G3 Splitboard+ Glide Review
Cons: Adequate grip, awkward folds
Manufacturer: G3
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
G3 Splitboard+ Glide | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $200 List | $189.00 at Amazon | $195 List | $198.95 at Backcountry | $250 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Secure and easy attachment system, efficient skinning, compact storage | All-purpose, good ratio of grip to glide, camming tail clip, easy to align tip clip | Good glide, rolls and folds small, robust adhesive | Beefy skins with great grip, durable, excellent attachment system, | Lightweight, efficient, packable, good climbing ability |
| Cons | Adequate grip, awkward folds | Awkward folding | Have to install tip clip, have to trim tip for added glide, small range of size adjustments | Bulky, slow, inefficient, tough to pack | Expensive, difficult tale installation, no rip strip |
| Bottom Line | A solid choice for experienced splitters who don't want to sacrifice glide for grip they don't need | A great choice for nearly all splitboarders | No frills option for everyday backcountry use | Appropriate for beginners and folks who skin straight up | A solid skin the is best suited for Jones boards |
| Rating Categories | G3 Splitboard+ Glide | G3 Splitboard+ Universal | GlideLite Splitboard Mix STS | G3 Splitboard+ Grip | Jones Nomad PRO |
| Glide (25%) | |||||
| Grip (25%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (15%) | |||||
| Attachment System (15%) | |||||
| Glue Icing Glop (20%) | |||||
| Specs | G3 Splitboard+ Glide | G3 Splitboard+... | GlideLite... | G3 Splitboard+ Grip | Jones Nomad PRO |
| Measured Weight Per Pair | 1.23 lbs | 1.23 lbs | 1.43 lbs | 1.28 lbs | 1.10 lbs |
| Tip Attachment | Asymmetrical steel hands | Asymmetrical steel nads | Coated Cable | Asymmetrical steel hands | Universal metal tip clip |
| Tail Attachment | Camming Tail Clip | Camming Tail Clip | STS | Camming Tail Clip | Universal tail clip or board-specific quick tension tail clip |
| Manufacturer | G3 | G3 | Black Diamond | G3 | Jones |
| Weight Per Pair | 560 g | 560 g | 650 g | 580 g | 500 g |
| Weight Per Skin | 280 g | 280 g | 325 g | 290 g | 250 g |
| Material | Nylon plush | Nylon plush | 65% mohair and 35% nylon | Nylon plush | 70% Mohair, 30% Nylon |
| Glue | Non-toxic adhesive | Non-toxic adhesive | BD Gold Label | Non-toxic adhesive | Traditional |
| Precut Option? | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Bag Included? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cheat Sheets Included? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Grip
The Glide skins are made up of 70% mohair, which helps glide and 30% nylon to aid in durability and grip. That being said, don't expect to be looking at your friends behind you while motoring straight up; it's just not what they were designed to do, nor is it the most efficient way to skin. With good technique, these skins provide plenty of grip, especially when touring on the ideal skin track angle of 15-20 degrees. In a variety of conditions, the skins provided enough grip to make it to where we wanted to go, with a bit of added focus.
Glide
Glide is a critical metric that intermediate to advanced splitboarders appreciate for bigger days, and is where this skin shines. 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 being on an all-nylon skin. The glide quality of these skins is excellent, and the energy efficiency gains associated with this are significant.
Ease of Use
The Glide is equipped with the same user-friendly features as the Splitboard+ series. It comes with a precut edge for the straight edge of your splitboard. G3 also provides our favorite trimming tool that is easy to hold and brace against the board when cutting. The goal here is to get you on the skin track faster with perfect cuts.
As with most skins that have complex attachment systems, rolling or folding can be a challenge and result in a bulkier or awkward package. Since the Glide utilizes mohair and a consistently shorter hair length, the skin has a lighter weight and small packed size. Having more space in your pack, less weight on your back while riding, and less weight on your feet while skinning is a major addition by subtraction.
These features are discussed in greater detail in the review of our Editors' Choice G3 Splitboard + Universal.
Attachment System
G3 has blessed the splitboard community by providing a camming tail clip with a versatile tip clip. The clips are user friendly and secure. The metal tip clips hold the skin to the board with ease and are relatively easy to attach.
The tail clip requires a specific sequence of steps to adjust the length, which we would recommend doing at home. Once we sized them appropriately, we never lost a tail clip, even on swallowtails or unique shapes. The Splitboard+ Series uses the same attachment system across the line.
Glue and Glop
when selecting the glue and waterproofing of the Splitboard+ Series, G3 prioritized environmentally friendly compounds without sacrificing performance. The Glide utilizes a PFOA free waterproofing that prevents or minimize glopping, even when our partners were lifting glopped snow bricks with every stride.
G3 utilizes a non-toxic glue that stuck as good on the first day as it does today. Our experience with the adhesive and glop performance matched the results of the Universal skins, and we discuss that in greater detail in the Universal review.
Value
This skin isn't the cheapest, nor is it the most expensive mohair mix option on the market. It differentiates itself with its camming tail clip and overall ease of use. In the mohair category, the Glide provides a good value.
Conclusion
The G3 Splitboard+ Glide skins are excellent choices for experienced splitboarders who get after it. The glide is not the best skin for beginners, but for those who have figured out the Jedi skinning skills necessary to push it farther into the backcountry, the Glide skins may be the best choice.
— Isaac Laredo & David Reichel