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The Pomoca Tour Explore is crafted as an accessible entry point into Pomoca's renowned climbing skin catalog. Geared toward intermediate ski tourers and recreational backcountry travelers, it delivers the dependable baseline characteristics of the brand's premium models at a more palatable price point of approximately $220. It serves as a reliable workhorse for routine morning dawn patrols and weekend backcountry tours. Constructed with a 70% mohair and 30% nylon plush, the Tour Explore retains the smooth glide and natural stride efficiency that makes blended skins so desirable. While it utilizes a slightly thicker, heavier backing material than the top-ranked Free Pro, this added structural substance translates directly into improved tear resistance and overall durability against sharp ski edges. The standard Pomoca adhesive ensures dependable cold-weather sticking power while releasing cleanly during transitions. The slight increase in material thickness means the Tour Explore does not pack down quite as small as higher-end lightweight models, and its overall weight is marginally higher. However, for backcountry travelers seeking proven Swiss engineering and dependable glide without pushing past the mid-$200 mark, it is a sensible choice. **Highlights** * 70/30 mohair-nylon plush offers effortless glide over flat and rolling terrain * Lower price point than Pomoca's high-end Pro series skins * Robust backing fabric resists wear, fraying, and edge abrasions * Dependable glue formula performs consistently across standard winter temps **Watch-outs** * Bulkier and heavier to pack away than ultralight variants * Factory plush waterproofing requires periodic refreshing over long seasons
Pros
- Efficient forward glide from the 70/30 mohair-nylon blend
- Stout backing provides excellent resistance against edge cuts
- Balanced adhesive releases cleanly without wrestling during transitions
- More budget-friendly than Pomoca's premium ultralight models
Cons
- Bulkier and heavier inside a touring pack than high-end skins
- Requires cleaner stride technique on icy tracks than pure nylon
- Plush water-repellent coating requires occasional reapplication
Best uses
- Recreational backcountry ski touring
- Everyday dawn patrol laps
- Rolling approach terrain
- Mid-winter powder ascents
Specifications
- Plush Material
- 70% Mohair, 30% Nylon
- Retail Price
- Around $220
- Plush Character
- Glide-biased mixed fiber
- Target Skier
- Recreational and intermediate tourers
- Origin
- Switzerland
- Hardware
- Adjustable tip loop and tail clip
Pricing
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Best for
Recreational backcountry ski touring, Everyday dawn patrol laps, Rolling approach terrain, Mid-winter powder ascents
Where to buy the Tour Explore
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The Pomoca Tour Explore is engineered as an accessible gateway into Pomoca's Swiss-crafted climbing skin collection. Priced around $220, it targets intermediate backcountry skiers and dedicated weekend tourers who prioritize efficient gliding and daily dependability over razor-thin ultralight packaging. By utilizing the company's proven plush construction without the premium price tag of their featherweight skimo models, it occupies an appealing middle ground in the touring market. At the core of the Tour Explore is a 70% mohair and 30% nylon blend, a ratio widely favored for balancing low-friction forward glide with steady uphill bite. Unlike minimalist race skins that rely on tissue-thin backings, the Tour Explore uses a slightly sturdier support laminate. This gives the skin greater structural integrity, shielding the edges against cuts from sharp steel ski edges during clumsy kick turns or dense timber traverses. While this heavier backing means the Tour Explore takes up noticeably more room inside a touring pack, the trade-off yields higher durability and lower cost. For recreational skiers looking for reliable glue performance and smooth strides on everyday dawn patrols, the Tour Explore delivers the baseline attributes Pomoca is famous for without unnecessary complexity.
Target Audience and Intent
The Tour Explore is tailored for backcountry travelers who want reliable equipment for standard winter tours rather than specialized tools for fast-and-light skimo racing or technical ski mountaineering. It is particularly well suited for intermediate tourers stepping away from heavy, stiff entry-level skins and moving toward something that glides effortlessly across flat approaches. Backcountry skiers who log regular morning laps before work or spend full weekends exploring mellow drainages will appreciate its set-and-forget simplicity. Because it trades micro-packability for sturdier construction, it suits skiers who carry standard 30- to 40-liter day packs where a slightly thicker pair of skins can easily fit without causing space management issues.
Materials and Construction
Pomoca builds the Tour Explore with a 70% natural mohair and 30% synthetic nylon fiber composition. The mohair content provides low surface friction and natural suppleness, allowing the skin to slide smoothly forward with minimal drag on every stride. Meanwhile, the nylon strands provide the structural stiffness needed for firm uphill grip and mechanical wear resistance. Underneath the plush, Pomoca bonds a robust backing layer that keeps moisture from migrating into the glue. This substrate is visibly thicker than the ultra-thin membranes found on higher-tier Pro models, which lowers production costs while adding meaningful puncture and tear resistance against sharp ski edges and abrasive crust.
