The most frequently asked questions from our customers
You can either have your sports retailer replace the adhesive layer or you can restore it yourself. There are two options: glue in a tube or our so-called transfer tape for ironing on.
One tube of glue is sufficient for the renewal of one pair. First you need to remove the old glue. Cover the adhesive side with a piece of cotton fabric and iron over it on medium heat (wool setting). This softens the glue and it can be absorbed by the cotton fabric. The soft glue remaining on the skin can be removed with a spatula.
- Glue in tubes: Apply the new glue evenly, not too thinly, with a brush, a spatula or a sturdy piece of cardboard. Allow the adhesive layer to dry at room temperature for approx. 10 hours and only then apply the protective film for storing the skins. Keep the skins UV-protected in the stuff sack.
- Glue on transfer tape: Thoroughly apply the transfer tape to the clean back of the skin and press it down carefully. Transfer the adhesive with an iron or wax iron in the upper temperature range (150 °C – 160 °C) with light pressure and slow movements. Should dark spots form on the foil, reduce temperature slightly. The skins are ready for use again after a short cooling period.
The glue sticking out at the sides can be cut off along the edges of the skin after it has cooled down.
When walking, make sure to glide as perfectly as possible and don’t lift the skis, but rather push and pull them along on the snow. This reduces the risk of glopping and icing.
Glopping is an issue especially when moving from wet to dry snow. New skins are hydrophobic i.e. treated against water absorption. With use this treatment wears off and the skins must be treated with waterproofing agents or skin wax. This also improves the gliding performance. Depending on the conditions, you can treat your skins after every 3-4 tours. For this purpose, various products are available in specialized stores:
- Mohair spray, 250ml, without propellant
- skin wax, 40 g block in convenient plastic box, ideal to take along on your tours. Apply from tip to tail.
- liquid wax, 100ml bottle with sponge application
Despite minor damage to the hybrid adhesive layer, the skins are still fully functional as long as they still feel tacky. If this is not the case, clean the adhesive layer.
Check the fit of the skins. In the central third, if possible, only the steel edges should be free.
Check the condition of the skins. Especially when used primarily on slopes or hard snow, mohair skins have a life span of 60-80 tours and then need to be replaced. Mix skins have a slightly higher abrasion resistance.
Do not edge up when traversing, but use as much skin surface as possible.
Choose a flatter track.
Be sure to use the included cutter to trim your skins. Usually fringes form after the first tours of trimmed skins and tear off automatically after several uses. The fringe can also be cut with sharp scissors. Do not worry, the skins will not dissolve.
Varioclips are available as accessories from specialist dealers.
The red sliders hold the upper and lower parts together. Make sure that the sliders are fully engaged.
If the top and bottom do not close neatly, the skin in the varioclip may have slipped or not been cut exactly. Open the varioclip and check whether the skin sits cleanly in the recess. If necessary, trim a little with good scissors and make sure that the 3 needles that pierce the skin are not bent.
contour offers two different versions of the tailclip: For normal to thin skis, the tailclip “slim” is the first choice. The second version sits neatly on thicker tails.