 Poster: A snowHead
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I haven’t rented for many years but i seem to reall that the price for premium skis in France was about 70 a week, Austria equivalent ski was probably 110 and in USA it was 160 per week. If I onlybskied in France I would probably hire, but we tend to ski a mixture of the 3 and 2 to 3 weeks per season so buying was our choice. Lugging them around airports is a hassle but I much prefer knowing what I am going to spend my time skiing on rather than pot luck with the rentals. As many have said buying your own skis shouldn’t be a price decision.
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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've literally just been through this so for interested parties, heres what it cost me up front and for the first trip. Roughly.
Skis: £230 - Brand new one season old Volkl Kanjo in sale
Bindings: £90 - Brand new this seasons Marker Griffon ID
Poles: £40 - Could have gone cheaper
Bag: £75 - New Dakine fall line double in sale (stacked discount codes)
Total: £435
Ski transport (air): £45 return
Resort Hire Cost Austria: £110 - For similar quality
So 435/(110-45) = 6.69 weeks to break even.
So using the above, these should pay for themselves after 7 weeks or so which for me is 3 seasons. I'd expect (hope) them to last at least 4 or 5 if looked after. Might even be some resale later, but I wouldn't factor that in, personally.
However, the above doesnt really show the true picture, particularly if you share your baggage costs with someone else.
You'd need to factor in that the bag could transport 2 sets of ski's, with air transport for the same costing about £60. That would reduce the weeks needed to break even significantly, as would a promo offer like Jet2 offering ski carriage for £1. Also, if you use say, Jet2 and put all your stuff in a coffin bag as we normally do, you save a small fortune on hold baggage fees there as well, theres just the risk of it being lost I guess.
To me theres no substitute for having your own gear, as long as it's properly insured etc etc. It makes it a lot easier to improve. At least thats what I found with snowboarding, it made a huge difference, particularly early on.
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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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@Martin & Ami, What about servicing costs for your own skis? That air transport costs seems cheap too - what airline is that with?
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| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| To me theres no substitute for having your own gear, as long as it's properly insured etc etc. |
Insurance won't really help when it comes to gear as generally they don't do new for old but just pay you what the used gear is worth.
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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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| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| Resort Hire Cost Austria: £110 - For similar quality. So 7 weeks. |
Possibly. But by next year they're "outdated" so they'd be £80. And the year after they'd be "really outdated" so £50.
And if you go to France where the ski hire is 40% cheaper than Austria, or if you fly Easyjet where the cost is £75 then the maths changes further. What are you adding in for servicing?
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@Martin & Ami, hold up, I got those same bindings for £180! Where did you get them for 90?
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| martinm wrote: |
| @Martin & Ami, What about servicing costs for your own skis? That air transport costs seems cheap too - what airline is that with? |
Fair point on servicing but some people can service their own for routine stuff.
Airline is TUI via Crystal on this occassion but previously Jet2 have done £60 round trip for two sets of kit in one bag and we didnt need hold baggage (although we could do laundry at chalet).
It's very dependent on circumstances thats for sure.
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| James the Last wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| Resort Hire Cost Austria: £110 - For similar quality. So 7 weeks. |
Possibly. But by next year they're "outdated" so they'd be £80. And the year after they'd be "really outdated" so £50.
And if you go to France where the ski hire is 40% cheaper than Austria, or if you fly Easyjet where the cost is £75 then the maths changes further. What are you adding in for servicing? |
Nobody I've been skiing with has ever had a new pair of hire ski's or board, its always been pretty old kit (tried Skiset, Skimium and a mom and pop over the years). That was one of the primary drivers in picking up a pair of my own.
Obviously location varies the costs substantially, but the breakdown was regarding this specific trip.
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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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| Bennisboy wrote: |
| @Martin & Ami, hold up, I got those same bindings for £180! Where did you get them for 90? |
Used a discount code on also and included them as part of a package deal with some flats for my wife. Worked out as £90 for the bindings. Free post.
I'm not sure I'm allowed to say the store name so I've removed it.
Am I allowed to say?
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| Layne wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| To me theres no substitute for having your own gear, as long as it's properly insured etc etc. |
Insurance won't really help when it comes to gear as generally they don't do new for old but just pay you what the used gear is worth. |
Thats an interesting point. I guess it comes down to the insurer. How do hire shops handle lost equipment though, charges might cancel each other out?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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there are always bargain out there for skis..depends what time of year you buy as well, but forget cost !! its being able to have better skis than the hire ones, plus you get used to your own skis, wife has just bought new ones with marker bindings etc, as her old ones were 13 or 14 years old, old carvers that weighed a ton, so now she has a short pair of front rockers that are more manageble and not heavy either !! so it will take her a few days to get the feel, after that she will never hire, did try hiring a pair last year for the day to try before you buy , but they were rubbish..
