_01.jpg IMG_02.jpg IMG_03.jpg IMG_04.jpg I was too eager to test the grip tape, so I borrowed an old pair of skis from a neighbor. Same length as the TAOs, nothing scientific, the tape covers roughly the same surface (first picture). The weather was a sunny -3°C. Second picture, 17-de...

My next project: experimenting with grip tape as a substitute for climbing skins or fish scales. From what I've read, it's similar to kick wax, effective in temperatures from +5°C to -20°C, and potentially long-lasting. My goal is to reliably climb 20-degree slopes (wish me luck!). I stumbled upon a...

fisheater Please report back if you mount them. Do you have the Scale Vagabond 97 skis? Wingman25 Looks like you have a dream kit with the 106 and TTS transit! Share some pics if you can. Thanks for the camber info. I'm surprised you're switching to skins at a 15-degree slope. From my readings, (mi...

Figured I'd give this post a little bump, these skis have certainly piqued my curiosity.
The website mentions "aggressive scale pattern."
I'm curious how much camber they have, and how well they climb. How do they compare to other scaled skis?
Has anyone tried them?

@Oldbie
The TAO will definitely have more glide than the HOK 125.
I haven't tried that specific wax, but I doubt you'll see a significant improvement in glide.
That type of wax is used to prevent snow from sticking to the skins in warmer conditions.

@ berto9eleven I've been skiing the TAOs since they were released (probably 15-20 hours on them so far) and I'm convinced they're the best skinned skis you can buy. Choosing skis depends entirely on your intended use and terrain. For example, no skinned ski will perform well on groomed runs. The TAO...