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

G3 Splitboard+ Grip Review

Great skins for beginner splitboarders who want all the help they can get ascending.
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Price:  $200 List | $198.95 at Amazon
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Beefy skins with great grip, durable, excellent attachment system,
Cons:  Bulky, slow, inefficient, tough to pack
Manufacturer:   G3
By David Reichel ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 27, 2019
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70
OVERALL
SCORE

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

Our Verdict

The G3 Splitboard+ Grip skins share the same platform as the G3 Splitboard+ Universal. We were impressed with the Universal skins and reviewed them fully. The G3 Splitboard + Grip skins are primarily distinguished by having longer and thus more grippy fur; these are good skins but perhaps most appropriate for a smaller subset of splitboarders.


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
G3 Splitboard+ Grip
Awards  Editors' Choice Award   Best Buy Award 
Price $198.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$189.00 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$198.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$149.97 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$184.95 at Backcountry
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Beefy skins with great grip, durable, excellent attachment system,All-purpose, efficient, convenient, easy set upEfficient skinning, compact storage, solid attachment systemLightweight, efficient, packable, good climbing abilityDurable, stellar grip, sturdy, easy to use, affordable, reliable glue, above average attachment, avoided glop in most conditions
Cons Bulky, slow, inefficient, tough to packAwkward folding, generalist, plasticAdequate grip, awkward foldsExpensive, difficult tale installation, no rip stripHeavy, poor glide, bulky
Bottom Line Great skins for beginner splitboarders who want all the help they can get ascending.Excellent all around skin for most splitboarders.Great skins for proficient skinners who know they want an efficient skin for big days.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+ Grip G3 Splitboard+ Universal G3 Splitboard+ Glide Jones Nomad PRO Voile Skins with Tail Clip
Glide (25%)
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
5
Grip (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
6
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+ Grip G3 Splitboard+... G3 Splitboard+ Glide Jones Nomad PRO Voile Skins with...
Manufacturer G3 G3 G3 Jones Voile
Weight per pair 580 g 560 g 560 g 500 g 730 g
Weight per skin 290 g 280 g 280 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


The fur on these skins is seriously long and impressively grippy, and we found them to excel when navigating icy sections of skin track or slick ridges. Skinning up at an overly steep angle is not ideal, but occasionally required by terrain or sadistic touring partners. While not necessarily recommended, the extra fur also provided psychological assurance when occasionally skinning across rocks. It is important to understand that despite these skins gripping as well as any skins we have used, they can't overcome horrendous technique and some skin tracks are too slick and steep, even for them.


Glide


Ever ride a bike where the brakes are rubbing the tire? Even just a small amount of friction robs you of energy. Skinning across low angle approaches with the G3 Splitboard1+ Grip skins feels a bit like that bike with the brake rub. We chuckled on a few short descents where we had to pole down while our partners glided down on their less grippy skins.

Ease of Use


We discuss the general ease of use of these skins in the G3 Splitboard+ Universal review. One noticeable difference when comparing multiple skins at the same time is the size of the bags the skins arrive in. The Grip skins are much larger when folded up. There is a weight difference gain as well, but on our scale, the G3 Splitboard+ Grip skins were only 10 grams heavier than the Universal skins.

Attachment System


We are fans of the G3 attachment system and review it thoroughly in the G3 Splitboard+ Universal.

Glue and Glop


We generally found the glue and glop performance of the Grip skins to be the same as the G3 Splitboard+ Universal skins.

Best Applications


The G3 Grip skins are an excellent choice for specific users. Beginning splitboarders who do not have experience skinning would likely benefit from all the grip they can get from their first skins. Folks who skin significantly steeper than what is normal would also benefit from the extra traction provided by these skins. Finally, those who skin over sharp rocks might consider these skins since the longer fur provides some extra protection.


Value


The G3 Splitboard+ Grip skins are $10 more than the G3 Splitboard+ Universal skins and $14 more than the similar Nylon Voile Skins. In our mind, G3's connection system is worth a modest price premium and overall this value seems reasonable.


Conclusion


Based on G3's impressive skin design, these Grip skins would be a great first skin for beginning splitboarders. Skinning is a great way ascend snow-covered peaks, but there is a learning curve, and extra grip might reduce some of the pain associated with this process. The Grip skins are also a great choice for experienced skinners who routinely skin at much steeper angles than normal.


— David Reichel