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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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| James the Last wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| Resort Hire Cost Austria: £110 - For similar quality. So 7 weeks. |
Possibly. But by next year they're "outdated" so they'd be £80. And the year after they'd be "really outdated" so £50.
And if you go to France where the ski hire is 40% cheaper than Austria, or if you fly Easyjet where the cost is £75 then the maths changes further. What are you adding in for servicing? |
Not quite apples and oranges there.
Yes, a pair of brand new, £110 hire skis this year will be a £80 pair next year but they'll have had say 12 weeks use and abuse (at the hands of both renters and the rental shop servicing machine). Your own pair of skis will only have had a couple of weeks use - and if the hire shop had a pair like that you can bet they would still be renting them out at £110.
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| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| James the Last wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| Resort Hire Cost Austria: £110 - For similar quality. So 7 weeks. |
Possibly. But by next year they're "outdated" so they'd be £80. And the year after they'd be "really outdated" so £50.
And if you go to France where the ski hire is 40% cheaper than Austria, or if you fly Easyjet where the cost is £75 then the maths changes further. What are you adding in for servicing? |
Nobody I've been skiing with has ever had a new pair of hire ski's or board, its always been pretty old kit (tried Skiset, Skimium and a mom and pop over the years). That was one of the primary drivers in picking up a pair of my own.
Obviously location varies the costs substantially, but the breakdown was regarding this specific trip. |
Time of season you ski also impacts it. When we have gone very early season we have had some nigh on brand new gear. Going at Easter is noticeably different story!
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You know it makes sense.
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I always pay for the top/top-1 'quality' and always get almost new skis, so I don't think you'll necessarily get worn out stuff - maybe if you get the cheaper ones? But looking in the racks of the shops they all seem pretty decent.
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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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So really there's not a lot in it, but it's just nice to have your own!
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Poster: A snowHead
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| martinm wrote: |
| I always pay for the top/top-1 'quality' and always get almost new skis, so I don't think you'll necessarily get worn out stuff - maybe if you get the cheaper ones? But looking in the racks of the shops they all seem pretty decent. |
For bog standard skis I've only ever seen 'new' planks being handed out for the top group in France and Austria. Sauze d'Oulx was a different matter, with some really tired looking kit coming out the (main street/hotel recommended) shop.
If you're looking for something a bit more specialist, like powder skis, my experience is you don't always get the current year's model - but then it's kit that will probably spend more weeks sat in the rack than out on the mountain so in no way worn out.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| yorkshirelad wrote: |
| wife has just bought new ones with marker bindings etc, as her old ones were 13 or 14 years old, old carvers that weighed a ton, |
There is a big downside of owning your own skis. No hire shop would have been hiring her 13-year-old carvers...
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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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| NickyJ wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| James the Last wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| Resort Hire Cost Austria: £110 - For similar quality. So 7 weeks. |
Possibly. But by next year they're "outdated" so they'd be £80. And the year after they'd be "really outdated" so £50.
And if you go to France where the ski hire is 40% cheaper than Austria, or if you fly Easyjet where the cost is £75 then the maths changes further. What are you adding in for servicing? |
Nobody I've been skiing with has ever had a new pair of hire ski's or board, its always been pretty old kit (tried Skiset, Skimium and a mom and pop over the years). That was one of the primary drivers in picking up a pair of my own.
Obviously location varies the costs substantially, but the breakdown was regarding this specific trip. |
Time of season you ski also impacts it. When we have gone very early season we have had some nigh on brand new gear. Going at Easter is noticeably different story! |
I agree Nicky in principle and see your logic. However, I've been boarding with a mixed group of boarders/skiers in every month of winter over the years, same result each time. Last year they rented the novice of the group a 2011 model Burton board of the exact same design as I'd had from them in 2012. Thats just one example.
Either Burton made the exact same board for the previous 6 years, or something was amiss. Thats a French major rental chain too.
It's why I'm so surprised when people insist that the gear you hire is always current season or very new. I can honestly say, hand on heart, I've not seen anywhere close to that in the many years I've been going.
It's not just me either. Others from our semi-regular group started to notice. The top sheets dont lie on ski's/boards. (That should be a Shakira song.  )
The above experiences though really made me push towards my own kit more than anything else. Whether I turn a slight profit is immaterial really, I just wanted to help others to decide whats right for them with example costs, although I missed out servicing but made up for it in baggage share ideas. 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| HoneyBunny wrote: |
| So really there's not a lot in it, but it's just nice to have your own! |
It really depends I reckon....(collective eye roll)
If you buy last years model new, or ex-demo and use voucher codes and offers to get a good price, buy at the right time plus do basic servicing yourself and combine baggage, you're quids in with your own kit. It does entirely depend on individual circumstances, though.
