Do you need to buy your own skis/snowboard for your ski season?

Gear is paramount to having fun during your ski season. You’ve more than likely given up your regular paycheck and modern apartment to be able to hit the snow every week, let’s make sure you have everything necessary to make the most of it!

So the question is, do you need to buy your own skis/ snowboard for your working ski season? Yes, and No. It depends. There are many factors to think about. This article aims to guide you through whether it is worth buying your own gear, what to buy, when is the right time to invest and where you should go to get it all.

Can you afford it? Does the company you’re going to work for offer ski hire as part of the contract perks? How often will you get the chance to ski? Have you ever skied before? Will you be working in a big resort with plenty of rental choices?

All of these questions come to mind when I’m asked “should I buy my own skis for my ski season?”

Can you afford it?

We all have a budget for gear at the start of the season. Some may have more to spend than others. If you’d like to know more about everything you need before the season starts click here. Skis and snowboards and boots are not cheap, but just like a great pair of shoes, they’re totally worth it if you’re going to wear them lots! I’ve learned more recently to look for the right gear and THEN to make the price tag work for me. These days there is so much help out there to make this possible with Laybuy, Afterpay and other similar companies allowing you to pay for your gear in smaller regular installments.

Does the company you’re working for offer ski hire?

This question is worth thinking about especially if you are new to the sport or you haven’t decided whether you’d like to focus on skiing or snowboarding yet. It may also be an opportunity to try different styles of ski/ snowboard. Do you prefer twin-tip skis, fat-boys, or piste skis? BUT, if you already know you love to ski or you soon realize it, figure out what you like and invest!

So if you’ve decided that it’s probably a great investment to have your own set of equipment whether it be skis or a board and some boots, or just boots, you then need to figure out whether to buy them before you go or when you get to the resort. This is a tricky one and it often depends on what your resort has to offer in terms of shops.. My advice is that whatever you decide, you decide quickly and buy them before it’s too late! Some of the best snow falls at the beginning of the season and If you wait until the middle of the season to fork out for those fresh skis, you’re gonna regret not getting them sooner.

What do I buy first?

So you’d like to get yourself some gear but you have no idea where to start. First make sure you have all of the non-rental essentials such as your jacket, ski pants, helmet, goggles, gloves/mittens, and ski socks because you definitely don’t want to hire these if you’ll be using them almost every day of the season.

Then, as for skis and boots, most people, including myself will suggest that you get your own pair of boots first. This is because everybody’s feet are different and your feet will mould your boots like a glove with some use. Rental boots usually come in one style, and have been packed out by 100’s if not 1000’s of other people and they are generally just not as good as your own pair. Also, it is important to choose a pair of skis or snowboard with your preferred terrain, skill level and style in mind. Those of us who live a life of ski seasons will most likely have one pair of boots and several pairs of skis.

When it comes to ski boots.. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.

Get yourself to a specialist shop for a boot fitting at the end of the previous season, they’ll measure and analyze your feet and search their databases for the best boot for you.

If they've got it in stock, get it, you can earn the money back before the season starts. If they need to order it in, consider ordering it in with the shop if they offer personal fitting and molding.

Most big, renown ski resorts will have world class boot fitters for you to buy your boots when you get there, however it may come at a premium and there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to order the right boot in time for the next big snow dump.

You may not know it, but despite the lack of ski resorts in the UK, there are quite a few great ski boot fitting shops around, especially in the bigger cities. The same goes with most cities around the world.

Why can’t I just order a boot online? Well, while it’s totally possible to measure yourself and then traul through the 1000s of choices online, it's like a black hole out there and every ski boot is different, just like our feet. The ski boot specialist will be able to give helpful suggestions on which brands will be best, possible adjustments that will need to be made to the liner or shell or both in order to keep your feet comfortable and warm. Even if you don’t find the perfect boot in the shop, please go! Listen to their advice and try a different shop.

What about snowboard boots?

All snowboard boots will fit differently, just like ski boots, however, in my experience I have found it much easier to find a boot that fits and is comfortable to snowboard in all day (after breaking it in for a week ***). The trick is to try on a few different brands and listen to the advice of people in the shops!

***Ski and snowboard boots suck at the beginning. It’s a trap!

You may have tried a pair of snowboard boots on in a shop for a few minutes and thought “oo yeah these fit nice, they're really comfy and warm, what are people on about?”. Well, once you get strapped into bindings and flex your ankles a bit while gliding down a steep mountain, you might think otherwise. Solution? WEAR THEM IN! Just like any walking boot or favourite shoes, ski and snowboard boots need to be worn a little for them to mold better to your feet and feel great. This depends on the boot and the rider but usually takes at least a full week of riding/ skiing in them. TOP TIP: I wear mine around the house (with the house heading off of course) as much as I can at first).

