Atomic Charter Climbing Skins Review
August 29, 2014
87 The Good
- Pre-cut for easy, out-of-the-package use
- Will fit other skis of similar dimensions as there are no proprietary tip or tail connectors
The Bad
- Plastic tail clip will likely fail at some point or crack
- Tip connector is fairly basic and will not accommodate a fatter ski
- Tail clip falls off skis with rounded tails
The Atomic Charter Climbing Skins share a similar design with the Colltex Mohair skins (also tested here) but at a $60 savings. The simplistic design of the tip and tail attachment hardware proved ineffective on some skis. But skiers on a budget with skis of similar dimensions as the Atomic Charter’s will appreciate the value and performance of the Charter Climbing Skins.
Glide / Grip
With 100-percent mohair plush, you would expect the Atomic Charter Climbing Skins to provide superior glide over their synthetic nylon rivals and you’d be right. While glide is only half the equation I also found these skins provided adequate grip in most conditions relative to other skins on the market. Extremely dry, cold snow on a well-used skin track did seem to challenge the Atomic Charter Climbing Skins but a less aggressive up-track remedied this problem.
Durability
The weak point in the design of most climbing skins is typically in the tip and tail attachment points and with the Atomic Charter Climbing Skins this is not an exception. While I would not call this a major problem, I would question the longevity of the tip and tail clips relative to other solutions on the market given the plastic parts and sewn in attachment points.
Use
Overall, the Atomic Charter Climbing Skins performed well compared to other skins tested. The glue was substantial and challenged even the strongest of skiers to separate their skins, but did not fail on the up-track during testing. The tip and tail clips held skin to ski as they should, but if used on a more round tailed ski, the tail clip becomes a problem as it is not a perfect fit.
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