 Poster: A snowHead
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After renting for several years, I'm looking at buying a set of skis for the upcoming season, however I'm currently weighing up if its worth it or not. I usually go on about 3 trips a year, often extended weekends rather than longer trips. so I'm trying to decide if its worth the increased carriage costs involved, along with the dragging ski bags around etc.
One of the main priorities on my trips is maximising time on the mountain, so obviously being self sufficient in terms of kit will be a big bonus. However I was just wondering what peoples experience here is? How many years realistically do people normally get out of skis? at the moment I'm more worried about the ski's I would buy will quickly become obsolete and any friends on rentals will get much greater technological benefits than me on my own planks, rather than me wearing them out. any thoughts on the issue are appreciated!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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Skis should be good 200 -300 days at least. What usually kills them is blowing edges where no matter how good the repair it is always a weakspot for the future. Whether the economics work is really down to whether you choose to fly on airlines that let you take your skis for free and how specialist your requirement in skis is.
I've got skis from 2003 that I would still consider a current usable shape.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sun 15-10-17 21:57; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@MountainIdiot, A lot of perceived improvement is marketing, but there are differences between skis. I believe that you will find more difference between different current models/brands, than you will find changes in one brand/model the next five years.
If you are a piste skier and have reached a level that you are happy at, test a load of demo skis and buy what you like.
My oldest ski is 5 years old, and I can buy exactly the same ski today. Whereas many brand change models every years (or at least the graphics).
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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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My Kneissel Black Stars will probably last me til I stop skiing - but then I am somewhat senior. I can't imagine a better on piste ski. I enjoy modern skis, but I have seen some pretty nifty swing on old fashioned skis too. For most recreational skiers, a spreadsheet will probably show a balance showing that it would cost you less to hire than to buy. Moreover, if you hire, you don't have the hassle of lugging skis around the transport system. On the other hand, it is nice to look after your own skis, know when the bindings were last tested, and to know through experience pretty much how they will behave over a wide range of terrain and snow conditions.
Your call.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
to know through experience pretty much how they will behave over a wide range of terrain and snow conditions.
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That's my main reason for having my own skis. I don't pay ski carriage normally. And I know that if I get a new pair of skis within the next five years, it will probably be sheer extravagance and susceptibility to marketing that will make me do so. (I tend to ski about 30-40 days per season these days, on a single pair of all-mountain skis.)
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 15-10-17 22:09; edited 1 time in total
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I'm more worried about the ski's I would buy will quickly become obsolete and any friends on rentals will get much greater technological benefits than me on my own planks
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A lot of perceived improvement is marketing, but there are differences between skis. I believe that you will find more difference between different current models/brands, than you will find changes in one brand/model the next five years.
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^^^
Finding the right skis is much more important than having the "latest". I realized, after purchased my own last year, the PROCESS of finding the right one to buy is the most beneficial to me.
And the 2nd most important of owning my own skis is I don't have to change the way I ski each trip to adopt to whatever rental skis I happen to be given.
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ok, so technology doesn't move as fast as i feared, merely branding - that makes sense
I expect its similar to my experiences with mountain bikes, my friends on new hired rigs can't keep up with me on my '08 commençal, as I know it inside out having rode it for years and took it apart and rebuilt it several times.
having experienced poorly maintained ski kit before, i imagine this is a real advantage, so you know exactly what been happening to the equipment prior to using it
I guess what i'm really doing is trying to justify the purchase to myself before taking the plunge.
The mrs is away with business this weekend so it could be a great time to act, especially since I've just found a website that will send a free reblochon with the skis I want!
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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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One of my pairs of skis, Stöckli Stormrider VXL, have 220+ ski days on them and are still going well. The top sheet is a bit battered, but who cares?!? Makes them a little less attractive to the light-fingered community.
A sage piece of advice I got a few years ago... “A good skier will make pretty much any ski work for them, but true happiness is a ski that skis the way you do!”. That’s another way of saying demo before buying.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Definitely demo before buying
If you ski 2-3 weeks a year and you can resist the temptation to change ski's because you want something new then its a good idea. I know people who have used the same set of skis for 10 years 2-3 weeks a year with no changes.
