 Poster: A snowHead
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I keep seeing adverts for Clipstic. It's a plastic device that clips both skis together and has an extra bit to slot the poles in. They look v handy and was thinking of giving one to my kids as Christmas presents. However I'm a bit wary of falling for good marketing and since they are pricey would be grateful of any genuine reviews! Thank you
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You could do the same with a Velcro strap.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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These gadgets for making skis easier to carry seem to appear (and disappear) every year. Better to teach the kids how to carry skis and poles properly - it looks cool too!
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| Quote: |
Better to teach the kids how to carry skis and poles properly - it looks cool too!
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+1
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| telford_mike wrote: |
| Better to teach the kids how to carry skis and poles properly - it looks cool too! |
Sorry, I disagree. All those “gadgets” (including the simple and free Velcro strap I mentioned above) completely frees up one hand to hold onto railings, or whatever other purposes. I’ve not seen any “proper” carrying technique which fully can duplicate that.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sun 24-11-24 18:35; edited 3 times in total
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That’s awesome!
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Never and would love to hear from anyone who has. Although the cheaper Amazon ski shoulder straps have been a godsend when staying a hike from the gondola station. You still have to carry poles in one hand though.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| abc wrote: |
| telford_mike wrote: |
| Better to teach the kids how to carry skis and poles properly - it looks cool too! |
Sorry, I disagree. All those “gadgets” (including the simple and free Velcro strap I mentioned above) completely frees up one hand to hold onto railings, or whatever other purposes. I’ve not seen any “proper” carrying technique which fully can duplicate that. |
With that free hand you can break the fall you wouldn't have taken if you had your poles in your hand. Not many railings in the parking lot.
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| abc wrote: |
| telford_mike wrote: |
| Better to teach the kids how to carry skis and poles properly - it looks cool too! |
Sorry, I disagree. All those “gadgets” (including the simple and free Velcro strap I mentioned above) completely frees up one hand to hold onto railings, or whatever other purposes. I’ve not seen any “proper” carrying technique which fully can duplicate that. |
Would the 'poles as carry handle' technique not achieve this?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We always use a porter
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| telford_mike wrote: |
These gadgets for making skis easier to carry seem to appear (and disappear) every year.
Better to teach the kids how to carry skis and poles properly - it looks cool too! |
I tend to agree.
| abc wrote: |
| ... disagree. All those “gadgets” (including the simple and free Velcro strap I mentioned above) completely frees up one hand to hold onto railings, or whatever ... |
I'm a snowboarder, so there's that. But every heli company I've seen uses ski straps to bundle skis. (1) put skis base to base, tip to tip, brakes interlocking. (2) Throw one pole strap over each tip, hold poles out at right angles to skis and twist until tight. Move the poles back parallel with the skis. That holds the tips together, without the complexity of the "Clipstic". (3) Fasten ski strap between the bindings and snug tight so the poles are held in place.
Carry the strap when skiing fastened snug around one ankle for steeze. Or not. Unbranded they retail at £5.95.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Bob wrote: |
| We always use a porter |
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ski carrying snobbery here!
I've not used a clipstic but using a ski strap to bundle poles and skis together when getting on a busy bus, helping kids, helping kids get on a busy bus can be quite useful, even if you know how to carry skis "properly". Not essential and can be pointless faff when just carrying skis a short distance. Having your poles for balance can also sometimes be useful, sometime more useful to have a hand free.
So I'd say it could be a useful addition to a ski bag, but may not offer any advantage over a simple ski strap like this one which does the job very well and doesn't require getting creative with a bulldog clip!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@phil_w, I use those on my touring skis, which don't have brakes.
I don't use anything on my alpines, with brakes. Why would you?
In and out of baskets on helis is a slightly edge case 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Richard_Sideways, I've never seen the "hobo" technique used anywhere before. Must give it a go  but it really needs two ski straps to really work well.
| Quote: |
Sorry, I disagree. All those “gadgets” (including the simple and free Velcro strap I mentioned above) completely frees up one hand to hold onto railings, or whatever other purposes. I’ve not seen any “proper” carrying technique which fully can duplicate that.
