How Buying Your Own Ski Gear Can Progress Your Skiing Faster
There’s nothing like new ski equipment to get you out on the slopes. Photo by Fam Veld
In an era where it’s a little too easy to “add to cart” and mindlessly make online purchases, it’s a good idea to pause before buying and think about whether you need the product — or how badly you want it.
Other Curated Experts may wonder where I’m going with this (hesitation leads to questioning, which can lead to indecisiveness or stalling when buying), but when it comes to downhill ski gear, you want to be 100% confident in your purchase. Buyer’s remorse is the last thing any of us wishes for you, so if you’re considering buying new ski equipment and wondering whether it’s worth the investment, you’re in the right place.
Sure, we all like shiny new toys, especially ones we can use outdoors to fly down mountains on snow. I’m not going to lie to you: It’s a great feeling gazing at your brand-new or beloved pair of downhill skis while sitting on the lift. If you’re lucky, some fellow chairlift riders might even ask you about them, giving you the chance to gush about how great they are.
But that isn’t a reason you should buy new. Skiing is about way more than looking the part — it’s about feeling confident and secure with the gear you’re on. Owning properly fitted equipment will undoubtedly help you progress as a skier. Read on to find out why.
Reasons to Buy Ski Gear
1. Skill Improvement
When you buy a complete ski setup (skis, ski bindings, ski boots, ski poles, ski helmet, etc.), you’ll quickly become an expert at using it all. New skis may take some time to get used to, and the same can be said for new boots and bindings. But after a few days of use, you’ll feel comfortable on them, stable, and in control, and you’ll find that you can push your edges and take your skiing to the next level. That’s what progression feels like, and it all comes from confidence on skis.
Of course, this is only true if you get the right skis tailored to you. When choosing gear, a Curated Expert or ski shop professional should factor in your height, weight, ability, and where you plan to ski. A beginner East Coast skier should be on a vastly different setup than a more experienced, West Coast powder skier. Skis that are too narrow, too wide, too soft, too stiff, and incorrectly set bindings can set you back or turn you off of the sport altogether.
Generally speaking, beginner skiers should opt for softer-flex, narrower skis to help them apply pressure on their skis when turning. More advanced skiers who ski at higher speeds should ski on firmer skis, and a stiffer flex is beneficial for anyone who skis in hardpack/icy conditions, as it will give them more control. Wider skis are best suited to softer powder conditions, where experienced skiers can play around with the feeling of floating on snow. The type of terrain affects your ski choice, too, from park/freestyle skiing to moguls and “off-piste,” ungroomed skiing.
The same goes for boot flex. The softer the flex, the easier it is to bend your ankle forward. New skiers should opt for softer-flex boots, while hard-charging advanced skiers and racers need a higher flex to ensure they stay in control at high speeds.
A word about renting ski gear: Despite their best intentions, a ski shop employee isn’t going to know you or your skill level. Let’s say you started with a basic rental setup (sometimes known as a “sport” package) but have made strides with your skiing and are ready for the next step up in terms of performance. The ability to handpick your gear, with the help of an expert, and use it so much that it feels like an old friend is something rentals or demos simply don’t offer.
Familiarity breeds improvement, confidence, and skill development. If you’re a full-grown adult, you won’t outgrow your skis or boots, so you might as well invest in a setup you can use for the foreseeable future. Buying for children or teens is a good idea, too, especially if they plan to ski a lot. Yes, they will likely outgrow it within a year or two, but you can sell used equipment on online marketplaces or brick-and-mortar stores, hand it down to siblings, or pass it on to a friend or family member with kids.
2. Consistency
Assuming you take care of your brand-new toys, your skis will be in the shape you left them every single time. If you avoid rocks and dirt in the trail and dry your equipment after every use, your skis will thank you, and they’ll last longer, too.
Tune them up at the beginning of each ski season and regularly during the season if you ski a lot. When ski bases look dry and flaky, they need wax to keep them gliding smoothly. Regular tune-ups will elongate the life of your skis by keeping their bases from drying out and edges from rusting. Most ski shops offer a basic tuneup service for $25-$50.
While rental shops should maintain their ski fleets, they have little control over how their equipment is used. (Have you ever seen someone walk across a parking lot with their skis on? That screams rental skis.). Their equipment is so heavily used that there isn’t much time for regular inspection or maintenance.
Unless you rent a brand-new, high-performance ski package, expect some dings and not the fastest skis. If you rent by the day, your skis and boots will likely differ every time; the same goes for demo ski equipment. There’s much to be said for consistency, and renting is inconsistent.