Hiring isn't risk free. Only today I was reading an article in the guardian where a person had lost their hire ski's and the hire company wanted £1500 back (new for old essentially). Their travel insurance wouldn't cover new for old, so the renters were left massively out of pocket until the newspaper got involved. Even then it still cost them an extra £200 I think it was. I think some hire places you can pay extra to waive the excess and have full coverage, but its again, more expense.
There's no such thing as a free lunch, but I still think having your own skis would come out tops in many circumstances over time. Progression wise...in my entirely amateur opinion, yes, there will be a massive benefit to having your own kit, if you take advice before purchasing and know what you're buying.
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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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| Mjit wrote: |
| martinm wrote: |
| I always pay for the top/top-1 'quality' and always get almost new skis, so I don't think you'll necessarily get worn out stuff - maybe if you get the cheaper ones? But looking in the racks of the shops they all seem pretty decent. |
For bog standard skis I've only ever seen 'new' planks being handed out for the top group in France and Austria. Sauze d'Oulx was a different matter, with some really tired looking kit coming out the (main street/hotel recommended) shop.
If you're looking for something a bit more specialist, like powder skis, my experience is you don't always get the current year's model - but then it's kit that will probably spend more weeks sat in the rack than out on the mountain so in no way worn out. |
Finally someone who's seen what I've seen to an extent.
I'd really like to hear from someone who can name a shop where they offer brand new ski's at the start of every season. It doesnt even make economic/business sense and I've no idea why the idea keeps getting pedaled. Of course the ski's have to be new at some point, but doesn't mean they are refreshed year after year at enormous cost.
Anyway, perhaps thats derailling the thread somewhat, but it is relevant. People shouldn't be turning up to a hire shop expecting current season gear, imo.
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@Martin & Ami, Ski 2 posted a picture up of all the new ski’s they had just purchased to refresh there stock just the other day in Facebook
While in Courchevel the ski hire place attached to our hotel replaces all there poles while we were there (we were there first week of the season), unfortunately they were indiscriminate and swapped out own poles and those hired from different shops!
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| NickyJ wrote: |
@Martin & Ami, Ski 2 posted a picture up of all the new ski’s they had just purchased to refresh there stock just the other day in Facebook
While in Courchevel the ski hire place attached to our hotel replaces all there poles while we were there (we were there first week of the season), unfortunately they were indiscriminate and swapped out own poles and those hired from different shops! |
Curious, had they refreshed them the previous year also?
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@Martin & Ami, no idea to be fair
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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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You can make the maths work however you want. For me very nice almost new demo skis with binders $300. About 100 days on them + 1 broken leg+ free ski carriage = buttons per day
Lovely condition beautiful freecarve snowboard $80. Never ridden it yet = infinity per day.
Both the above pretty much unrentable in most resorts.
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| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| NickyJ wrote: |
@Martin & Ami, Ski 2 posted a picture up of all the new ski’s they had just purchased to refresh there stock just the other day in Facebook
While in Courchevel the ski hire place attached to our hotel replaces all there poles while we were there (we were there first week of the season), unfortunately they were indiscriminate and swapped out own poles and those hired from different shops! |
Curious, had they refreshed them the previous year also? |
Just re-read post, they say every season
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2057578544288036&id=155445704501339
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
You can make the maths work however you want. For me very nice almost new demo skis with binders $300. About 100 days on them + 1 broken leg+ free ski carriage = buttons per day
Lovely condition beautiful freecarve snowboard $80. Never ridden it yet = infinity per day.
Both the above pretty much unrentable in most resorts. |
True, it wont work for everyone. Theres no one size fits all approach or even a right/wrong.
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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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| NickyJ wrote: |
| Martin & Ami wrote: |
| NickyJ wrote: |
@Martin & Ami, Ski 2 posted a picture up of all the new ski’s they had just purchased to refresh there stock just the other day in Facebook
While in Courchevel the ski hire place attached to our hotel replaces all there poles while we were there (we were there first week of the season), unfortunately they were indiscriminate and swapped out own poles and those hired from different shops! |
Curious, had they refreshed them the previous year also? |
Just re-read post, they say every season
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2057578544288036&id=155445704501339 |
Had a look. It says a "good amount" of new stock. Fair enough I guess if it makes it to the rental customers straight away to keep them supplied with the latest kit, but I reckon it's probably used to replace broken/damaged older stock per season and the marketing given a different spin. Maybe.
That would be me being skeptical though.....
I sort of think of it from a business point of view. If you can rent a 10 year old pair of ski's at the same price as new and customers will accept it without complaint, many company bosses are going to do it. Some may not, on principle, but the corps...almost for sure they will squeeze every last drop of income from their investment. Theres a very limited income window for these companies and they dont really have the luxury of being able to sacrifice their margin unless they absolutely have to.
