Best tele ski ever!
I'm 5'8, about 160lb, ski the 178cm size, tele bindings (voile TTS), boot center at factory boot center.
I ski in Montana, anything from -20 pow to +60 slush/water, long rolling approaches (~2000ft up over 6ish miles out), slow speeds on descents (I ski alone).
The tip is long and broad, the tail long and not so broad, these turn themselves. Soft, forgiving, predictable. Ideal backcountry ski.
The fish scales (in my experience):
Work at about 1/5th of skin stickiness in soft snow and 1/3 in firm snow. Anything worth going down will require skins to go back up. If snowboarders frequent where you ski the fishscales have no value, if snowboarders avoid the approaches like a plague the fishscales are great. Coastal cement will have different results.
When my pair breaks I'll get two more.
Voile Hyper V6 BC Ski
It might sound a little fishy (pun intended), but scales on a backcountry ski are quite practical. Your typical alpine touring ski setup requires skins, but the Hyper V6 BC eliminates that need for many climbs with Voile's Traction Pattern Base extending for roughly half the length of the ski directly under foot. When moving through rolling or low angle terrain, this ski increases efficiency by eliminating the weight of skins and time lost to repetitive transitions for minor undulations. For steep and icy skin tracks, skins can be applied per usual in the event that the fish scales aren't offering the grip you want. The Hyper in the name Hyper V6 BC means that Voile took the previous model and doubled the carbon inside and used a lightweight paulownia wood core to keep things light. Embrace the scales, even if it does sound a little fishy at first-- you won't regret it.
- Traction Pattern Base eliminates the need for skins in all but the steepest climbs, saving weight and transition time for tours in undulating terrain.
- Earplugs (unfortunately) not included, as the only real downside of the fish scales underfoot is a slight humming noise on harder or packed snow.
- Typical Voile durability and quality forms the basis for this ski, with the same core construction that the rest of their Hyper line boasts.
- Camber underfoot helps you hold an edge in icy or variable conditions, regardless of the slope angle or how tightly you're puckered.
- With an early rise rockered tip and 100mm waist [183cm], this lightweight ski still knows how to float and glide through soft snow.
- Made right here in Salt Lake City, Utah, just like Skimo Co.
| Specifications | |
| Lengths (cm) | 163, 173, 178, 183 |
|
Weight |
1155g [163] 1240g [173] 1325g [178] 1410g [183] |
| Weight (pair) | 2310g [163] 2480g [173] 2650g [178] 2820g [183] |
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|
126-96-108 [163] 129-98-110 [173] 131-99-111 [178] 133-100-113 [183] |
|
Turn |
17m [163] 18m [173] 18.5m [178] 19m [183] |
|
Skin |
Rounded tip and tail |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
Voile Hybrid Rocker, rocker tip & tail w/ camber underneath |
|
|
Rounded tip & tail w/ medium radius |
|
|
Cap with carbon wrap |
|
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Paulownia wood |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Get out there and back |
| Notes | Great for long rolling approaches |
| Bottom Line | Versatility with scales |
| Compare to other High-fat Skis | |
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Questions & Reviews
Comment on this review:
These are the perfect backcountry tool, they perform like a finely crafted scalpel both on the up and down. The scales allow for effortless glide up to 8 ft strides up the skin track in optimal conditions, when the skin track turn 20 degrees up you still glide out 3 to 4 ft going uphill. This has been in fresh coat and icy skin tracks. When the going gets steep throw on a set of skins and they stick to the scales just like a normal based ski. These performed so well on the approaches that I have now been using them on the Nordic cross country trails as well. On the down this skis slays whatever you present them. From 2ft of blower to icy crud rain rime crust this ski has been amazing. Skimo mounted them on the factory line and I’m getting better float then my 116JJ’s. I have yet to notice the scales on the downhills, on perfectly flat cat track you might be a touch slower in sticky snow conditions. Any transition points they absolutely are the best tool available, when making multiple laps a lot of the time I never have to touch my skins, the scales get me back to the top for another lap if I set a nice skin track on the way up. If you have been thinking about pulling the trigger on this ski pull it, you won’t regret it.
7/11/2020
Dcscad, I agree with your review 100%! These things must be a well-kept secret, otherwise everybody would have a pair! Depends on the terrain, but in a lot of places I go, these skis are just like cheating! Now if Voile would just offer a traction base in more of there other models, particulary the V8.
Comment on this review:
12/9/2019
Hello!
I'm a mediocre skier that is 5'11" and weighs ~190 w/o gear. I'm not aggressive skier either. However I do love to ski mellow backcountry. Which size would you suggest? Also, I've read the warning that quiver killers void the warranty but, being that I hope to never 'huck' myself off of anything, would you guess that the skis will survive my normal use if I do the QKs? I have some Objectives 178s that are fun but am hoping for easier turning skis. Am I on the right track here? Thanks as always!
I'm a mediocre skier that is 5'11" and weighs ~190 w/o gear. I'm not aggressive skier either. However I do love to ski mellow backcountry. Which size would you suggest? Also, I've read the warning that quiver killers void the warranty but, being that I hope to never 'huck' myself off of anything, would you guess that the skis will survive my normal use if I do the QKs? I have some Objectives 178s that are fun but am hoping for easier turning skis. Am I on the right track here? Thanks as always!
12/13/2019
Hey Rick! Sorry for the slow reply -- the delay does not indicate a lack of excitement about this ski! The V6 seems like an excellent ski for your purposes, especially if your version of "mellow backcountry" involves copious amounts of deep and dry snow. I wouldn't necessarily say it's easier to turn than the Objective (both skis are reasonably soft-flexing, with plenty of rocker front and rear and a shortish turning radius), but it may be easier to ski overall given that it's wider and more supportive in the tail. (It's also mounted closer to true center of the ski, so you may find yourself more capable of making quick, snappy turns than with the more stability-oriented Objective.) Quiver Killers should work just fine in the Hyper V6, warranty or no! Lastly, I'd recommend either the 173 or 178cm lengths of the ski, depending on your preference for more float (178) vs. more snappiness/maneuverability (173). Reach out to help@skimo.co for a more in-depth conversation!
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