I would also agree that some ski lines change things from no technical change to only minor change over the life of the ski, this means that you won't be left behind, it also means that you may as well buy second hand. Take K2 as an example their Rictor range was unchanged from 2011-2014 then a minor change to 82 underfoot for another 2 years 2015-2016. Then finally last year they dropped the ikonics which are different. I bought a pair of 2012 Aftershocks, for £50 in 2014 rode them 2 seasons and broke one last season. They owe me nothing. I currently have my eye on a pair of Rictors from 2015 at £100 that should last me a couple of seasons and will easily have paid me back in saved rental after one week of use.
Second hand is where its at, work out what you like, go back two seasons get a bargain and enjoy.
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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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I'm not one for buying second-hand... I feel like there's too many potential hazards - but also I'm a very big skier so my needs are somewhat more niche.
For me, the benefits of own skis that make it worth it are:
- Consistency - knowing how a ski performs. If you go on hire skis and one week you're getting your edges in, carving nice lines and feeling very controlled; then a month later and you're on the same kind of terrain but your edges are all over the shop... it could be you or it could be the skis. It' can be hard to tell. Having your own skis (and keeping them in good shape) gives you the consistency that let's you judge your skiing week-to-week.
- Psychology - knowing that the skis I've got in my quiver give me satisfaction and confidence. They might be functionally identical to something I could hire, but I know that all my skis but a big smile on my face when I ride them, and I know that I can take any of my skis to the top of something steep, icy and generally uncomfortable; yet feel total confidence that they'll get me down no trouble.
- Reliability - I know that I can turn up in any resort on any day and ride skis that are a great fit for me. No worrying that I might turn up and find that they don't have anything in my size or suited to me.
I also just hate hiring. Like I hate renting a home. I like possessions and parting with my money so somebody else can have more skis / properties / etc... sucks!
As others have said, depending on how you use them you should get a pretty long time out of them. Most people I know get bored of skis long before they actually die.
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Sun 15-10-17 23:37; edited 1 time in total
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| PaulC1984 wrote: |
@MountainIdiot, hard to say this one.
D
If you take the Head Titan ski for example, the tech in that ski hasn't changed much for circa 4 years now, and I'd say that is probaby the same for most skis, depending of course at what point you buy your ski through that particular tech change cycle, if that makes sense |
Unless you count the introduction of graphene in the 2016/17 skis ?
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You know it makes sense.
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To answer the original question, until you see something shinier than the ones you already own.
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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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There are hits to be taken in owning.
Financially there is the ski carriage when flying and maintenance. You can perhaps mitigate against the first by choosing an airline that doesn't charge (though the flight itself might cost more) and the second by DIY servicing.
Non-financial you've the hassle of transportation and the hassle of maintenance (DIY or not).
Also, as you've considered the fact that they could become outdated. Certainly I skied on ski's that had a narrower waste than was ideal for longer than ideal. But these shifts in the landscape aren't too frequent or necessarily a killer. It may depend on what type of skier and what type of skiing you are doing.
As mentioned the upsides is potentially saving on cost (we drive so no ski carriage issues and I DIY service - 4 people) and the consistency and joy under your feet.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Well I'm a boarder so can't directly comment, but I'd certainly echo what others have said about the consistency of owning your own sliding utensil(s). Since getting my own kit it feels like I'm starting each trip where I ended the last, not wasting any time adapting to whatever random plank i happen to get.
Also (I know it sounds a bit daft) I've formed a bond with my board and it feels great being back with a trusted friend each trip.
Well worth the expense.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@MountainIdiot, there is another factor to buying skis that has yet to be mentioned in this post. Once you have at least one pair then the number of pairs you 'need' becomes n+1 where n is the number you already have. I am now on 6. 
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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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@mcspreader, with you here. I'm on 8 and my wee lad is on 3..... make lovely wall art though 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I have 'n'  , the mushette has 5 (including a board), junior only has 1.
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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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Blimey!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Some people are hoarders, others are not.
I have several pairs of skis I no longer use. All of the 10 or more years old.
There’s really only ONE pair of skis I regularly use! I bought that 2 seasons ago. So, no danger of skiing multiplying! 
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You also need to compare like with like, a quick look on skiset puts basic skis at ~Euro 60 wheras top skis are more like Euro 160 for 6 days hire. If ski carriage is ~euro60 then your own top skis will pay for themselves in 6-8 weeks, less if you by last years graphics at 40% discount from the likes of Glisshop, or as I did, hired a pair of skis in resort, then bought the same model at 40% discount as it was last years graphics, the shop also refunded my hire fee for the day as I bought a pair of skis.
