Russia is rich in its territories and especially rich in snowy plains and mountains. For thousands of years, the inhabitants of our country have come up with a variety of ways to travel through the snowy deserts. The most popular of them, of course, is skiing. But what if there are no ski trails and you have to lay them yourself? Or is the track filled with slopes, climbs and impassable places? Conventional skis will not be enough - and it was for these purposes that the kamus was invented. What is kamus - let's try to understand this article.
History of Camus
Camus is a simple device. This is just a ski lining placed on their sliding surface and designed to help the skier avoid slipping and improve overall grip. Its fleecy surface allows skis to glide easily forward and slows backward movement, clinging to the snow surface.
Camus began to be used in the most ancient times, with the advent of the first skis. Then it was made mainly from the skins of animals with stiff hair - from the skins of moose, horses or deer. The most northern peoples used for this purpose the skins of seals, as well as roe deer and other rare animals.
Used mainly for the manufacture of the lower part of the legs of animals. The fur was processed so that it was as thin as possible and did not increase the volume of skis too much. The treated fur was attached to the ski sliding surface with nails, or if you didn’t want to spoil the skis, they sewed it. Such a camus could subsequently be removed.
Types of Camus
The most important thing in the manufacture of kamus - it was necessary to make sure that the hair fibers went strictly along the movement of the skis and in no case did not go to the sides. The villi leaving to the sides made the skis go in different directions, and this could be not only unpleasant, but also dangerous, because to go off course, slowly turning to the side, is a real problem.
Camuses were distinguished by the type of hide from which they were made:
- elk hides were the strongest and most durable;
- horse - made it very easy to slide;
- deer - used by hunters, by the way, such hunting skis with kamus were the quietest in use.
Modern Camus
What is camus in modern times? Now most of them are no longer made from the fur of the aforementioned animals - artificial materials have replaced. The main materials for the manufacture of artificial camus are synthetic fabrics. They allow to provide the same comfort, are quite accessible in production and animals do not suffer at the same time.
However, there was no complete rejection of animal fur - some of the kamus is made from fur of Arctic goats, the so-called mohair. Their disadvantages include the fact that they are not as durable as synthetic, and much more expensive. However, professional athletes and hunters prefer camouflages made of leather, preferring their quieter and smoother gliding.
How to choose a camus
Everything is clear with what camus is, but the question arises of choosing it correctly. First you need to decide for what purpose it is needed and where it will be used. For everyday skiing, a camus is not needed at all, however, if the distances covered are large or the track is difficult, it can come in handy. Most fittings made of synthetic materials are suitable, due to their cheapness and the fact that they are suitable for most simple tasks. Those who are going to spend most of the day skiing or conquering the mountains should pay attention to leather and fur camouflages.
They also differ in the type of attachment to the skis - now no one is nailing them and sewing them on, mainly glue or silicone is used for this. However, there are some nuances:
- Special glue will firmly hold the camus on skis, the fixation will be as reliable as possible, but dirt and small debris will stick to the skis much more strongly.
- Silicone is deprived of this drawback, but the fixation of the camus will not be so reliable.
As a result, the majority prefers glue, because adhering garbage is not as scary as a kamus falling off in the middle of a distance.
What else is important when choosing
The last main parameter, in addition to the type of camus and its fastening, is its width. Reviews about the kamus on this score are contradictory. It is believed that the standard should cover almost the entire width of the skis or be only a little narrower, leaving literally a centimeter or two uncovered. Manufacturers of modern kamus adhere to the same principle, making them the size of a standard ski or slightly wider, allowing you to cut it to size.
However, everything is not so clear. There is also a method of cutting the coating to such a state that it is glued exclusively to the middle of the sliding surface of the skis, with a thin strip. This type of fastening allows you to achieve all the advantages of using the camus and at the same time does not complicate the movement and does not increase the weight of the ski. The most appropriate is to consult with a specialist when buying a camus and skis.
Logical conclusion
So what is a kamus - is it just a whim of a skier or an important thing? It all depends on the purpose of its use. For hunters and athletes it will be very useful, but for lovers it may not be necessary. Photos of kamus can be found in this article and on the Internet, as well as tips on how to select them.
Camus is a useful accessory for professional skiers, which, moreover, can not only be bought, but also made independently, as people have done for many centuries.