Just my opinion on it. I've no axe to grind either way really.
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@waitrose,
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How many weeks skiing a year do you need to do to justify buying your own skis from an economic point of view?
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Under 2
Actual case history
Rossignol Pursuit 400 bought Dec 2016 for £179.99 from Decathlon on special offer.
Actual hire cost of equivalent skis for 15 days in Jan 2017, 15 days in Mar 2017, 6 days Dec 2017 and 15 days Jan 2018 after 50% discount but including accidental damage insurance premium approx £700
Sold the skis in Feb 2018 for £181.
Either drove or flew Swiss so no carriage charges. Serviced myself so maybe £10 worth of wax and £ 1 P-tex.
This buy was driven purely by the finances because the snow conditions in the PDS in Dec 2016 were very dodgy and buying these to potentially trash was cheaper than hiring for the 2 weeks in January.
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You know it makes sense.
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In answer to the original question...zero.
No weeks of ski holiday can be justified economically!
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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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Umm, that wasn't the original question...
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Poster: A snowHead
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The proper skiers seem to have an on piste and off piste pair these days. The cost of getting your skis there and a decent service does make renting by far the cheaper option.
There are some distinct advantages to owning your own though:
Getting them out if the garage and lookibg at them for two weeks before you go
Leaving them against the side of your house for where whilst loading your car so your neighbours kbow your'e a skier
Carrying them through the airport so fellow passengers know you are a skier and, therefore, better than them.
You can choose your own colour.
You can bore everyone with why you bought them and what a great decision you made which will impress them as they will think you're an expert on skis and will be impressed
You can get them stolen, claim on the insurance and buy a new pair.
You can put them on the roof of your car to show people you ski
You can look at them.longingly whilst putting your.lawnmower Inthe garage I. Summer months
You can wear them when it snows I. The UK and impress anyone that sees you
You won't get ripped off by ski hire cartels - see St Anton - above
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| cameronphillips2000 wrote: |
The proper skiers seem to have an on piste and off piste pair these days. The cost of getting your skis there and a decent service does make renting by far the cheaper option.
There are some distinct advantages to owning your own though:
Getting them out if the garage and lookibg at them for two weeks before you go
Leaving them against the side of your house for where whilst loading your car so your neighbours kbow your'e a skier
Carrying them through the airport so fellow passengers know you are a skier and, therefore, better than them.
You can choose your own colour.
You can bore everyone with why you bought them and what a great decision you made which will impress them as they will think you're an expert on skis and will be impressed
You can get them stolen, claim on the insurance and buy a new pair.
You can put them on the roof of your car to show people you ski
You can look at them.longingly whilst putting your.lawnmower Inthe garage I. Summer months
You can wear them when it snows I. The UK and impress anyone that sees you
You won't get ripped off by ski hire cartels - see St Anton - above |
I’m new around here, but you, sir, get a ‘like’
LS
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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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Another reason to own is being non-standard...eg overweight but short female snowboarder. Pretty much guaranteed I won’t find a decent hire board.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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No brainer for me, hired garbage skis in andorra and sol wasted loads of time going back to ski shop, own my own skis now for 1 week a year hassle free.
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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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@brokenbetty, but boards? A friend owns a high end ski shop in Chamonix and his board rental fleet is about 5% of his ski fleet. Due to demand.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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[quote="Martin & Ami"][quote="Mjit"]
| martinm wrote: |
I'd really like to hear from someone who can name a shop where they offer brand new ski's at the start of every season. It doesnt even make economic/business sense and I've no idea why the idea keeps getting pedaled. Of course the ski's have to be new at some point, but doesn't mean they are refreshed year after year at enormous cost.
Anyway, perhaps thats derailling the thread somewhat, but it is relevant. People shouldn't be turning up to a hire shop expecting current season gear, imo. |
Both ConceptPro and Sole in Chamonix do.
Without question.
I’d be amazed if FB in Morzine doesn’t any more.
I’d be amazed if any decent shop didn’t.
How else would they sell kit?
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it depends who you are trying to justify the economic cost to .....
My wife for example .... even at 4 weeks per season i m 25 years into failing to justify any purchase
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@limegreen1, 4 weeks a year? I would think the investment worth it...
Kit lasts ~120 days in my experience. So, 20 weeks.
The arithmetic is surely straightforward.
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
| @brokenbetty, but boards? A friend owns a high end ski shop in Chamonix and his board rental fleet is about 5% of his ski fleet. Due to demand. |
Yep exactly. Boarding is non-standard in the first place, and I need a non-standard board. Renting is never going to work well for me.
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@brokenbetty, I imagine not!
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FAQ
