The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of outdoor gear

G3 Splitboard+ Glide Review

Great skins for proficient skinners who know they want an efficient skin for big days.
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Price:  $200 List | $199.00 at REI
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Efficient skinning, compact storage, solid attachment system
Cons:  Adequate grip, awkward folds
Manufacturer:   G3
By David Reichel ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 27, 2019
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70
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#3 of 7
  • Glide - 25% 8
  • Grip - 25% 6
  • Ease of use - 15% 7
  • Attachment System - 15% 8
  • Glue Icing Glop - 20% 6

Our Verdict

The G3 Splitboard+ Glide skins share their architecture with the G3 Splitboard+ Universal skins. The only technical difference is the length and composition of the fur on the Glide skins. We are impressed with these skins and devote more detail discussing their overall design in our review of the Universals. The Glide skins are excellent choices for folks who are comfortable skinners and want an efficient setup.


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
G3 Splitboard+ Glide
Awards  Editors' Choice Award   Best Buy Award 
Price $199.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$189.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$199.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$191.96 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$147.96 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Efficient skinning, compact storage, solid attachment systemAll-purpose, efficient, convenient, easy set upBeefy skins with great grip, durable, excellent attachment system,Lightweight, efficient, packable, good climbing abilityDurable, stellar grip, sturdy, easy to use, affordable, reliable glue, above average attachment, avoided glop in most conditions
Cons Adequate grip, awkward foldsAwkward folding, generalist, plasticBulky, slow, inefficient, tough to packExpensive, difficult tale installation, no rip stripHeavy, poor glide, bulky
Bottom Line Great skins for proficient skinners who know they want an efficient skin for big days.Excellent all around skin for most splitboarders.Great skins for beginner splitboarders who want all the help they can get ascending.A solid, pre-sized choice when selected for Jones splitboards.Exceptional in many ways, the Voile is a previous Editors' Choice winner that ticks many boxes.
Rating Categories G3 Splitboard+ Glide G3 Splitboard+ Universal G3 Splitboard+ Grip Jones Nomad PRO Voile Skins with Tail Clip
Glide (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
6
10
0
7
10
0
5
Grip (25%)
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
8
Ease Of Use (15%)
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
6
10
0
7
Attachment System (15%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
6
Glue Icing Glop (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
5
Specs G3 Splitboard+ Glide G3 Splitboard+... G3 Splitboard+ Grip Jones Nomad PRO Voile Skins with...
Manufacturer G3 G3 G3 Jones Voile
Weight per pair 560 g 560 g 580 g 500 g 730 g
Weight per skin 280 g 280 g 290 g 250 g 365 g
Material Nylon plush Nylon plush Nylon plush 70% Mohair, 30% Nylon Hydrophobic nylon
Glue Non-toxic adhesive Non-toxic adhesive Non-toxic adhesive Traditional Traditional
Tip Attachment Asymmetrical steel hands Asymmetrical steel nads Asymmetrical steel hands Universal metal tip clip Universal aluminum tip clip
Tail Attachment SPLITBOARD+ SPLITBOARD+ SPLITBOARD+ Universal tail clip or board-specific quick tension tail clip Rubber strap with aluminum tail attachment
Precut Option? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Bag Included? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cheat Sheets Included? Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


The lineup of G3 Splitboard + skins. From Left to Right: Glide Universal Grip.
The lineup of G3 Splitboard + skins. From Left to Right: Glide, Universal, Grip.

Grip


These skins are not going to win contests skinning straight up in slippery snow conditions. That acknowledged, they grip fine, especially if you have good technique. We used them both guiding and on solo missions. While guiding in fresh snow, they broke trail and gripped our skin track as we yo yo'd powder fields. The wind hammered ridgeline firm snow we encountered required a higher level of focus to maintain grip, but we were able to ascend everything we needed to.

Glide


Have you ever switched from a town bike with mountain bike tires to a bike with slick road tires? Riding to the bar or work instantly feels faster and easier. That is what using the Glide skins feel like after skinning on the G3 Splitboard+ Grip skins and to a lesser extent after using the G3 Splitboard+ Universal skins. The glide quality of these skins is excellent, and the energy efficiency gains associated with this is significant.

Ease of Use


One of the less obvious benefits of the G3 Glide skins is how much lighter they are and smaller they pack. They take up significantly less space than either Universal or Grip skins. Having more space in your pack, less weight on your back while riding, and less weight on your feet while skinning is major addition by subtraction.


Attachment System


The tip and tail systems are exceptional, complete with excellent camming capabilities. The metal clips hold the skin to the board with ease and are relatively easy to attach. The attachment system on Glide skins is identical to the Universal skins which we like and discuss in more length in the Universal review.

Glue and Glop


Our experience with the adhesive and glop performance matched the results of the Universal skins, and we discuss that in detail in the Universal review.

Best Applications


These are excellent skins for the right splitboarder. Experienced skinners who rarely have issues with grip and appreciate the benefits of efficient glide are great candidates for these skins. Weight weenies, rando race curious splitters, and serious alpinists who tackle long approaches should consider these skins.

Value


These are $10 more than the Universal skins. That's not a huge difference but is interesting to consider when you realize these skins actually contain less material than the Universal skins and much less material than the equally priced G3 Splitboard + Grip skins. Still, this is a minor point, and we consider these skins to provide fine value.


Conclusion


The G3 Splitboard+ Glide skins are excellent choices for experienced splitboarders who get after it. Probably not the best first set of skins for newbies, but for those who have figured out the Jedi skinning skills necessary to push it farther into the backcountry, the G3 Splitboard+ Glide skins may be the best choice.


— David Reichel