Folding skis are a dream come true
Ibex Tactix are strong and effective equipment for mountaineers or anyone else who uses a backpack
No more “A-frame” ski carry on a backpack? That’s Elan’s goal with the Ibex Tactix Ski. A folding design makes this new kind of ski more manageable when climbers and backcountry enthusiasts carry them strapped on a pack.
At half the length of a full ski, the folded model has no tail poking below the pack.
Elan worked with elite ski-mountaineer Davo Karniar for the project. “Folding skis strapped to a backpack allow for much greater maneuverability during technical ascents on foot,” Karniar said. “There is nothing sticking out above the head and below the belt to impede the climber.”
People have dreamed about good folding skis for many years. They have been built out of wood as early as the 1940s. But performance remained elusive.
The Elan design is a folding version of the brand’s Ibex 94, a pinnacle touring model made of carbon fiber. It uses a free-floating carbon plate to connect two ski halves.
The design allows the ski to flex along the entire length, even under the plate. (This should allow it to perform much like a standard ski.) The plate also serves as a binding mount.
When extended, the skis measure 64 inches. They fold down to 35 inches for transport.
Who’s it for? The Slovenian Army began using a military version of the ski last April. Early testing showed that the ski would help save space and still give soldiers an effective ski for mountain travel.
In the civilian world, Karniar used the skis on several 20,000foot mountains. In July, he aimed for his most audacious ski line yet, K2 peak in the Himalayas. Skiing K2 would require absolute confidence in one’s equipment.
He came up short, with a back injury halting the expedition. But for a skier to consider tackling the mountain with folding skis raises eyebrows. The Ibex Tactix could signal a new method for mountaineers and anyone else looking to tote skis easier on their pack.