 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all ! I am about to arrange ski rental for upcoming holiday in Tignes ( Xmas week!) and the ski rental companies offers quite a few different equipment options - bronze , silver, gold, platinum. The difference is about £10 more for each level up.. What would you book for intermediate+ skiers who will ski mostly blues and reds and some black runs and possibly some off piste ( with an instructor)? Also is it worth adding insurance ( in case of loss/ damage/theft) - for about £10 more again? And finally at which point does it make sense to buy your own skies and boots ( am I right to think that it makes no sense if you only ski one week per year)?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Can't comment on skis, but for boots most of my friends have their own pair not for financial reasons as we only generally go one week a year, but for comfort.
Hire boots don't always fit great, especially if you have awkward shaped feet. After a few years we've all got sick of having holidays blighted by sore feet and blisters. We may not save money having our own boots, when considering hire costs, but hopefully it'll make the rest of the expensive ski holiday more enjoyable and thus worth it. (I say hopefully as this'll be my first year with my own boots, I bought them the end of last season and haven't even got round to trying them in a fridge yet!).
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've always assumed bronze=beginner, silver=intermediate, gold=advanced, platinum=expert. Of course there is some overlap for advanced intermediate/advanced. Advice above about buying your own boots is good. Hire boots will most likely be too big to be on the comfort (less complaints) side rather than performance. Advantage is own boots but being able to try different and latest skis. Assuming you don't live within driving distance of a ski area, I think the break even point for buying your own skis is 2 weeks plus a couple of long weekends (where you get charged nearly the same amount as a full week). Also depends what airlines you fly with and charges for skis.
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Unfortunately it's another of those things that varies from shop to shop. I've had crap bronze skis and crap premium skis, sometimes the difference is just age / condition (this year's bronze are last years silver etc.), sometimes they are different ranges (e.g. stiffer as you go up the scale) look closely at what the differences in the packages are - particularly whether (and how often) you can swap the skis if you are not happy (or if there's a powder day and you want some bigger planks).
For me the decision to buy wasn't due to pure economics, having lost skiing time on a couple of trips trudging back to the hire shop with skis I wasn't happy on I was prepared to pay for the consistency of having my own skis (although, that said, I do get enough use out of the to justify on an economic basis too, so an easy decision for me).
Personally when I was hiring I generally went for one of the upper packages, because it's a small increment and gives access to the entire range.
Regarding insurance, that depends on your attitude to risk, and just how the shop categorises 'damage'. If you're likely to spend time at some of the livelier apres venues on slope, or leave your skis in public in the resort the theft cover may be worthwhile. Depending on the snow cover and the type of skiing you'll be doing damage is more or less likely. Personally I've usually gone for it to avoid any argument when returning the skis, despite the fact I suspect it is really just selling up by the shops.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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It does vary from shop to shop, but having seen the state of various silver and bronze skis I just wouldn't take the risk of getting something sub-standard. Bronze and Silver are usually older kit, at least a season old and therefore the edges can be pretty ropey. Gold skis are usually new or nearly new; platinum tends to be new kit that is more specialised (twin tips and the like).
@Bella2015, lets look at it this way. You're going to Tignes in Xmas week over Xmas, not cheap in itself for the whole holiday cost. You'll probably spend £10-£20 every day on lunch, snacks, a drink on the mountain etc. And a pint of beer will cost 6 euros and upwards. Given all that, why skimp on saving £5 per day and get some old skis? You're only skiing for 6 days of the year, make the absolute most of it.
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@Dav, + 1
@Bella2015 If you are past the beginner stage where there may (arguably) be benefit to having softer shorter skis, its probably worth going for one of the better packages (though not necessarily the very top).
At the very least the skis in the upper end packages are usually extensively reviewed online so you can spend ages looking at what you fancy having on your feet when that week comes around.
In my experience the top three tiers are usually:
Black: Old kit, but quite good if not too battered (Really depends on the ski shop as to how beaten up they think is acceptable here)
Gold: Good new (or mostly new) stuff - big names. Skis you will have heard of are almost always in this category.
Platinum / Premium: Lots of carbon, also fashion skis like Lacroix. Definitely get insurance if you go this way.
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I went on a trip last year with a real mix of abilities and so between us we had three of the four different packages they offered.
The basic package was pretty rubbish, no edges to speak of and they were really limiting my (complete beginner at the start of the week) boyfriend by the end of the week.
The package one up from that was old but perfectly serviceable, the second top package were some almost-new, very nice skis.
None of us went with the top bracket. I tend to assume these are unnecessary unless you are a very good skiier looking for something with specific features. Probably either of the middle two packages would be fine for you.
