SKU: 5305 Voile HyperVector BC Skis

I started backcountry skiing last season so I don’t have many other skis to compare these with, however, I am incredibly happy with my purchase. These skis are great! The scales are the best invention on a ski ever! While my friends have to spend time skinning up for small climbs, I just walk my way to the top. You won’t be disappointed if you purchase these!

My first experience with scaled BC skis was with the Karhu Guide’s with tele bindings and those turned out to be the best exploring setup I’ve ever owned. Having since switched to AT I was unsure how these would do now that I don’t tele. I am 6’2” 175lbs without a pack and I went with the 177 length. I first put first a Salomon Mtn binding on but now have the heavier yet amazingly easy switch-to-tour ability of the Fritchi Vipec Evo’s. Not having to pop out of the pins when switching modes is a needed function on these skis in my opinion and is as close to the tele setup that you can get. The HyperVector BC’s have a lot less camber than those Karhu XCD’s and ski a lot better up and down. \nCompared to the Hyper V6 skis, the HV’s are noticeably stiffer and have a more rearward mount point which results in a different style of skiing than with the V6’s. I have the 183 Hyper V6 also, non BC version, and comparatively they feel more centered or forward mounted. The HV’s hold an edge well and are easy to jump turn and pivot, and the rearward mount and early rise tip does help keep them afloat in soft snow. Like all the Hyper skis they are super light and because of the scales feel weightless on the way up with no drag on each step forward. This cannot be overstated. You don’t realize how much forward drag there is on even mohair skins until you try scaled skis. For their uphill prowess, I measured they can grip up to about 15 degrees on a packed skintrack in maritime Sierra snow, and up to 20 degrees in the best conditions. It helps to have the trail packed to decrease the effective angle of the ski so if you’re breaking trail expect that maximum approach angle to decrease some, depending on snow density. For higher density snow these skis make my skins almost obsolete for touring and allow me to cruise up long approaches without having to stop and de-skin for any rolls in the trail. They are so fast on approaches it feels like cheating. You’ll definitely slip some and try to keep the skins off for as long as possible, but that’s part of the fun of scaled skis - pushing them to their limit. Once I’m at the base of the hill I want to ski, the skins go on like any other ski and they grip the pattern fine.\nIn melt/freeze conditions like spring the scales do have a bit of a downside in my experience. In the morning when it’s icy on a packed trail or over crust they are a little noisy and don’t grip well, and when I’m heading home they can ice up just like a skin on the way up. I have some high temp glide wax now (Maxiglide) in my pack to coat the scales before heading down and that has helped. They also can be grippy on wet snow, similar to non-scaled skins when there is water on the surface and your wax is rated lower than 32 deg F…they can feel sticky on the downs as they cross a wet patch. In general, they are a little slower on the downhill unless it’s soft snow (pow or corn). But following a buddy without scales put it in perspective, I didn’t get dropped by as much as he thought I would. As someone else noted, these are definitely a quiver ski. I bring them out when I don’t know how the conditions will be or when I want to explore a new area in good conditions. A between-the-storms ski. They’re awesome when other skis would be overkill - they are the XC hardtail of the ski world. You’d be silly to shuttle them at a resort, but the more rolly a course the better decision you’ll have made. If you expect the grip of a skin and the slide of a non-scaled ski then you’ll dislike them. But if you give them a chance you’ll be surprised at how far they take you and with less effort. They’re just really fun skis.

Scales. That's all I have to say. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard a fellow skier say "I don't really see the value in scales." only to follow up at some point with "I can't believe you can get up that without skins.", I'd buy another pair of these!\nFor those on the fence, you won't be disappointed. For those who think they are slower or noisy, all I can say is I don't agree. \nFor much of what I ski, they are the unicorn.