Is it worth upgrading to gripper skis

txinmt · Nov 29, 2017

Quick question. I have 2014 M8000 SnoPro 162. Few basic upgrades but mostly stock (including stock cat skis). I have heard a lot of people put the Polaris gripper skis on and say it makes a big difference. Does everyone agree? I found a pair of used grippers off a 2016 Polaris that are in pretty good shape. I can get them for $225 shipped.

Good deal? That much of an improvement?

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txinmt · Nov 29, 2017

This is my sled.

Will upgrade to new front end geometry eventually, but can’t swing that yet.

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kidwoo · Nov 29, 2017

Nope, they're terrible. Tell me exactly where you found those grippers for 225, with full contact info. You know, so I can let him know, he almost led you astray.

Yeah you should get those. Those skis work really well.

kiliki · Nov 29, 2017

Yes get them

line8 · Nov 29, 2017

Get’m

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txinmt · Nov 29, 2017

kidwoo said:
Nope, they're terrible. Tell me exactly where you found those grippers for 225, with full contact info. You know, so I can let him know, he almost led you astray.

Yeah you should get those. Those skis work really well.

Haha. Yeah.....thanks for the offer!

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txinmt · Nov 29, 2017

Thanks for the advice. Now I just have to convince the wife that they are an early Christmas gift to myself.

On another note....I can’t for the life of me figure out why Arctic Cat can’t come up with better stock skis. It can’t be that hard to make some changes to their process.

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Old & slow · Nov 30, 2017

txinmt said:
Quick question. I have 2014 M8000 SnoPro 162. Few basic upgrades but mostly stock (including stock cat skis). I have heard a lot of people put the Polaris gripper skis on and say it makes a big difference. Does everyone agree? I found a pair of used grippers off a 2016 Polaris that are in pretty good shape. I can get them for $225 shipped.

Good deal? That much of an improvement?

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You may want to check Polaris for there cost, I purchased new grippers for 125 each in Canada. It was spring and they were on sale.

Readymedic · Nov 30, 2017

If you are thinking or dreaming of mountain riding, or in just being in powder, you definitely need to upgrade.
I have never tried grippers. I am content with my Powder Pros.

bgraff1 · Nov 30, 2017

anything is better than those toothpick stock skis. I personally run SLP powderpros but ive heard a lot of good things about the grippers. either way both are a huge improvement over the stockers, one of the very first things I did to my 2012 when I got it

Fish10782 · Nov 30, 2017

Gripper keel vs cat keel what's the difference? They look the same to me from photos. So my best guess is how they flex and spindle placement on the ski might be different.

bgraff1 · Nov 30, 2017

they are much wider and actually float on the snow. stockers are way to skinny for a mountain sled. this is why AC went with new skis finally on the new machines. stocks are 6" wide, grippers/powder pros are 7"

summ8rmk · Nov 30, 2017

bgraff1 said:
they are much wider and actually float on the snow. stockers are way to skinny for a mountain sled. this is why AC went with new skis finally on the new machines. stocks are 6" wide, grippers/powder pros are 7"

Aren't new Cat ski's and grippers both 7" up front and 6.5" the other 85% of the length!?

Mountain Cat

jeffster · Nov 30, 2017

Yep. I have the AMS front end on my 2015 M8000 and just put the Proclimb 7 skis on it as well. Here is what they look like compared to <=2015 skis.

summ8rmk · Nov 30, 2017

Other than sidehilling, why do u "NEED" to upgrade for mountain riding?
I put thousands of miles mountain riding with the stock cat skis and never said 'man, i could have had a much better day if i had better skis'.
Never said ' man, i could have climbed that hill with better skis'
For me, there is such a thing as to much flotation!
Coming down a steep hill and not able to 'stuff a ski' to get control... that is very important to me!

Mountain Cat

kiliki · Nov 30, 2017

once you ride the grippers you will realize how much your fighting the stock skis (16 and up). you will have way less arm pump as it seems the stock skis like to T up once you pass a point on the turn in deep snow.

Fish10782 · Nov 30, 2017

The only argument is that they float better?

summ8rmk · Nov 30, 2017

Honestly, i would put that money toward the 16+ spindles. More improvement than the skis!

Mountain Cat

sno*jet · Nov 30, 2017

interesting that most the reviews on the 7" cat skis were "an improvement."
i have a buddy who had a '13 and now a '17 and he prefered the older ski.
also seen summ8rmk getting it done on the old skis.
All I know is Im glad I finally tried something else out (mohawks). predictablility = confidence for me. no darting either, so nice! better float too. SLP skis have two mount positions, i run them with tips forward most and they still dont hang out as far as those 7" cat water skis. heads up to you slp guys, the person i bought mine from ran them mounted back and you could see how it was wearing the ski wrong on the proclimb.

kidwoo · Nov 30, 2017

Fish10782 said:
The only argument is that they float better?

They just react better. As mentioned the newer 7" cat skis are a huge improvement, and if you hold them next and compare measurements with grippers, they're almost the exact same ski. the grippers are thinner though and do end up flexing better, and much more evenly.

Also as mentioned, you just end up fighting the stiffness of even the newest cat skis.

And it's not just sidehilling, they just work better in meadow skipping stuff too. Even in crust.

Is it worth upgrading to gripper skis

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