Maintenance, very limited experience of hire skis recently but none of them were freshly waxed & edged and had to pay if I wanted them waxed.
Adaptability, if there is a dump of powder, with hire skis, you might, if you're quick, be able to swap your hired piste skis for wider skis.
Don't be a princess, by putting some clothes in the ski bag and boots arranged 69 in a lightweight standard carry on bag with other clothes packed around and inside the boots, you can carry all you need for a ski trip. alternatively, skis on their own in the bag and a suitcase with boots and everything else, the suitcase should weigh no more than 20kg.
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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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New skis were far more important in the old days when Gondola queues were often over half an hour so you had far more opportunity to flash your new Solomon X-screams about and demonstrate to potential mating partners just how high up the gene pool you were.
With improved infrastructure, we now spend a lot more time skiing, rather than queuing, so a flash new set of skis is far less useful.
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@PaulC1984,
like I said
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Don't be a princess
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Oops!
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Mon 16-10-17 9:25; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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And the 2nd most important of owning my own skis is I don't have to change the way I ski each trip to adopt to whatever rental skis I happen to be given.
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I am in the happy state of ski ignorance (brought about via my lack of ability) where I wouldn't know what difference the skis were making one trip to the next. I call it 'agricultural' skiing! 
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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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In summary
Pros of buying and owning skis and cons of renting
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# They may suit your skiing style better
# If you ski frequently, over week long periods, and drive to ski resorts carrying your own skis, it can be cost effective
# You can learn to check the DIN setting, and make safety checks yourself
# You can reduce costs by servicing yourself to your own standards
# You can get the first lift up whenever you arrive in resort without the hassle of queuing to get a pair fitted to your boots (an example of when this suited me was when I slept in the Tasch car park on the way to Zermatt and got the first train to Zermatt in the morning. Checked into hostel and was skiing by 9.30 am on the day of arrival)
# You can ski on your local hill whenever it snows
# You are never left with the crap ski rental skis when sold out, or given a poor pair by unfriendly customer service
# freedom and flexibility
# I still own and use a pair of skis I bought in 2001. Well looked after skis last a very long time, especially if you ski with care. This is very cost effective, and they are unlikely to be on any thiefs pinch list. (although having said that a thief broke into my van and stole a well used, stretched to my feet, 10 year old pair of smelly wet ski boots and forced me to buy a new pair) These skis are very useful for occassional days skiing in Scotland when the snow coverage is not so good.
# by owning a pair of skis and skiing on them on multiple trips, you will get to know how they handle and get a real feel for how best to ski with them. Providing you’ve chosen your skis wisely you should have a pair of skis that matches the kind of skiing you do. This is far better than the ‘luck of the draw’ approach that you can be faced with when renting skis. Also, your skis can be mounted with bindings that are set up just for your boots, rather than the “rainbow coloured” multi-adjustable rental bindings.
# you are not given the Spanish inquisition regarding your identity and what hotel you are staying at when you ski on your own skis as opposed to renting (it can be awkward explaining that you are living in parking du golf in Tignes when trying to hire a pair of skis for a couple of months)
Cons of buying and owning skis and benefits of renting
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# It is a hassle lugging skis through airports, trains, on buses, compared to picking them up in resorts
# the charges on ski carriage can make your eyes water, particularly if you live somewhere that does not have direct flights
# carrying skis on public transport can be a nuisance, particularly busy public transport
# you can get the latest skis from rental
# your skis may be better looked after if you rent and you are generally not good at looking after your kit
# ski rentals are covered for loss or damage, whereas you have to buy your own insurance for your own kit
# people are much more impressed with a pair of skis with a rental brand labelled on them, than your own 16 year old scratched and knackered skis (cool factor)
# a wider choice of style of ski is available from rental, and some allow you to swap skis mid week
# no need to worry about ski maintenance if you rent
As for ski boots, if you like skiing there is one simple answer :- BUY!
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Mon 16-10-17 10:21; edited 7 times in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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Unlike @Dave of the Marmottes, I only get about 100 days out of mine. After that they seem to loose their bounce.
I have a pair of head titans that now look a bit strange; one was subject to some extreme bending and now has a rocker. My friend borrowed them and says he cannot detect any difference between the two - so much for rocker skies then.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think Bigtipper has IR about right. There are pros and cons to both hiring and owning. The financial case for either side is seldom clear cut.
