Short, waxable ski recommendation

[randoskier]

The man himself!

[Capercaillie]

If you look at what online retailers are stocking this season, it seems like Åsnes has decided to go all-in on trying to push the waxless crap. This will probably be the end of the brand. As @randoskier mentioned, their product in this market is vastly overpriced and underperforming. I don't understand who decided it would be a good idea to change almost their entire product line to an over-crowded market segment where they have no competitive advantage.

A few comments on their marketing BS:

"Waxless skis have come a long way. The position, design, functionality, and length of the patterns have all been adapted and developed for the benefit of increased efficiency and effectiveness, both in grip and glide. That is to say that the new generation of waxless skis are vastly different skis from older skis... In short, waxless bases have become a truly valid option."

If you read any books or magazine articles from the mid-1970s onwards, literally this same BS is repeated over and over again every single season.

"The combination of waxless soles and skins is extremely versatile, simple, and reliable."

The Åsnes kicker skin attachment is very reliable... at peeling the kicker skin off of the ski. IMO it is a seriously flawed design.

[corlay]

scales have their place.
and, as mentioned, Fischer's are about the best out there at the moment.

I like scales for either:
a) warm conditions (>30f) I don't like to mess with soft waxes/Klisters
-or-
b) variable conditions, anticipated large temp swings across the tour and/or varying show conditions (fluff, hard-pak, slush, ice, etc)

but nothing beats a pair of waxed bases in the right conditions.
(and when you've nailed the wax/temp choice!)

[socaltim]

The problem with waxable skis is the same skis can work well in many different conditions if the wax is right. I mean, that is a problem if you sell skis. When the skiing is not so good you think you had better wax differently next time, instead of you had better buy some different skis.

[mca80]

The Åsnes kicker skin attachment is very reliable... at peeling the kicker skin off of the ski. IMO it is a seriously flawed design.

I have never had this happen. Has it been common for you? Granted, I haven't used their skins except for steep climbs and very, very rarely when not wanting to wax for grip, so my dataset is minimal. Also, their NATO ski has a recessed area for the skin attachment point which I would think makes it even less likely to disengage. The rest of your analaysis is dead-on--they occupy a niche for metal edged backcountry waxable skis, dominate this market even with their higher pricepoint, and are instead focusing on something which others (Fischer) do better.

[pacificnomad]

If you look at what online retailers are stocking this season, it seems like Åsnes has decided to go all-in on trying to push the waxless crap. This will probably be the end of the brand. As @randoskier mentioned, their product in this market is vastly overpriced and underperforming. I don't understand who decided it would be a good idea to change almost their entire product line to an over-crowded market segment where they have no competitive advantage.

A few comments on their marketing BS:

"Waxless skis have come a long way. The position, design, functionality, and length of the patterns have all been adapted and developed for the benefit of increased efficiency and effectiveness, both in grip and glide. That is to say that the new generation of waxless skis are vastly different skis from older skis... In short, waxless bases have become a truly valid option."

If you read any books or magazine articles from the mid-1970s onwards, literally this same BS is repeated over and over again every single season.

"The combination of waxless soles and skins is extremely versatile, simple, and reliable."

The Åsnes kicker skin attachment is very reliable... at peeling the kicker skin off of the ski. IMO it is a seriously flawed design.

What are your thoughts on Asnes new Nato specific skin? Looks pretty durable and like it'll stay in place better maybe. They're 100% nylon though, so more like snow shuffling rather than a nice mohair glide.