So while you could try your luck with a pair of snowboard boots online, again, I would suggest you at least try on a few different brands and styles to narrow down your options.

Buying skis

So you’re set on a new pair of skis, awesome! There are a few things you should consider when choosing the right pair for you.

First think about the type of skiing that you generally enjoy. What’s your ski personality?

Are you a total novice? Click here to find out more about what kind of skier you are. If so, I suggest buying a piste ski, even if you’re hoping to get in the park. Learn the basics on a solid ski before buying more specialist style skis. I’d also suggest not blowing your budget on these skis as you’ll more than likely want to upgrade to a higher performance ski once you’re more confident.

If you’re an intermediate- advanced skier who wants to take their skills to the next level, be prepared to spend a little more. If you’re unsure what type of skiing you like best, ask a rental shop if you can try a few different styles in a day before you buy and take them all over the mountain. Are you thinking about getting twin-tips? For those of you who don’t know what they are, they are skis that turn up at both the tip and tail. They allow you to ski switch (backwards) and spin easier, but it is not impossible to do on piste skis. Twin tip skis are great for those who aspire to be a park rat or all mountain trickster, great fun. As someone who loves to ski fast and improve my technical carving, twin-tips are a secondary ski for me.

Do I need to buy brand new?

No. You don’t need to buy brand new, but you also don’t want a rusty super used old pair either. You should look for any dents, repair marks on the smooth side of the ski or board, check that the bindings don’t wobble and that boots click nicely into them. Check the edges for any dents, and wear (the more sharpening and servicing a ski has in its lifetime the smaller the true edges become which shortens the life of the ski. You should ask a ski technician to take a look at a pair of skis and help to explain the condition of the pair you are buying so that you can check if it is a good price for the quality. In general older skis even if they haven’t been used, will be heavy and not as good as the more modern styles

Where did TheSkiNomad buy her skis?

I bought my first pair of skis in St Anton Austria on my second ski season from the rental shop that the company I worked for used. I told them I was planning to train to become a ski instructor in my next season and would therefore need a suitable pair of skis for that. They allowed me to trial a few different styles before I found my favorite.

Where can I find good quality second hand ski gear?

Top tips

- Buy at the end of the season

- Try before you buy (both skis and boots)

- Think about what you’ll be using them for and how often (off-piste versus on groomers)

Do you ski and snowboard? Having trouble deciding which gear to set yourself up with? Consider these points

• Will you wear them to après-ski?

• How much money do you have to spend?- ski gear is generally more expensive

• What do your friends do?- skiers and snowboarders explore the mountain at different paces and often prefer slightly different terrain. Skiers click in and go, snowboarders need to strap up off the lift. When falling over and losing a ski, it can be tricky and time consuming to get back up and skiing again while on a snowboard it’s possible to pop up and go. Also some resorts have a few flat straights that can be pretty annoying for snowboarders since they may have to un-strap and walk all the skiers can simply skate their way across. So if all your mates snowboard, you’ll probably have the most fun if you’re on one too!

The company I’m working for is giving me rental equipment, should I still buy my own?

If you are planning to ski everyday, chalet hosts, ski instructors, guides, lifties I’m talking to you. You should definitely consider buying your own equipment. Why? Well they say the average ski boot liner starts to deteriorate after 90 days of use, that's literally 3 months and if you’re planning on doing more than one season you will LOVE having your own gear.

Benefits of having your own gear:

• It’s the correct size and comfortable

• Higher performance gear

• It’s not broken or blunt, or overused.

• No faff trying to find the right rental gear every time

• You will get used to your own equipment and how to use it.

• Long term, you will save money.

Cons of having your own gear:

• You have to transport it to and from the resort. (extra baggage costs or send them ahead using sendmybag.com!

• You need to look after them - a small extra cost to get your gear serviced at least twice a season.

• In terms of skis, one you have your own you lose the option of trying out different styles. Fear not though! Many mountains host demo days for you to try out different types of ski or snowboard for a few runs. Some rental shops may also allow you to try a few pairs and offset the try-rental price on a new pair.

So, should you buy your own skis/snowboard/ boots this ski season? Yes. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons so long as you do your research to find gear that is right for you and don’t forget to try before you buy!

All is not lost if you buy gear and decide it isn’t right for you, there are plenty of channels to sell your gear in the resort.

TheSkiNomad