After sitting on the fence for a couple of years, your review of the Hok skis convinced me to buy a pair. Last weekend, we pulled sleds loaded with winter hot tent camping gear a couple of miles with the skis. My partner had a small cold, and I offered to pull both sleds. It worked with no problems! Your review was so grounded and practical that I finally pilled the trigger on these very expensive skis - I'm glad i did! Thanks so much for the excellent review, and I loved your reaction to the Marten coming to your stand!
Great video/ updated Hok ski review. Thanks for taking the time to make this good review. Looks like a blast! I'm sold. Going to wait for a sale though! Cheers
I've only had mine out once since I got them. I bought the 145's and they are great for breaking fat bike trails here in North Dakota. Haven't been on skis in over 20 years. Definitely a learning curve. Thanks for the update.
Thanks for your review! It has convinced me I need these! I live in MN also, on 83 acres of land that includes a variety of terrain from flat to steep inclines/slopes. Snowshoes are fine, but they do take some work to break a trail, and as you explained, walking still requires lifting your feet to step. Cross-country skis are a challenge as far as stability goes. These would be the answer to my needs!
My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed our 145cm HOKS. We're in our 4th year on them, and enjoy them much more than snowshoes. Lighter, faster and very stable. We ended up purchasing the HOK 125s and are very happy with them as well in situations that we don't need as much floatation. Thanks for your update.
@@ja8670 She likes both. The 145s do better in the deep snow, but aren't quite as maneuverable in the thick stuff. The 125s are lighter, which she likes.
@@carakintz3536 We haven't been out in icy condions as that would be unessessary for us to use the skis in those conditions for what we like to use them for (deep snow). On the steep hillsides, which are very few where we ski, we use a side hill walk up technique like with Country skis. Hope that helps.
I have the 145cm at 200lbs and my daughter uses the 125cm size at 105lbs. I will never go back to snowshoes. They are pack skis. So if you use them as they are ment to be used, as an alternative to snowshoes you will not be disappointed. They are not traditional CC skis. But they are just a different tool in the box.
Have you tried both? My buddy has both and prefers the 125. I weigh like 220 so thinking the 145s could be good but also pulling my 2 year old so don't want too much speed.
They seem like a good match for me, but I'm not sure which size and there's no local rental options. My husband is a very experienced downhill skier and uses "regular" back country skis (I don't know the correct terminology) to play around our hilly property in Western WA. I would like something that I could toodle around on and occasionally trail after him when he's up for slowing down. =). Im not comfortable going fast and don't downhill ski beyond the bunny hill, but I have really enjoyed classic cross country skiing the 2 times I've tried it so some glide is appealing. Seems like maybe the larger ones could provide a more "controlled" glide...I'm 5'4 and 155 lbs. Thoughts? Thanks!
I know some adult men who have used the 125's, and most prefer the longer ones. I've only used the 145's so can only speculate on the glide comparison. I'm 5'8" and about 205. A lot of my backcountry skiing is breaking trail through deep snow, so the longer ones give me the additional loft that I'm looking for. As to glide, my HOKS do give me a great controlled glide down hills that have been tracked. I've skied since my middle teens. I'm 70 now and my balance isn't what it used to be. In years past I would "bomb" hills with my regular XC skis, pulling a pulk and never thing twice about it. Those days are gone. The controlled glide of the HOKS going downhill helps me a lot. HOK skis don't have any camber so the "skin" on the bottom is in constant contact with the snow. That said, I do get enough glide to feel like I'm getting at least some benefit of skis over snowshoes! Hope this helps!
I'm very happy with mine. As I mentioned in the video, if you have a chance to rent a pair for a day to try them out, that's the best recommendation that I can give.
Thanks for the update. Have you got a chance to "enjoy" some slush yet? With all the snow this year, I imagine so. Have you tried them with any other bindings/boots?
I have not personally sludged through slush, although I have talked to a few who have over the last year. Bottom line, apparently they act just like other skis and you have to scrape down to the p-tek to find any glide again. The skins can be scraped down as well. Some put a commercial liquid wax on them and they claim it can make some difference. Have not tried other bindings, but have tried other boots. A hiking boot gives a little more stability but most of my skiing is flat or small hills so it didn’t make a lot of difference for me.
Your videos about the hoks are great and i really alleviate them. I am still torn between these in the longer 145cm and a brand i found that had a fishscale in place of the skins. I think for a lot of northern mn bwca excursions the extra glide of the fishscale could be great. Do you have any thoughts on this?
I can’t wait to get a pair of these! This video sealed the deal for me. Thank you!
After sitting on the fence for a couple of years, your review of the Hok skis convinced me to buy a pair.
Last weekend, we pulled sleds loaded with winter hot tent camping gear a couple of miles with the skis. My partner had a small cold, and I offered to pull both sleds. It worked with no problems!