The variability of rented or even borrowed (We do not recommend borrowing!) ski gear can present challenges, especially for new skiers. Each pair of skis feels different, and depending on how the rental shop employee picks your skis, you may have a vastly different experience every time you ski on rented equipment.
It can be as simple as the bindings’ DIN settings: If they’re too loose, your skis will pop off frequently — which is frustrating, leads to falling, and can affect your enjoyment of skiing on any given day. If the bindings are too tight, they’ll be tough to release and can lead to injuries if you fall.
With new gear, a ski shop technician can dial in your DIN settings when they mount your bindings on your skis (usually costs around $50). Tweaks can be made to these settings, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing these are set specifically for you.
3. Motivation
We won’t sugarcoat it: Downhill skiing is not a cheap sport. Not only does it require hefty equipment, but there are costs associated with traveling to and from ski resorts, buying lift tickets/day passes or season passes, and regularly tuning up your skis.
For a complete downhill ski setup of skis, bindings, boots, poles, and a helmet, expect to spend over $1,000. Buying makes financial sense if you plan to ski weekly throughout the winter. But if you’re just starting in the sport or only plan to ski a few times, renting ski gear for one or multiple days (in the instance of a ski trip) may be the way to go. (We still encourage you to buy your own helmet, though!)
Let’s say you decide this is the year you’re going for it, buying a season pass, and upgrading your 20-year-old ski equipment. With new gear and a season pass at your disposal, you’ll be more motivated to get out — even if it’s just for a couple of hours — and check off ski days on your calendar. The more you ski, the better skier you’ll become in less time. It’s that simple.
Regarding longevity, expect to get at least five years out of new skis (fewer if you ski more than 30 days a year). They’ll last longer if you ski less frequently and wax them whenever they feel sluggish.
Boots last a similar amount of time (75-200 days, depending on the quality of the boots), and we can’t say enough about owning your own boots. A perfect boot fit makes all the difference in this sport. If your feet are comfortable, warm, and “happy” and make you feel in control of your skiing, you’ll likely ski longer on any given day. That will make you a better skier.
If you’re hesitant about buying skis, consider buying boots for starters. Not only is it more appealing than renting (most people would rather wear their own shoes than shoes hundreds or even thousands of others have worn), but boot fitting is essential in terms of sizing, comfort, and performance. Rental boots tend to be terribly broken in, so while they may be easier to put on and take off, they won’t offer as much stability and responsiveness with your skiing.
You can also lease ski equipment from a ski shop and use it for the season. This might cost you around $300 a winter for new skis, bindings, and boots. In most cases, you can lease ski gear for three years for less than the cost of buying the same gear new. The drawback to leasing is that you can’t keep leased gear indefinitely or be guaranteed the same equipment next season.
4. Convenience
In terms of ease of use, it’s a great feeling to be able to pick up your ski gear exactly where you left it at home (assuming no one else moves it), load it into the trunk or onto the roof of your vehicle, and head to the mountain with everything you need. This will cut way down on the amount of time it will take you to get on the slopes. If you’re really into saving time, you can even get suited up in the parking lot and skip a trip into the lodge.
Alternatively, renting ski equipment by the day takes up precious lift ticket time. Even if you reserve in advance, you’ll have to be fitted at the resort rental shop and review all of the equipment with the shop technicians. Meanwhile, skiers with their own gear will be the first on the lifts, enjoying fresh powder or freshly groomed corduroy.
5. Personalization
We’ve talked a lot about fit and comfort, but there’s much to be said about the look of your skis. While a ski’s topsheet and base graphics might mean little to some skiers, they can be the selling feature for others. We’re not suggesting that you select your next pair of skis or boots based on appearance — that would be shallow. But given the choice between a few options that seem equal in terms of performance and fit for you, you might be swayed by color or graphics — and that’s okay. Remember what I said about gazing at your ski tips on the lift?
Trust us when we say you’ll fall in love with the perfect gear that you picked out. If you take your time, ask questions, and share your experience level and goals in the sport with a ski-fitting expert, they can help you select ski gear you’ll have a blast with and be motivated to use.
Buying New Ski Gear
As admitted gearheads, we can’t say enough about the joys and benefits of having your own equipment. If you own a bike, a fishing rod, golf clubs, or anything of the like, you can relate. Your gear becomes an extension of yourself, and the more you use it, the greater the connection you’ll develop with it and the better you’ll understand how it works. You’ll improve as a skier and have more fun on the slopes — we guarantee it.
At Curated, we specialize in sharing our passion for skiing and asking you questions to find you the best ski equipment to meet your needs. We can help you decide whether renting or buying is in your best interest, depending on how often and where you’re planning to ski. Reach out to any of Curated's seasoned Skiing Experts for free, personalized advice on gear to get started!