I have used some Whizz skins since I bought my own touring gear a few years ago. One of the main attractions was that you could just stick them together without battling with netting strips on a windy coll.
I thought I would treat them to some new glue and bought some Colltex adesive tape , followed the instructions to the letter and was very pleased with myself!
last week we ended up in Bramaer ( should have been Milan !) after 3 days on one skin about 40% of the glue stip had come off and where still on it was not looking good. Luckily I had put a few pieces of spare tape in and while in the Bothy stuck them on to get back out.
I sent some photos to Colltex - they replied quickly. The upshot is that when you re glue you HAVE to them use netting strips and DON'T stick them together . The email said that they have NOT said this in their instructions . They are sending me out some new glue tape and netting strips but not really what I wanted !
cdpej
john i have some of these and find them utterly useless. talking to other people i am not alone. they are fine for the first skin of the day but if they get at all wet or snowy they lose all adhesion completely. they dont seem to be listed on the colltex website any more. they now seem to have 2 "glues": acrylate and hotmelt. I think the latter is more of a traditional glue. any one else know more? Phil Jardine
JohnCairns
I've managed Ok but have heard that
they send some acrlate tape which is what I first used but need the netting so will be interesting to see how they go . if anybody else is in the same position (know of one chap) then email Beatrice Schnyder at Colltex and say you need some netting FOC as isn't on re glueing instructions which they acknowledge . they sent some to me from place at Kendal
Colltex
cdpej
This is what telemark Pyrenees day on their website:
Colltex Clariden Whizzz Mix - Climbing Skins
Colltex's Whizzz skins use a unique glue-less attachment system using an acrylic film in place of the glue. The acrylic sheet gives good adhesion to the ski base for around 30 days use, then can be replaced with a new sheet. We have tested these skis for 2 years and found they work well in all temperatures above -10°C and most snow conditions. The mohair-nylon mixed plush uses quite short fibres that give very good glide and reliable grip in most conditions. Like other glue-less skins handling the Clariden Whizzz skis is very easy - just roll them up and pop them in a pocket or backpack.
cdpej
This is what telemark Pyrenees day on their website:
Colltex Clariden Whizzz Mix - Climbing Skins
Colltex's Whizzz skins use a unique glue-less attachment system using an acrylic film in place of the glue. The acrylic sheet gives good adhesion to the ski base for around 30 days use, then can be replaced with a new sheet. We have tested these skis for 2 years and found they work well in all temperatures above -10°C and most snow conditions. The mohair-nylon mixed plush uses quite short fibres that give very good glide and reliable grip in most conditions. Like other glue-less skins handling the Clariden Whizzz skis is very easy - just roll them up and pop them in a pocket or backpack.
BrianHorn
I've used these skins for the last 3 years and had no issue with them whatsoever. In fact quite the opposite as they are easy to use, light and packable. Until I decided to have them re-glued. I followed the instructions which didn't mention the need for cheat sheets and on first ski found the glue sheet coming off. Fortunately there was enough adhesion still on the skins to complete 2 weeks touring. I went back to Anything Technical in Kendal where Calum attempted to do a re-glue. Same thing happened. Colltex told Callum that the new glue sheets were too strong to stick together. I'm now back on standard skins courtesy of AT.
JohnCairns
Hi Brian
Yes same experiences as me - I did like them but feel they have been rather mis sold as the advantage of not having to do the netting is lost when you re glue ! not redone mine yet !
SimonDuvivier
I have to endorse the above comments. I bought a pair (whizz) 3 years ago and used them successfully for the last 2 seasons. Good adhesion and fast transitions were my experience. This season I thought it wise to reglue using the system provided by Coltex. The skins were fine for a weeks gentle touring but let me down (and others in the party) when they got iced up and refused to adhere to the ski during a more serious ascent involving some awkward downhill and traverse sections. Dried them in the hut that night and they were ok the next day on an easier ascent. However the opinion of the guide was as above in that they have found to be ineffective in cold conditions and cannot be recommended for serious touring.
HarveyLyons
I got some of these for my partner Ali for the all the declared advantages, light, supple, glue to glue, low effort, and easy to manage. This has proved to be the case for 3 years, until this year when we ran into the widely reported contamination and reliability issues. Colltex have rebadge/named Whizzz “CLARIDEN” and is still available, note they targetted at leisure use. We will be re-glueing to standard glue and cheat sheets. I have moved to contour skins as a compromise, aka they are a glue, but allow low effort glue to glue stowage, time will tell.
NickThorburn
After reading the above I wasn't exactly thrilled given the way the skins are advertised so e-mailed Colltex to be certain. It seemed a bit sneaky by the company so wanted to check. I was advised the same as above which is irritating as I'd found them to be pretty good otherwise.
I use mine for short skins from lifts on a pair of all-mountain skis now and have some Pomoca for 'proper' touring. Thanks for the info though as I would likely have plunged into the same trap when trying to maintain the adhesive.