In terms of boots, my experience was that they gave you the boots that fitted, regardless of price bracket, but almost always start by handing you the oldest ones.
My own travel insurance covers loss/damage to hired equipment, so I don't take out the ski shop's policy.
I've just bought my own pair of boots after 9 weeks skiing, as the last few times I've been I've had some discomfort with hired ones. Don't think its cost-effective (its not much extra to hire boots on top of skis), but hoping it will pay off in comfort. No intention of buying my own skis.
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I have had my own boots for many years. More comfortable and you know they will be ok when you go away.
As for skis I have owned my own for a shorter time. Hiring is more economical but with my own I know I will have sharp edges. But it would be definitely cheaper to hire.
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| nabus wrote: |
My own travel insurance covers loss/damage to hired equipment, so I don't take out the ski shop's policy.
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There is often an excess on this and the shop's policy should see that you are not out of pocket.
If you don't make every effort to prevent the skis being nicked (like swapping skis and and a lock), they may not be covered....the shops own cover "may" be easier to claim on.
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Following on from @Old Fartbag, if you have their insurance (and they usually know if you do or not) they tend to shrug if you do things like snap both poles on a ski lift (arguably the lifty's fault) or manage a core shot on some brand new skis (because skiing on rocks at new year 2016 was the only option).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Old Fartbag wrote: |
| nabus wrote: |
My own travel insurance covers loss/damage to hired equipment, so I don't take out the ski shop's policy.
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There is often an excess on this and the shop's policy should see that you are not out of pocket.
If you don't make every effort to prevent the skis being nicked (like swapping skis and and a lock), they may not be covered....the shops own cover "may" be easier to claim on. |
If your aim is to minimise all possible unforeseen expenditure, then insuring as much as possible is undoubtedly the way to go. I make sure that I can afford the excess on my policy, if necessary - and as things stand, if I have my skis stolen next week I'll still be less out of pocket paying that excess than having paid for the shop's policy each week I go.
I've never actually been offered a read of the small print when they offer me the policy in shop, I would be surprised if it did cover leaving skis unattended and unlocked? Can anyone confirm?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| nabus wrote: |
If your aim is to minimise all possible unforeseen expenditure, then insuring as much as possible is undoubtedly the way to go. I make sure that I can afford the excess on my policy, if necessary - and as things stand, if I have my skis stolen next week I'll still be less out of pocket paying that excess than having paid for the shop's policy each week I go.
I've never actually been offered a read of the small print when they offer me the policy in shop, I would be surprised if it did cover leaving skis unattended and unlocked? Can anyone confirm? |
My view might be tainted by the fact that I had some expensive hire skis stolen. Luckily I had taken the shop's policy, so wasn't out of pocket.
The shop didn't make it awkward and I was able to show my own insurer that I had made reasonable efforts to keep them safe. After that I bought a lock, as I thought that I was lucky to have my claim agreed.
I have since that time payed the handful of Euros, especially if the skis are decent....but saying that, your position is quite understandable.
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Hi thanks for all the responses. Probably will go for gold or platinum package. Regarding boots, I think another factor to consider is that we fly and do not hire a car and have two young kids, so probably will just hire equipment for now. About insurance, will check if my current travel insurance may cover anything and then decide
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You know it makes sense.
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Be careful. Stiffer skis need much better technique to use.
Depends what you mean by intermediate. This can mean almost anything form 2 weeks to one week a year for 20 years. Why not describe what you ha done and ask.
Early season you may still get last years skis even in higher categories (as the snow cover may be thin) and they may be holding back newer kit til February.
Insurance- you are probably insured already. This sort of extra is how the shops make a lot more money.
Internet booking can reduce costs considerably. There are also a number of companies that will deliver skis and boots to your hotel / chalet- i.e. they don't have a shop per se. Also look at Ski Republic.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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MY 1.5c is buy boots and hire skis. If shop has 4 price points [rusty, bronze, chanel, kryptonite or what ever] go for 2nd most expensive with the (usually free at this price) option to change skis at least once per week. I've never had skis stolen but sometimes I swap 1 ski with partner at lunch time and use cable ties [bring nail clippers]. We used get 2nd cheapest skis and the first time we paid the extra we where both very pleased and have never looked back.
This year buying is under consideration.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Themasterpiece wrote: |
| I've always assumed bronze=beginner, silver=intermediate, gold=advanced, platinum=expert. |
In my experience it's more: bronze=beat to s**t, silver=passable, gold=decent, platinum=nearly new.
