• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Clever Outdoor Gear

The best in outdoor gear, equipment, and apparel reviews.

  • Clever Outdoor Gear
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Recent Reviews
  • Gear
    • Camp Kitchen
    • Camping Gear
    • Climbing Gear
    • Car Camping
    • Hydration
    • Knives
    • Technology
  • Lifestyle
    • Clothing
    • Book & Food Reviews
    • People
    • Ski Gear
    • Toiletries
    • Travel
    • Water Sports
You are here: Home / Ski Gear / Altai Hok Skis

February 19, 2013 By Nick Giustina

Altai Hok Skis

A snowshoe that skis or ski that snowshoes…not sure what the Altai Hok is but it sure works!  If you dislike the lack of glide with snowshoes or, perhaps, your getting a little long in the tooth for squirrelly nordic gear, that require too much attention span, the Altai Hok could be your hook-up.

Altai Hok Skis
Altai Hok Skis

Conceived by ex-Karhu vets, Nils Larsen and Francois Sylvain in 2009, the Hok is designed as an easy to use ski for the backcountry. Its short wide dimensions makes the ski incredibly maneuverable, and the integrated climbing skin gives the Hok great traction for climbing. The name, ‘Hok’, is the Tuwa word for ski in the Altai Mountains. Nils has taken many trips to the Altai mountains, of China, and it is arguably the birthplace of skiing.  The Tuwas are the smallest ethnic group in the area and the most dedicated skiers. The DIY planks, Nils saw, were hewn by the Tuwas and surfaced on the base with horse hide (hair and all). The locals were less intent on ripping turns in the surrounding hills, than hunting deer on these stable floaters.

The Hok features a synthetic climbing skin integrated into the base of the ski, steel edges for durability, and a light weight cap construction. In an effort to minimize their carbon footprint, they use, a sustainable paulownia wood co-reinforced with a combination of organic natural fibers and fiberglass. Simple graphics and natural fibers combine with design themes from the the Altai Mountains for an appealing aesthetic. The right balance of running base and skin material makes the ski’s downhill speed manageable and easy to control. Bridging cross-country skis and snowshoes, the Hok combines the maneuverability and ease of use found in snowshoes with the ski’s efficiency of sliding forward rather then lifting and stepping with each stride.

3-pin bindings can be mounted for traditional 75mm touring boots or you can mount a universal binding, and use pac boots. Check-out the website for more fun videos of both Altai and North American skiers.

$210

Like this review? Please share it!

Filed Under: Ski Gear Tagged With: Altai Skis, skis, snowshoes

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Holy Caballo Blanco!
  • Tim Winton’s “Breath” — Novel and Film
  • Basic SUP
  • GRIPPED UP with Grip Pro
  • Going Places: Women Only

Get the latest reviews

Loading

Categories

  • Book & Food Reviews
  • Camp Kitchen
  • Camping Gear
  • Car Camping
  • Climbing Gear
  • Clothing
  • Hydration
  • Knives
  • People
  • Ski Gear
  • Technology
  • Toiletries
  • Travel
  • Water Sports

Tags

backpacks bags Baladeo Knives belay system BioLite Black Diamond boots buckles cameras camp furniture carabiner cases coffee cups flashlight flasks folding knives Gerber Grand Trunk headlamps Klean Kanteen lighting Metolius Climbing multi-tools Princeton Tec Sea to Summit Sierra Designs skis sleeping bags Snow Peak snowshoes SOG Knives solar Stanley stoves tents Thule trekking poles UST utensils vests water bottle water purification water storage Will Leather Goods

Footer

Get Our Latest Outdoor Gear Reviews

Loading

Contact Us

Hikers at Falls, photo by John Laptad

Copyright © 2023 Clever Outdoor Gear · WordPress Website by Waterlink Web