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I know this has probably been covered, but I couldn't find it. I apologize up front. Should the straight side be in or out? Does it really matter? Thank you.

Yea good question, also I'd appreciate some answers(pro's Vs cons's) for those of us who have DIY's with edges only on one side.

I dont have a DIY split, but I always have the sidecuts on the inside. You get the sidecut biting into the edge on your downhill leg on the traverses which helps, and you don't have to worry about the clips hitting each other if you don't fold them in, which I don't.

I know most people skin with the sidecut edges in, but I just can't get used to it. I go cut edge on the inside and haven't ever had any problems. I find the cut edge is sharp enough to bit into most things. Is there any reason I should switch it up?

when skiing small downhills it will help you initiate turns if the side cut is on inside edge

most do it this way....although viole recommends straight side in with their DIY kit

Straight edges outside, side-cut edges inside 100% for sure, anyone who thinks differently has not toured very far.

Not trying to be rude, this is just spiltboard 101.

I don't have to traverse much where I tour, so just for kicks I tried it straight edges in a few times but the hooks and tip clip hardware snagged and banged together when I let the board halves get too close (which was more often than I would have guessed). Rather than trip or mangle hardware, I run the sidecut edges inside.

Great. Now back that statement up.

Not trying to be rude. Just argumentation 101.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you put your binding pin cables on the outside edge (whichever you choose to be the outside touring edge). Because the first time one of your board hooks slices the cable and you find yourself digging in the pow looking for it you're sure to regret not thinking of it...

Straight side out so the chinese hooks don't catch on each other while skinning. Binding ratchets on the outside for the same reason. Pin goes in the side opposite where it's attached, so the cable is always tight against my toe strap.

I've heard outside North america it's more common to have straight sides inside.

I've tried both and while i've mostly toured with the sidecut inside, the few times I've gone straight side inside I preferred it - especially on sketchy switchbacks.. I found it seemed to have more of a sure footing on the downhill ski with the straight edge inside - seemed using the straight edge cut in more than having to compress the ski with the sidecut? Not sure, only tried it a few times...

... because... with the Karakoram clips you can't fold them in, and if they do bang it can end in disaster... I hit the K clip *once* against the back of my other ski and bent the metal enough that It wouldn't clip together anymore (I was able to bend it back, and i had a spare..)

So, sidecut inside if you have K's, but I'd like to hear from anyone who uses straight edges inside or has tried both enough times to have a better idea on which works better ;]

@ brg

I've actually done some fairly long tours with the straight edge on the inside. However I always fold the hardware in. I prefer it for the same reason the other fella above does. When I engage the edge it does so immediately without having to flex the sidecut first. I'm not saying I'm right, but I wonder what the reason is why so many people switch?

My problem wasn't the Chinese hooks so much as it was the tip and tail clips. Specifically the tip. The nose of one ski would slide up on top of the other ski and unceremoniously stop cold when it caught the bare rivet post of the tip clip. Voile now seems to sell a small plastic ramp that solves (?) this, so it may be less of an issue in the future. But if you lack skinning grace and ram the ski tip into the rivet you may either fall on your face or bend the rivet.

I would not even want to imagine what it would be like to snag my K clip parts together.