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SKI SKINS OR ENTIRELY NEW SKIS

12K views 17 replies 13 participants last post by  78degrees  
#1 ·
Guys. Have a 22' EXP, looking to upgrade the OEM skis with either skins or new skis. Want more flotation up front. Any suggestions? Should I take the easy way out and add skidoo skins or switch entirely? If I switch, what recommendations do you have?
 
#2 ·
If it is just for floatation, the ski skins are a decent option.
If you ride in crusty snow, even a few times, you will want to change out to new skis.
The two options that come up most often are the Polaris Pro Floats and Simmons Gen II. Both are about 10" wide, similar to ski skins.
I have had both.
Lots of past discussions in this forum on both of those.
 
#5 ·
If it is just for floatation, the ski skins are a decent option.
If you ride in crusty snow, even a few times, you will want to change out to new skis.
The two options that come up most often are the Polaris Pro Floats and Simmons Gen II. Both are about 10" wide, similar to ski skins.
I have had both.
Lots of past discussions in this forum on both of those.
This is the answer. The best upgrade I have done on my Summit and Expedition was changing Skis. Put the Polaris grippers on my Summit and Polaris Pro Floats on my Expedition. The Simmons are also an excellent option. After riding with Simmons and pro floats, I would never ride with the stock skis again.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I removed the stock skis and installed Polaris ProFloats on my '16 TundraLT. Way better than stock.
Have the SkiDoo wide skins on my '15 Skandic WT, and I have to say I much prefer the wide BRP skins over the ProFloats. Cant speak to the Simmons.
 
#7 ·
First rides with Pro Floats. I have Stud Boy deuce carbides in these and its like go cart on hard snow/ice. On very loose snow they push little, but on other hand what doesn't?

Compared to pilots I have no regrets. These are great. And off course they are 1,5 times wider [emoji16] Flotation is great now. Front no more diving in loose snow
 
#9 ·
Where did you get the Pro Floats?

Do they bolt on with stock skidoo rubbers?

Thanks!


Iain
You can order them (or buy them) from your Poo dealer. You'll have to use creative fitment with a Dremel or side snips for the doo bumpers to fit. Not a big deal and not much work. Make sure to get the Poo bolts and skegs.
I find the PFs make a LOT more noise on hardback than stock skis and sins. Careful when you fit the bumpers. The PFs have a lower rise on the tips so you want to make sure the bumpers fit properly to keep the tips well up.
 
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#10 ·
Thanks, Klondiker! That sounds a bit like my Cat Bearcat 10-whatevers, they're crazy clacky and I need to pay a lot of attention to rubbers and stuff to keep the skis from pointing straight up in the air.

I like the cat skis, but they require a lot more tinkering to work than what you mentioned with the Polaris skis. I might try those. To make the Cat skis work, I ended up running a cable to the little tab on the back of the pogo as a limiter - the tip can go "that far" up.

The Cat skis are also REALLY flexible. I found that my carbides are gone, the Cat runners are ~3mm steel plate with wear bars and carbides attached - both are worn smooth, one was dangerously close to becoming a two-piece runner. I welded a 12" length of 1/4" square steel rod to them last night, and I'm thinking that'll help a bit in terms of tips pointing skyward - I don't remember the runners being flexy when new, but once they're worn smooth, they're REALLY floppy.

Not anymore - they're pretty stiff now.

Anyway, thanks again!


Iain
 
#13 ·
Reading along.
Thinking of a 2023 Expedition Extreme with 900R Turbo. Based on my 2022 XRS I would need why more ski as I put my old pair of DS 2 skis off my old 2012 FreeRide on the XRS for a day and could not believe what a change that made for being able to side hill climb! (With the DS 2 the XRS would go up without I was lucky to try stay straight across at best if not just do to the bottom of the hill)

Anyone find new information in 2022 or something new for 2023?

Thanks!
 
#14 ·
I am following along as well. I have a 2023 Expedition SE w/ 900 ACE NA incoming. I am considering adding a set of skin vs. new skis.

I see a lot of recommendations for Simmons Gen II skis. I just checked their website and they also have Gen III skis. What are your thoughts on Gen II vs. Gen III for an Expedition w/ wide track?