First Impressions: Black Diamond Glidelite Ski (“Snow Trekkers”) Review (Video)

by Ryan Jordan on January 31, 2019 Flash Gear Reviews, New Features

Introduction

I’ve been using the new Black Diamond Glidelite Snow Trekker Skis (“trekking skis”) this winter. I have the 127-cm model with Universal Bindings, which can be used with any type of footwear. I’ve been skiing in Altra Lone Peak Mids (usually with a neoprene overboot) with them this winter.

This is a Flash Review meant to communicate my initial experience with the product – it’s in no way a comprehensive review that reflects use of this product in a wide range of conditions.

The Black Diamond Glidelite Snow Trekkers have an integrated synthetic mohair climbing skin that sits flush with the base of the ski, and covers about half of its length. The universal binding works with any type of footwear. Photo: Black Diamond

Features & Specs:

Tip-waist-tail: 135-120-132
Camber: single
Length: 127 cm
Weight:
- Skis only: 36 oz/ski
- Skis + Universal Bindings: 57.6 oz/ski (verified)
Integrates Skins: yes, Black Diamond Glidelite
Construction: poly, foam core

I put together a 4-minute video montage with my initial thoughts about the Black Diamond Glidelites that includes footage from both tracked and untracked trails, with inclines up to about 15 degrees.

Summary

Better than snowshoes?

Yes, if you want to cover ground faster in rolling terrain.
Yes, if you’re a skier and know how to drive skis (that said, the learning curve on these is very fast!).
No, if you just can’t get the hang of the technique and balance required to ski safely and effectively.
No, if you are venturing into steep (especially icy) terrain.

Better than a conventional backcountry skiing setup?

Yes, if you like to ski in footwear that’s more comfortable than XC, tele, or AT ski boots.
Yes, if you want an overall lighter setup.
No, if you want to ski steeper downhill terrain.
No, if you travel in hard-packed terrain and need the security of a more aggressive, full-length climbing skins and/or metal edges.

Learn more at this forum thread.
Buy online from REI.
Here’s a link to the Forty Below Overboots I use.

(Thanks to Mrs. J for the camera work!)

Comments

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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Jan 31, 2019 at 12:14 am #3575932
Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies
Companion forum thread to: First Impressions: Black Diamond Glidelite Ski (“Snow Trekkers”) Review (Video)
I put together a 4-minute video montage with my initial thoughts about the Black Diamond Glidelite skis that includes footage from both tracked and untracked trails, with inclines up to about 15 degrees.
Jan 31, 2019 at 1:55 am #3575945
Jeff McWilliams
BPL Member

@jjmcwill
Locale: Midwest
Up in Munising, Michigan, we have a lot of ice climbs along Lake Superior that are a far distance from the trail head, or even down an unplowed road followed by some additional trail hiking.
Making the slog into those climbs with a pack full of ice climbing gear can be tedious. I can’t help but wonder if skiing in with these vs traditional Nordic XC Skis wouldn’t work better. I could *probably* just pop my mountaineering/climbing boots right into the bindings.
My climbing boots are really rigid, though. They wouldn’t have the flex that a Nordic boot & binding would have, so I’m curious, but not 100% confident.

Jan 31, 2019 at 6:54 am #3575998
Wild Exped
BPL Member

@bankse
Locale: OZ
Interesting. Thanks Ryan. Have you tried the longer version with metal edge (or the similar length Altais with the metal edge)? Just wondering if it’s a matter of not being able to get an carve at all/ downhill or with any ice..

Jan 31, 2019 at 6:54 am #3575999
Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies
@jjmcwill Jeff – my very first foray into using a “trekking ski” was exactly for this – ice climbing approaches. For me, it was ice climbing in the Hyalite region of Montana.
My first setup was this: Dynafit 130cm skis with Dynafit bindings that mated to my lace-up Dynafit climbing/ski boots. It was a great setup.
I then evolved to Hoks, using a leather WPB boot in a universal binding, but the downhill performance was pretty scary!
I find that the BD Glidelite’s strike the balance I want between downhill and climbing.
For ice climbing, I’d be awfully tempted to ski in/out of the climbs in trail running shoes with these skis, and just carry my boots.
That said, I’m very curious to see if I could rig my ice climbing boots (a set of leather insulated Scarpas) with a Dynafit toe and mount some Dynafit bindings on the metal-edged 147’s just to see how it would go!
Jan 31, 2019 at 1:31 pm #3576015
matthew k
Moderator

@matthewkphx
Wow that looks fun!
Jan 31, 2019 at 9:05 pm #3576081
Eric Blumensaadt
BPL Member

@danepacker
Locale: Mojave Desert
Thanks for the video. Anyone who has used good snowshoes (ex. MSR Lightning Ascent) in deep, untracked snow can instantly see how much better these BD skis are for that travel. By “better” I mean less effort and much more speed.
As pictured the BD skis have a form of the old Balata style binding which fits almost any boot, from felt pacs to trail runners. Personally I’d get BD’s slightly longer metal edged version with a Voile’ release bindings and my Scarpa T3 boots for more control on turns. But well fitting Balata bindings like my Canadian Army version would work for felt pacs in below zero weather. To easily change between the two types of bindings one needs to have epoxied into the skis threaded inserts.

Jan 31, 2019 at 11:53 pm #3576124
idester
BPL Member

@doug-i
Locale: The Cascades
That is one happy dog.
Feb 3, 2019 at 1:40 pm #3576542
Ken Larson
BPL Member

@kenlarson
Locale: Western Michigan
Are you wearing a gaitors over the Forty Below Light Energy TR overboots as I observe snaps and a yellow lower boot covering in the video, and the picture of the Forty Below Light Energy TR overboot shown in the link looks different?
ALSO….Have you tried different shoes with the ski bindings to compare fit and control with those skis?
Feb 4, 2019 at 5:33 pm #3576726
Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies
@kenlarson – I use the “high gaiter” version of the 40 Below Light Energy TR overboots, so those gaiters are integrated with the overboot.
There is definitely a direct relationship between boot stiffness and ski control while going downhill.
Of course, softer shoes = more comfort on long days!
Feb 11, 2019 at 11:45 am #3577884
Ari Grönlund
BPL Member

@arigr
Been using the OAC KAR 147 with steel edges for the past five years. Also used the AS HOK before. Have used the shorter and longer versions WAP 127 and GT 160… And the 140 is just perfect for pulling pulk and occasional downhill. Yes, I’m from Finland and the factory where these BD and OAC skis are made is just 20km away from my home ;-).
Feb 26, 2020 at 2:14 am #3633251
David D
BPL Member

@ddogruel
Reviving this old(er) thread.
Ryan, have you, or anyone else, actually tried mounting some pintech bindings on the BD Glidelite 147s (or OACs or Altais) and toured (on gentle terrain) on them with lightweight/skimo boots?
There are a number of skimo boots that are very lightweight with significant (>70 degrees) of cuff motion that might pair with these “skis” for those of us who are less interested in the steeper/technical downhill performance, but would like a setup that tours and climbs decently but has a bit more confidence on the downhill sections than the BD universal bindings.
Yes, I realize the boots are expensive, it might be tricky to mount the bindings, there are three-pin cross country/tele bindings and boots that might work, there are true skimo ski setups that might accomplish what I seek, etc. I am just curious if someone has indeed tried what Ryan suggested earlier.
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