Your review was so grounded and practical that I finally pilled the trigger on these very expensive skis - I'm glad i did!
Thanks so much for the excellent review, and I loved your reaction to the Marten coming to your stand!
Thank you so much! Glad you like them!
Great video/ updated Hok ski review. Thanks for taking the time to make this good review. Looks like a blast! I'm sold. Going to wait for a sale though!
Cheers
I’m sure you’ll like them! Where are you located?
@@snottymoosestudio1492 I'm over in central BC
I've only had mine out once since I got them. I bought the 145's and they are great for breaking fat bike trails here in North Dakota. Haven't been on skis in over 20 years. Definitely a learning curve.
Thanks for the update.
I adore mine. As an alpine skier of 38 years the downhills took some time to get used to but I’ve got it down now. A tiak really helps!
Thanks for your review! It has convinced me I need these! I live in MN also, on 83 acres of land that includes a variety of terrain from flat to steep inclines/slopes. Snowshoes are fine, but they do take some work to break a trail, and as you explained, walking still requires lifting your feet to step. Cross-country skis are a challenge as far as stability goes. These would be the answer to my needs!
If you can find a place to rent a pair, I would highly recommend that to try them out!
My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed our 145cm HOKS. We're in our 4th year on them, and enjoy them much more than snowshoes. Lighter, faster and very stable. We ended up purchasing the HOK 125s and are very happy with them as well in situations that we don't need as much floatation. Thanks for your update.
Thank you!
Which size does your wife prefer? I can't decide. What does she find to be the downside to the longer ones?
@@ja8670 She likes both. The 145s do better in the deep snow, but aren't quite as maneuverable in the thick stuff. The 125s are lighter, which she likes.
How do you work with them on super steep icy conditions?
@@carakintz3536 We haven't been out in icy condions as that would be unessessary for us to use the skis in those conditions for what we like to use them for (deep snow). On the steep hillsides, which are very few where we ski, we use a side hill walk up technique like with Country skis. Hope that helps.
I have the 145cm at 200lbs and my daughter uses the 125cm size at 105lbs.
I will never go back to snowshoes. They are pack skis. So if you use them as they are ment to be used, as an alternative to snowshoes you will not be disappointed.
They are not traditional CC skis. But they are just a different tool in the box.
Exactly. They have a particular niche, and fit that perfectly!
Have you tried both? My buddy has both and prefers the 125. I weigh like 220 so thinking the 145s could be good but also pulling my 2 year old so don't want too much speed.
They seem like a good match for me, but I'm not sure which size and there's no local rental options. My husband is a very experienced downhill skier and uses "regular" back country skis (I don't know the correct terminology) to play around our hilly property in Western WA. I would like something that I could toodle around on and occasionally trail after him when he's up for slowing down. =). Im not comfortable going fast and don't downhill ski beyond the bunny hill, but I have really enjoyed classic cross country skiing the 2 times I've tried it so some glide is appealing. Seems like maybe the larger ones could provide a more "controlled" glide...I'm 5'4 and 155 lbs. Thoughts? Thanks!
I know some adult men who have used the 125's, and most prefer the longer ones. I've only used the 145's so can only speculate on the glide comparison. I'm 5'8" and about 205. A lot of my backcountry skiing is breaking trail through deep snow, so the longer ones give me the additional loft that I'm looking for. As to glide, my HOKS do give me a great controlled glide down hills that have been tracked. I've skied since my middle teens. I'm 70 now and my balance isn't what it used to be. In years past I would "bomb" hills with my regular XC skis, pulling a pulk and never thing twice about it. Those days are gone. The controlled glide of the HOKS going downhill helps me a lot. HOK skis don't have any camber so the "skin" on the bottom is in constant contact with the snow. That said, I do get enough glide to feel like I'm getting at least some benefit of skis over snowshoes! Hope this helps!
@@snottymoosestudio1492 it does help! Thanks so much!
Are using the universal bindings, are these skis good for beginners?
Been looking…might take the plunge
I'm very happy with mine. As I mentioned in the video, if you have a chance to rent a pair for a day to try them out, that's the best recommendation that I can give.
Thanks for the update. Have you got a chance to "enjoy" some slush yet? With all the snow this year, I imagine so. Have you tried them with any other bindings/boots?
I have not personally sludged through slush, although I have talked to a few who have over the last year. Bottom line, apparently they act just like other skis and you have to scrape down to the p-tek to find any glide again. The skins can be scraped down as well. Some put a commercial liquid wax on them and they claim it can make some difference.
Have not tried other bindings, but have tried other boots. A hiking boot gives a little more stability but most of my skiing is flat or small hills so it didn’t make a lot of difference for me.
Your videos about the hoks are great and i really alleviate them. I am still torn between these in the longer 145cm and a brand i found that had a fishscale in place of the skins. I think for a lot of northern mn bwca excursions the extra glide of the fishscale could be great. Do you have any thoughts on this?