The short answer: Very important. Check the difference in glide, weight, and performance with and without skin impregnation.

Easter is approaching, and many are hoping for beautiful ski outings, whether in the mountains or in the forest trails. And for many, skin skis (felleski) have become the natural choice. It’s easy to see why.

Skin skis provide grip in hard, icy tracks and on crusty snow, as well as in slush and soft snow in the afternoon—typical spring conditions. And they require minimal prep before use.

But there’s one step many skip: impregnation.

Which skin skis are best, and how do you choose the right ones?

Elevates your ski experience from good to magical

It only takes seconds to impregnate the skin. No tools or prep are required—just a skin wipe or a quick spray with skin treatment and a paper towel. And the benefits are many.

The first thing you’ll notice is better glide and reduced risk of icing. That means better skiing from the very start.

But impregnation also causes the skin to absorb significantly less moisture during the outing. When the skin doesn’t soak up as much moisture, you also save weight compared to a soaking-wet skin. Plus, the skin glides better on the snow when it isn’t waterlogged.

Better glide and lighter skis mean more speed and momentum, while also saving your energy kilometer after kilometer. That means you can go farther and experience more.

The warmer the conditions, the wetter the skin gets without treatment before the trip—so the further we move into late spring, the more important impregnation becomes. And the longer you plan to ski, the greater the impact this preparation will have on your energy—and not least your mood, and thereby your overall skiing experience.

Check the difference

Jan Olav Bjørn Gjermundshaug, a product developer at Swix, has tested and documented the difference in moisture absorption in the skins after one kilometer, two kilometers, three kilometers, and four kilometers in typical spring conditions.

“The effect of impregnation is remarkable. Skins without impregnation absorb so much moisture that it’s visible after just a few minutes,” says Bjørn Gjermundshaug to Langrenn.com.

After two kilometers, the difference between the impregnated and untreated skins is even greater, and in the last two measurement intervals, the untreated skin is so wet that Gjermundshaug wants to peel it off and wring it out.

“The exact amount of water it absorbs can’t be measured without removing the skins at every kilometer, but as shown in the photo series, the untreated skin is completely soaked after just two kilometers. Meanwhile, the impregnated skin is still dry and fine, even after four kilometers,” says Gjermundshaug.

Four Quick Tips About Skin Ski Treatment

OK, we’re convinced. But how, when, and how often should you treat your skin skis? Bjørn Gjermundshaug explains.

How do you treat the skins, and what equipment do you need?
“Treatment requires minimal effort, and all you need is a paper towel and the skin treatment spray. Just spray it on and wipe it off—it only takes a few seconds.”

Do you have to wait long after applying the treatment before skiing?
“You can ski immediately after treating the skins, but the treatment will wear off faster. If you let it dry for 15 to 30 minutes before wiping off, it will last much longer.”

How often should the skins be treated?
“You should treat the skins before every trip, especially in wet conditions.”

How can you tell if treatment is needed?
“You can’t really see if the skins need treatment, but I definitely recommend doing it before every outing, particularly in wet snow.”

Cleaning and Glide

How often should skins be cleaned?
You’ll notice it easily—if there’s dirt or klister residue on the skins, it’s time to use a skin cleaner spray. After cleaning, you should re-treat the skins before your next outing.

Besides cleaning, applying glide to the glide zones is the main form of maintenance for skin skis. Liquid glide wax is easy to use, quick to apply, and requires minimal tools.

Backcountry Tip

April and May are peak months for ski touring, and randonee skiing is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in skiing and outdoor life.

Bjørn Gjermundshaug points out that skin treatment spray works just as well on traditional, removable climbing skins as it does on the integrated skins found on touring and training skis.

But on randonee/touring skis, the weight savings and glide difference are even greater since these skins are significantly longer than the integrated ones used on groomed-trail skis.

Pro Tip

Before putting your skin skis away for the season, clean the skin with a skin cleaner and the glide zones with a glide cleaner. Follow the instructions on the glide cleaner bottle, then apply traditional hard glide wax to the glide zones using a waxing iron.

Store the skis with the glide wax on. This prevents the ski bases from drying out over the summer and ensures top-notch glide next winter.

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