Re: buying. I bought my own boots having only done a day of skiing, in retrospect this was probably a bit too soon but I've now got 6 weeks of comfortable skiing out of them. I've also just bought my own skis but that was down to two main reasons. Firstly I wanted something that isn't necessarily in every ski shop. Secondly it was May and I was suffering withdrawal systems so happened to be browsing the web and saw a good deal  I'd say that skis aren't essential to own unless you're after something specific or find a set you really like, ultimately it's not that much cheaper to transport your own compared to hiring. Boots I'd definitely buy if you go skiing every year, but make sure you get them fitted properly (i.e don't buy online, go to a reputable fitter). Depending on how much stuff you insist on taking with you then boots are simple enough to fly with, although on EasyJet flights I've had to put one in my carry on to keep weight of my hold bag down
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@mopi, +1
@Bella2015, If you do go platinum definitely check the insurance situation.
Not sure where you are renting from, but rrp for some of the platinum skis they rent is north of €1,000, and shops can get awkward when much cheaper ones are damaged.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@ed123, I did a little skiing as a child and then re-learned as an adult and have done about 6 weeks of skiing since. So I am ok on reds and can do a black if I must but not much off piste ( unless with an instructor)
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I'd echo that the ski hire experience is pretty random. We've had excellent, completely new skis and snowboards one year and then pretty ropey stuff at the same price the next. After a few years we bought our own boots first, then skis a couple of years later. The former takes away one variable in the discomfort equation i.e. if you have your own boots and the hire skis aren't working for you, then you know it's the skis.
Some shops offer the option of trying out hire skis with a view to purchase: if you like them, then you either get a discount of the same model new, or buy the ones you're using if they're new. We found that if you said you were hiring with a view to buy, then places that did this had an incentive to give you a decent pair in the first place - so you win even if you don't decide to buy.
We also bought our first pair of boots in the resort, as we wanted to be able to go back and get them adjusted and then ski again until they were right. There are pros and cons to this approach, as you'll certainly end up paying more than in a Spring sale in the UK, for example. This was after my sister-in-law spent three years getting her boots bought in the UK adjusted. However, I know that a lot of people would say they had no problems buying in the UK, especially if you're dealing with resort shops where it's the usual school holiday chaos and they obviously don't have much time to spare.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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'Insurance' is often nothing of the sort. Particularly if you book online, you will pay (guessing, roughly) 15% of the hire charge as insurance. Unfortunately this is capped at €400 (?) euros, so if you book the platinum you will be paying 15% of the higher hire charge, but not getting the extra insurance. An outrageous scam.
Then... they often have the 'replacement' charges up on the wall in a shop. Fine, that would buy you a brand new pair of skis. But when the skis you are replacing are at the end of their life, they have no right to demand that level of charge.
The whole thing is a potential scam, so be careful with your skis. That said, provided the skis come back they never seem to care much. There are all sorts of stories about ski shops stealing back their own skis, but I don't believe them.
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| James the Last wrote: |
| Insurance' is often nothing of the sort. Particularly if you book online, you will pay (guessing, roughly) 15% of the hire charge as insurance. Unfortunately this is capped at €400 (?) euros, so if you book the platinum you will be paying 15% of the higher hire charge, but not getting the extra insurance. An outrageous scam. |
Do check the degree of coverage before you buy it, but I have never had any problems of the kind mentioned above (even with an obvious core shot on some brand new skis earlier this year), and many places do cover the full cost of skis for theft / damage - regardless of the price (such as SkiSet I think?), though they may well pull you up for not having a lock or damage that suggests misuse.
| James the Last wrote: |
| provided the skis come back they never seem to care much. |
This is usually the story, but I'm generally willing to stump up £15 so I don't have to worry whilst someone inspects the bases. 
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Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! Guess I have all the facts one to make an informed decision
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Always use hire skis, normally one below the best available in range, saves any damage in transit and airline carriage charges, can swap them in resort when necessary and can request that edges are sharpened (hire shop will normally do this free of charge) or for a small price
Also once less hassle to carry when travelling
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Last year in Borovets I hired Skis, boots etc. I took the upper range of the two offered and a)I could be fitted for boots, skis etc on the first evening rather than on the next morning (giving valuable extra skiing time) and b) was able to try several pairs of boots to get a pair that both fitted and were comfortable.
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If you can / want to carve, then you need ski's you can carve in, which means getting something above the basic beginner skis.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I bought skis on my last trip and this coming trip they will pay for themselves in money saved hiring. Of course there is a downside. If flying you either have to pay extra or study the conditions carefully to avoid ski carriage. Plus of course they're one extra thing to carry around.
Get a higher level package if hiring. Also, don't be afraid to refuse the skis they give you if they're completely trashed. Some places hire skis that really belong in the bin.
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FAQ
