Ski touring skins · Test magazine 2025
Tech talk with Thomas Span, KOHLA
Managing Director · Print page 117
Who is Thomas Span? KOHLA Managing Director and Developer of Ski Touring Skin Technologies
Thomas Span has been Managing Director of KOHLA since 2018 and leads the family business in its second generation. Alongside setting its strategic direction, he is closely involved in developing new ski touring skin technologies and personally tests new products on ski tours. A passionate ski tourer, he regularly explores his home region, the Stubai Valley.
In his interview for the BACKLINE 2025 test magazine, Span explains KOHLA’s development priorities for touring skins: durability, longevity and renewable adhesive layers are intended to extend product life and conserve resources. He identifies Smart Glue and Fiber Seal as key technologies. According to Span, Smart Glue skins can be stuck directly together without protective sheets, and the adhesive layer can be renewed when performance declines. Fiber Seal is a dimensionally stable, waterproof intermediate layer between the skin pile and adhesive that counteracts moisture absorption.
Span says skin lifespan depends on material, terrain and care. For KOHLA skins used as intended and maintained regularly, he cites around 100,000 vertical metres of ascent. Mohair blends, he explains, resist abrasion better than pure mohair. He recommends applying soft hot wax from the first tour and renewing it regularly to maintain water repellency and glide while preventing snow buildup. KOHLA offers Green Line, a bio-based care range produced in Tyrol, for this purpose.
Ski skins are a central element of every ski tour – what is Kohla's main focus when developing new generations of skins?
Currently, our biggest focus is on developing particularly robust and durable ski skins. Because only a product that reliably performs for many years can truly be sustainable. This longevity not only allows for extended use by customers but also opens up the possibility of reuse through re-coating the adhesive layer. Our goal is to develop skins that not only excel in the field but can also be re-coated multiple times, thus making a significant contribution to greater resource conservation in mountain sports.
What technological innovations and materials do you use in your latest models – and what do these specifically mean for the user in the field?
Our latest skin models are based on two central technologies: Smart Glue and Fiber Seal. With Smart Glue, we rely on innovative adhesive technology that allows for particularly easy handling on tour, especially in changing conditions or with multiple intermediate ascents. The skins can be stuck directly together without a protective foil, without losing adhesive performance, which significantly speeds up applying and removing them. Furthermore, the adhesive is designed to be renewed if its performance diminishes, extending the skin's usable life. The second key component is our Fiber Seal technology. This is an intermediate layer between the pile and the adhesive, which is very dimensionally stable and waterproof due to a special manufacturing technique. This construction prevents moisture absorption and therefore ensures consistently reliable skin function even under the most adverse conditions – such as changing snow conditions or extreme temperature fluctuations.
How many vertical meters should a ski touring skin last with proper care?
A general statement is difficult, as the lifespan of a skin heavily depends on its area of use and the material used. For example, tours in rocky terrain or frequent use on icy slopes affect wear more than pure powder tours. The material composition also plays a role: a mixmohair skin is significantly more abrasion-resistant than a 100% mohair skin. Under realistic conditions and with proper application and regular care, our KOHLA skins achieve a lifespan of around 100,000 vertical meters in their intended area of use. Careful storage, cleaning, and proper maintenance are essential to maintain performance long-term.
Can the same ski touring skin be specifically prepared for different conditions in terms of performance? If so, how?
Fundamentally, the correct selection of the appropriate skin type is crucial – tailored to the terrain, snow conditions, and personal usage profile. Different skin materials, such as 100% mohair or mixmohair, each offer specific advantages, for example, in terms of glide or abrasion resistance. Furthermore, performance can be specifically influenced through care and preparation – first and foremost by applying soft warm wax, which acts as an effective impregnation. It protects the skin from moisture, prevents icing in wet snow, and simultaneously improves glide – especially on long approaches or in spring conditions. It is crucial that this impregnation is renewed not just occasionally, but regularly – and right from the first tour. Due to new legal regulations, the composition of impregnating agents is changing, which reduces their long-term effect. Those who consistently care for the skin from the beginning ensure that water repellency is maintained permanently and performance remains consistently high. With the “Green Line,” KOHLA offers an environmentally friendly, bio-based care line specifically developed for these requirements – sustainably produced in Tyrol and easy to use.
