Grip tape question

[Erik H]

I recently have been using my new waxless Nansen skis and am quite disappointed with the lack of grip from the fishscales. on flat terrain they were fine but as soon as I started to climb they barely provided any grip. Would grip tape in front of the waxless pattern be a good solution to get more grip, or would I be better off just getting a pair of x skins?
Thanks, Erik

[Stephen]

@Erik H, maybe others know — but I don’t.
What is “Grip Tape?”

[fisheater]

I have a MT 51 with scales, I don’t use this ski often. However when I do, I usually use a little kick wax in the scales. It works. Since extending the wax pocket forward works, there would be no reason using grip wax tape wouldn’t help.
I really don’t care for my 45 mm mohair X-skin on my Gamme, just not enough glide for me. I would like to try the 30 mm X-skin.
That’s just my experience, YMMV.

[JB TELE]

Hey Erik, I have some nansens that I've used a couple of times. The grip pattern is not as long as some other skis out there. They are also a skinny ski so there is less surface area of fish scales to grip. That gives them excellent glide, but they are only good for flat terrain.

Grip tape would result in horrible glide.

Asnes sells kicker skins: https://neptunemountaineering.com/produ ... skin-nylon
I have these full length skins for my nanses: https://skimo.co/contour-cross-country-skins

With skis that skinny, even with a longer fishscale pattern, you never end up with enough grip for hilly terrain like you find at andrews and molas. You will probably end up leaving your x-skins on most of the time.

You can also put kick wax in front of and behind the fish scales. Kick waxes come in different forms for different snow temperatures. The colder waxes for colder temps are fine if you want to put skins over them, but the warmer waxes will goop up on your skins.

If you have gone out recently, the breakable crust combined with powder drifts makes travel difficult even with kicker skins on.

[Erik H]

thanks for the advice! I'll definitely look into getting some x skins, they look like they might be easier to deal for yo-yo-ing with than the full length skins which I have been using

[JB TELE]

X skins give better glide than full lengths for mellow ascents. But going downhill on x skins is more difficult. With full lengths, you have even friction going downhill. With x skins, you end up pressuring the camber of one ski and you suddenly have more friction, make you fall forward. Obviously you don't want to go downhill on skins, but in hilly terrain with short descents it happens.

[CwmRaider]

I had waxless Nansens and was also disappointed by the grip. I remedied for a while either by by using grip wax 15 to 20 cm forwards from the end of the scales or using shirt skins, but eventually got waxable skis instead.
The scale pattern is only 55 cm or so long compared to 90 on Fischer skis.
Fwiw mohair 45mm short skins offer acceptable glide and much better grip than scales. Just trim them behind the heel.

[lilcliffy]

Hi Erik,
I have only tried grip tape a few times- and only on a highly-cambered Classic XC track ski (I much prefer using kick wax/klister)-
I doubt that grip tape would work well on a low-cambered BC ski like the Nansen...I doubt it would even stay on...

I have the Nansen WL as well- it is my late winter/early spring secret weapon, and I use scales; hard grip wax; and kicker skins.

If you haven't tried the X-Skins yet- do try that first- they are definitely faster on/off than a full-length skin.
ALSO- if your primary objective is climbing- get the nylon X-Skin. The Nansen is not a siginificantly cambered ski- you will be impressed what you can climb with a nylon kicker skin- they will be slow as frack in XC mode. If they are for climbing- don't trim them to your heel.

Watch for sale prices and get two X-skins:
A) nylon for climbing- untrimmed
B) mohair for XC skiing on snow that is not great for scales (eg icy/refrozen snow)- trimmed to your heel

Let us know how you make out!
Best,
Gareth

[JB TELE]

I recommend that Erik also get full length skins if he doesn't have then already. Since we are both skiing in the same area, you will need them if you want to ski the ridge above little molas lake or ascend up to Snowden meadows from andrews lake, just some examples.

[Yamaska]

maybe others know — but I don’t.
What is “Grip Tape?”

If you tink about it long enough, you’ll figure it out.

Lots of advise before asking about the weight of the skier and the length of the skis first. That’s the first thing an experienced skier would ask, n’est pas?