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I toss my skis over my right shoulder then if I need my left hand to hold a banister then I just transfer my poles to the right hand which is resting over the skis. To even up the wear on my ski jacket I must start using the left shoulder as well.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Ah! I always put skis on my left shoulder, but then I'm right handed, and needed my much more capable right hand free for doing stuff. If much doing stuff was needed, like hanging on to a hand rail when walking down icy steps, no great difficulty transferring poles to the left hand (which is not actually needed to grab onto the skis, you can just hook your arm over them. It does, obviously, need the correct ski on top, but that doesn't take much working out.
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Am very happy with our Velcro shoulder straps, they roll up to the size of a thin belt and go in one of my hundreds of pockets (vintage Couloir jacket). Also good to wrap ostentatiously around skis outside restaurants so no accidental removal by others who hired similar skis.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We have them and they are great for multiple skis+ poles at once (eg parents)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| JessG wrote: |
| I keep seeing adverts for Clipstic. It's a plastic device that clips both skis together and has an extra bit to slot the poles in. They look v handy and was thinking of giving one to my kids as Christmas presents. However I'm a bit wary of falling for good marketing and since they are pricey would be grateful of any genuine reviews! Thank you |
Yep I've been seeing them all over social media too - I can see the appeal but do you really need them? There's a constant stream of small gizmos and gadgets that appear on my social media stream, and probably a couple of times a day I think "ooh that could be useful" - before reminding myself that if I bought all of these things then I would be a few hundred pounds lighter every week. It's very clever marketing - make a professional video on why they are really good, make it reasonably priced (even though in reality it costs a fraction), serve it on your social media stream several times a day knowing they'll catch you in a weak moment sooner or later. It's the 21st century equivalent of that brilliant sales person down the market in the 80's!
Every so often, you'll see something and have a small eureka moment (and maybe this is it for you) and you'll find something that really does hit the spot but 99.9% of the time..
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My social media feed obviously doesn't have me down as a skier - this thread is the first time I heard of the gadget.
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for small kids, with little skis, an old backpack you can just shove them in, and have two hands free, is worth considering. And those kids don't generally have sticks. They do love them (boys especially do a lot of whacking) and I was always glad when ski instructors stipulated "no poles".
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Origen wrote: |
| My social media feed obviously doesn't have me down as a skier - this thread is the first time I heard of the gadget. |
My social media shows me nothing but skiing reels. It's awesome.
I also keep seeing these cliptastic ads. Along with the ski headphones ad (basically a sleep headphone band remarketed as a ski one). I bought two cheap straps earlier this year to enable us to be able to carry skis on shoulders if needed. I doubt we'll use them, but doesn't hurt to have them.
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@johnE, I've seen the hobo but it's a rare find. Boyfirend/girlfriend is quite common, as is The Offering.
I tend to do okay carrying the skis and still having a free hand in most situations. Over the shoulder if you're in an open space, something more akin to The Claw if indoors or a busy spot
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Handy Turnip wrote: |
| (even though in reality it costs a fraction) |
Isn’t that true for almost everything?
It doesn’t matter how much it cost to manufacture, the value to the buyer is what matters.
For many of us, a small gizmo of questionable use can be experimented on for less than (fill in the number). I’d say this gizmo is priced too high at double digit, at which point many question the usefulness (i.e. our thread starter).
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| abc wrote: |
| Handy Turnip wrote: |
| (even though in reality it costs a fraction) |
Isn’t that true for almost everything?
It doesn’t matter how much it cost to manufacture, the value to the buyer is what matters.
For many of us, a small gizmo of questionable use can be experimented on for less than (fill in the number). I’d say this gizmo is priced too high at double digit, at which point many question the usefulness (i.e. our thread starter). |
Yes completely agree. My point was rather around the marketing nature of an online impulse buy. If you went into a shop and saw this, most people wouldn't buy it because the price point is too high. And with an instore purchase, the payment and product are directly connected, so you relate the money directly to the product. But online, the product and payment are separated, and so it doesn't feel like real money is being paid. By the time you receive the product, you're less likely to relate its quality back to the £21 cost. So you might find value in the product, never stopping to really think if it was worth the money (because it's so long since you paid, and you paid online which isn't real money anyway).
So the seller makes the price less related to the product, and more about what sum of money would you be willing to dismiss in an impulse buy (i.e. "ahh sod it, that's less that a round of drinks").
