Ski Equipment - To Buy or To Rent?

Written by Super Member: Ian Huyton


A question many intermediate skiers ask is "What Skis should I buy?" when in fact, the first question should be "Do I need to buy Skis at all?"

The answer is a definite no – you are better off with hired equipment. For intermediates (and I’m including second timers here), there is no need to buy Skis yet. A pair of Skis will last ten to twenty weeks of use, which is ten to twenty years for the majority of recreational skiers. The purchase price will typically be around five times the price of a week’s hire for a similar Ski, so on the face of it, you would pay twice as much for ten weeks' hire as you would if you bought Skis now. However, a suitable pair of Skis now in your second, third or even fifth week will not be the same Skis you will want in two or three years’ time, and very few people are skiing on ten-year old Skis today (they are easily spotted as they are far longer and thinner than anybody else’s). Furthermore, many airlines, particularly no-frills and charter companies, ask for extra charges for the carriage of Skis, so this will eat into any financial saving through having your own.

Modern Skis are designed with a particular user in mind, both in terms of ability and Skiing style. Beginner and intermediate Skis are soft and forgiving, easy to turn and stop. Advanced skiers, for example, can choose piste Skis – stiff and shaped for grippy carved turns; off-piste Skis – wide with less shape for flotation; or freestyle Skis – twin-tipped for skiing backwards and with a softer flex.

As your skiing develops, a low end Ski will hold you back, and as you find which type of Skiing you prefer, you may want a more specialist Ski. With rental Skis, you can choose the best Skis for you on each trip, or even try several pairs over a week. As you improve, the Skis you use can improve with you.

Personally, I would not recommend buying Skis for anyone skiing for two weeks a year or less. On the other hand, what I would consider buying is a pair of Ski Boots. Ski Boots tend to have a longer, useful life than Skis, both in terms of wear and tear, and performing for your (improving) ability. If you have your own Ski Boots, they can be fitted properly, which is important both for performance and comfort. Rental boots will never fit as good as a properly fitted pair of boots of your own. Boots are also less specialized than Skis (although there is still a fair range out there). The biggest difference between models is that boots for more advanced skiers are stiffer. Look for a boot with enough performance to last you a few years but not so much that you cannot manage it now.

There are plenty of Ski shops in most ski resorts. If you choose to buy whilst on a Ski trip, you may be able to negotiate a discount if you buy at the same shop you rent from. The big advantage is that you can take the boots back for adjustments after skiing for a couple of days to ensure the fit is perfect. Wherever you choose to buy, be wary of any shop that tries to rush you. The bootfitter should be prepared to spend time measuring and looking at your feet, then selecting models that fit your foot shape. Every manufacturer has its own boot shape, some have several shapes. A good bootfitter will know which models fit which feet. Many boots now have some kind of heat moulding system, which the shop should carry out free of charge, and more advanced boots have adjustments such as canting.

When you buy boots, it is highly recommended to set aside some of your budget for custom-moulded footbeds (e.g. Conformable or Superfeet). These can be taken with you to your next pair of boots, and will improve performance, comfort and the health of your feet by providing proper support under the insole.

To summarize – beginners do not need to buy Skis or boots. Intermediate skiers from week two onwards should consider buying boots (and get them properly fitted). For most holiday skiers, there is little need to purchase Skis. If you ski more than two weeks a year, or are doing a season then buying Skis may well be worthwhile.

This article was adapted from an article at www.arinsal-andorra.com.

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This Article was contributed by a Super Member:
Ian Huyton, Alpine Ski Teacher ISIA. Ian teaches skiing in Arinsal, Andorra, and can be contacted via http://www.ianhuyton.com.