@PaulC1984, I’m fascinated by the idea of changing skis because you don’t like the colour anymore. I guess we are all different, but to me that would be like buying a new screwdriver because you don’t like the colour of the old one. Not that I do change skis regularly, but I can understand an eternal quest for the perfect skis that make you feel like a god, but I genuinely couldn’t care if they are poo brown in colour or are covered in ‘I love TK Maxx’ Stickers. Do others really care how their skis look? When does anyone ever see them?
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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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When does anyone ever see them?
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When they are in the rack aoutside the restaurant. You want them to be clear for you to identify quickly and no one else to take them by mistake, but tatty enough that noone would want to steel them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Some balance/sanity required here;
| Bigtipper wrote: |
# you can get the latest skis from rental - only if you pay top dollar, €150+ range
# your skis may be better looked after if your rent and you are generally not got at looking after your kit speak for yourself pal, my skis are better maintained than any rentals I've seen
# ski rentals are covered for loss or damage, whereas you have to buy your own insurance for your own kit most rentals shops charge extra for ski insurance
# people are much more impressed with a pair of skis with a rental brand labelled on them, than your own 16 year old scratched and knackered skis (cool factor) completely disagree. I've much more admiration for someone charging around on their old favourite skis thant they've owned and loved for many years, than someone who's just chucked some cash at a rental shop
# a wider choice of style of ski is available from rental, and some allow you to swap skis mid week again only if you play top dollar, and even then you're restricted to the rental shop stock, usually dominated by one or two manufacturers. If you buy, you have literally the entire world of skis to choose from. How many people actually bother changing skis mid-week, really?
# no need to worry about ski maintenance if you rent provided you're given a decent pair. I've told friends a couple of times to swap out unwaxed & blunt edged skis that were turned round for re-rental in the quckest possible time
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Don't believe the hype that you get the best skis renting. It's a complete (if admirable) fantasy propagated by the ski rental business.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Mon 16-10-17 12:05; edited 2 times in total
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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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Ive just considered the financial calculation for a short 3 days skiing 2nd trip in March. Going via easyjet, who do charge a very hefty fee for skis, it was still just worth taking them, rather that 3 days hire of 'non basic' equipment. Plus they are yours. However this does not take the initial purchase cost into the equation!
Its obviously even better if you are going for a full week or longer.
I like my own skis. - depends on the value you put on this and the certainty that your skis are perfect from the first moment you put them on. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Just to say I only really have one pair of ski's on the go. I ski all the mountain but on a day to day basis I have no idea how the conditions will go. As a two week a year punter I can't have n pairs of skis. And I have no problem skiing on 5-10 year old ski's if they do the job. Maybe others can't resist, have more opportunity to use multiple pairs. So for the OP it really is down to you.
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# carrying skis on public transport can be a nuisance, particularly busy public transport
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From Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon on the RER in August on the way to Les deux Alpes is particularly fun. (Actually wasn't that bad at all. Just bloody hot carrying skis, boots and the rest of the luggage for a two week family holiday).
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@UkuleleDave, gone solo to the Alps by train. Local train to East Coast Main Line . ECML to KX. KX to Waterloo. Eurostar to Paris. Taxi to Gr du Nord (could not imagine getting my ski baggage and skis through the Metro gates on my own). Lyon (IIRC) and Lyon to Bourg St Maurice by TGV. Quite enjoyable - especially travelling first class (not that expensive if booked well in advance in those days). But it would have been a lot more fun without the skis.
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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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| Quote: |
@achilles,
(not that expensive if booked well in advance in those days)
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And these days too... EUR28 for 1st class TGV from Paris to Grenoble this summer (booked as soon as tickets became available). And then the TransIsere coach up to L2A was only EUR5.40 each.
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| foxtrotzulu wrote: |
I think Bigtipper has IR about right. There are pros and cons to both hiring and owning. The financial case for either side is seldom clear cut.
@PaulC1984, I’m fascinated by the idea of changing skis because you don’t like the colour anymore. I guess we are all different, but to me that would be like buying a new screwdriver because you don’t like the colour of the old one. Not that I do change skis regularly, but I can understand an eternal quest for the perfect skis that make you feel like a god, but I genuinely couldn’t care if they are poo brown in colour or are covered in ‘I love TK Maxx’ Stickers. Do others really care how their skis look? When does anyone ever see them? |
Woah there! Ski color and topsheet design is very important to some of us, as is the look of all the gear. Clearly doesn't matter to some but that's OK.
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FAQ