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@Handy Turnip, I wouldn’t know. I’m not an impulse buyer. I tend to research stuff to death before I purchase it, with the intention to use it till it falls apart with at least a decade of use.
That’s not to say I’m unmoved by new gizmo that trigger my curiosity despite not having realized I had a need for it. Still, once triggered, I’d gone ahead and research it to death if only to satisfy my own curiosity.
Also, I’m probably falling into the “old-fashion” camp when it comes to online vs store purchase. I’m actually much more willing to buy things I randomly found in a physical store than unsolicited advertisements dropped into my inbox.
Though I agree with your feeling of “decoupling” of price with value to a degree. If I’m paying by cash (rare these days), I tend to be more sensitive to the amount. Much less so when paying by credit card.
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You know it makes sense.
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| abc wrote: |
@Handy Turnip, I wouldn’t know. I’m not an impulse buyer. I tend to research stuff to death before I purchase it, with the intention to use it till it falls apart with at least a decade of use.
That’s not to say I’m unmoved by new gizmo that trigger my curiosity despite not having realized I had a need for it. Still, once triggered, I’d gone ahead and research it to death if only to satisfy my own curiosity.
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I have a pause to make sure I'm not just impulse buying. I'm the same when it comes to tech gadgets, the researching it to death adds to my enjoyment.
| abc wrote: |
| Though I agree with your feeling of “decoupling” of price with value to a degree. If I’m paying by cash (rare these days), I tend to be more sensitive to the amount. Much less so when paying by credit card. |
I try and use this to my advantage when booking holidays - if I'm toying between two options, say 2 apartments. My sensible brain will try to think logically about whether I actually need to pay the extra £200 for xyz. At that point I remember that by the the time I get on holiday that money is already gone, and absorbed into my finances and budgeting - yet I'll still get to enjoy the xyz and the enhancement that brings to my holiday (esp when it comes to creating memories with the family).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Handy Turnip wrote: |
I try and use this to my advantage when booking holidays - if I'm toying between two options, say 2 apartments. My sensible brain will try to think logically about whether I actually need to pay the extra £200 for xyz. At that point I remember that by the the time I get on holiday that money is already gone, and absorbed into my finances and budgeting - yet I'll still get to enjoy the xyz and the enhancement that brings to my holiday (esp when it comes to creating memories with the family). |
This is the exact approach I use to manipulate Mr. O into multiple trips away each year. He'll wince at the cost and say that that's it, that's the only trip for the year. Then by the time the trip comes around, the money is long gone, he enjoys the holiday, and then I pounce. He's fully aware that I do it and admits to being easily led when it comes to booking holidays.
On this topic, he's Chief Financial Officer, and I'm Chief of Organisation. The research side gives me so much joy.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Handy Turnip wrote: |
| the researching it to death adds to my enjoyment. |
| Owlette wrote: |
| The research side gives me so much joy. |
I can’t say I share that passion in research.
The joy of the purchase only starts on the first day I use the item, as hopefully it lives up to my expectation!
May continue long after, especially after a long time use and it still function as designed.
The “research” to death was more a process to achieve the result. I can’t say I “enjoy” the research. I feel more like it’s a necessary evil. That said, occasionally, I learn something new during the research, in which case I’d say I had fun with it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Origen wrote: |
| for small kids, with little skis, an old backpack you can just shove them in |
So ... you still have to carry the skis?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not often. I got the sack as a ski school escort when I put one kid's boots on the wrong feet.  Though in my defence the instructor didn't notice till half way through the lesson
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@bouquetin, Except they slide down the ski towards the binding if you have wide shovels with a narrow waisted ski, " creative bulldogclips" don't....and are probably more costly.
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Ski straps were made redundant by the invention of interlocking brakes. Some rando skiers may need them as they have no brakes, otherwise I feel this is a solution in need of a problem. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@abc, nonsense. For 1 thing skis were never straight. For another I have never come across this scissoring problem. Apart from that, you may have a point but I still feel it’s a solution in search of a problem…
Looking around ski resorts one can often spot inexperienced skiers by the familiarity with which they handle their equipment but I feel ski straps only add to the confusion as yet another unfamiliar piece of equipment.
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FAQ