Uphill Grip and Glide
In typical backcountry snow conditions, the 70/30 blend offers a noticeable mechanical advantage over full-nylon alternatives. On long, low-angle logging roads and rolling ridge walks, the plush slides freely, saving critical cardiovascular energy over thousands of strides. The directional lay of the fibers provides dependable holding power on moderate skin tracks, allowing skiers to maintain a relaxed, balanced upright stance. However, because it leans toward glide efficiency, it requires cleaner technique on icy, steepened tracks where an all-nylon skin might bite more aggressively. Skiers with solid foot placement will find the traction completely adequate for nearly all standard winter ascents.
Adhesive and Transition Handling
The Tour Explore features Pomoca's standard hot-melt adhesive formula, widely respected for its consistent performance across varying winter temperatures. It adheres firmly to dry ski bases without leaving gummy residue behind when pulled off at the summit. Importantly, the glue exhibits moderate tack: it holds securely during prolonged, sub-zero tours yet remains manageable when pulling the skins apart skin-to-skin during hurried transitions. Backcountry travelers do not need wrestling-level force to separate them, making transitions smoother in high winds. As with any traditional hot-melt system, keeping ski bases dry and storing the skins inside a jacket on freezing lap days helps prevent ice contamination.
Durability and Pack Volume
The main performance compromise of the Tour Explore lies in its physical bulk. The heavier backing fabric prevents the skin from rolling into a truly compact cylinder, taking up roughly a third more space in a pack compared to high-end ultralight models. In exchange for that bulk, the skin provides exceptional resistance to delamination and edge fraying. Sharp inside edges of touring skis can shred delicate backings over a single hard season, but the Tour Explore handles occasional edge contact without unraveling. The plush fibers also resist premature bald patches, making this an ideal choice for skiers who want equipment to last several consecutive seasons.
Market Context and Alternatives
At roughly $220, the Tour Explore competes directly with benchmark workhorses like the Black Diamond Ascension and standard models in the Montana or G3 lineups. Pure nylon skins like the Ascension offer outright higher traction on bulletproof skin tracks and rock-hard refrozen snow, but they feel like dragging sandbags across long flats by comparison. Conversely, stepping up to Pomoca's higher-end Climb Pro S-Glide or Free Pro models costs significantly more money for incremental gains in packability and water repellency. For skiers who want Swiss glide performance without paying top-tier prices, the Tour Explore remains one of the most cost-effective blended options available.
How we picked
We started with a long list of climbing skins that people actually buy, cut anything that could not clear our baseline for durability and field performance, then ranked the 10 that were left against the same criteria. Rankings are editorial. No brand pays for placement, and affiliate links never move a pick up or down.
- Backcountry reliability
- How consistently the gear works in cold, wet and stressful conditions.
- Weight for the uphill
- Grams saved on the skin track against downhill performance given up.
- Real-world durability
- How the material, stitching, or steel holds up after a season of hard use — not how it looks new.
- Performance in bad conditions
- Wind, rain, cold, and grit are the test. Anything that only works on a nice day gets marked down.
- Weight and packability
- Every ounce has to earn its place in the pack, but not at the cost of something that fails in the field.
- Ease of use
- Setup, adjustment, and maintenance with cold hands, in the dark, without the manual.
Tour Explore — frequently asked questions
- Is the Tour Explore worth it?
- We rank it #9 in Climbing Skins. The Pomoca Tour Explore is crafted as an accessible entry point into Pomoca's renowned climbing skin catalog. Geared toward intermediate ski tourers and recreational backcountry travelers, it delivers the dependable baseline characteristics of the brand's premium models at a more palatable price point of…
- What is the Tour Explore best for?
- Best for recreational backcountry ski touring, everyday dawn patrol laps, rolling approach terrain and mid-winter powder ascents. Standouts: efficient forward glide from the 70/30 mohair-nylon blend and stout backing provides excellent resistance against edge cuts.
- What are the downsides of the Tour Explore?
- Bulkier and heavier inside a touring pack than high-end skins, Requires cleaner stride technique on icy tracks than pure nylon and Plush water-repellent coating requires occasional reapplication.
- What are the key specs of the Tour Explore?
- Plush Material: 70% Mohair, 30% Nylon · Retail Price: Around $220 · Plush Character: Glide-biased mixed fiber · Target Skier: Recreational and intermediate tourers · Origin: Switzerland
- Target Audience and Intent — what should I know about the Tour Explore?
- The Tour Explore is tailored for backcountry travelers who want reliable equipment for standard winter tours rather than specialized tools for fast-and-light skimo racing or technical ski mountaineering. It is particularly well suited for intermediate tourers stepping away from heavy, stiff entry-level skins and…
- Materials and Construction — what should I know about the Tour Explore?
- Pomoca builds the Tour Explore with a 70% natural mohair and 30% synthetic nylon fiber composition. The mohair content provides low surface friction and natural suppleness, allowing the skin to slide smoothly forward with minimal drag on every stride.
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