 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all, title says it all really. I've been skiing once or twice a year since I first started 4 years ago. Been having a bit of a nightmare with booty fitting in resorts so I'm really tempted by the idea of buying my own in the sales. Should be fairly easy to just transport them with the rest of my luggage and avoid the trouble of trying to find rentals for my weird feet.
Has anyone had experience of whether companies like intersport are ok with you just renting skis, and what the price light be? Don't recall seeing that as an option on their page before.
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@tl266, yes, they'll be fine with it. Price will be a bit less than skis plus boots, but not a lot less.
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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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Yep, totally fine I did the same thing before I bought my first pair of skis (rushed into that decision, regrettably!)... as I'm sure many people do as well (take own boots, rent skis). I have typically bought via a TO, and for two people coming on a trip I've organised I got them a board each for the week @ £50 (discounted - some offer they were running). Skis were £58
TBH, buying your own boots is the best thing you can start with IMO - once they're correctly fitted to your feet and you're able to get used to them you're able to progress much faster, in my experience.
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@tl266, absolutely a good idea but the execution is trickier, in that, if you have difficult feet, getting the fitting right to begin with may be an obstacle.
E.g., almost 100% if you just go down your local Snow and Rock, you'll be sold boots that are too big. And very easily too soft. It’s just a skills and marketing availability thing.
So your boots may be comfortable, but the performance will be sorely lacking. They may not even be comfortable.
Which means ultimately a false economy and a second pair of well fitted boots.
Far better to get a properly fitted and suitable pair of boots which may or not be on sale and regard them as the investment that they are.
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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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I've been doing this for the last 10 years or so. You probably save 20/30€ per week on rental without the boots.
I have a bag that is big enough to fit a pair of boots in, and small enough to class as hand luggage, so as long as you don't want to carry anything else on the plane, then it saves any weight in your main luggage.
@under a new name, what is said about too big and particularly too soft i'd agree with. I had a pair of 110 flex boots, went to get fitted, said I needed something stiffer, and he tried to get me to buy another set of 110's, I had to ask for stiffer.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yes definitely a good idea. The one item you need which needs to be 100% fitting is your boots.
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@tl266, It's what many (most?) people do. Hire shops won't bat an eye lid when you turn up to rent skis with your own boots.
Getting well fitting boots is important, especially if you've got "weird feet" and that involves more than you might expect compared to when hiring. Where in the UK are you and people will be able to recommend good boot fitters.
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Did it for years, hire companies are used to it, most if not all the online hire companies have the ability to select any combination of boots, skis and helmets, usually it just means unticking the box for boots. do your research on the best fitters, plenty of recommendations in other threads on SHs. With weird feet going for the cheapest online option will be a false economy.
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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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Oh and sorry for not answering the original question, being, I believe, “can I tip up with my own boots and rent skis?”
Yes, yes, you can, in any shop, anywhere and have been able to since ski boots were retailed to the public and ski rentals became available....
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Think others have answered your core question quite clearly already but to add a few related notes:
1. I pack my boots stuffed with socks, etc and wrapped in snoods/base layers, then 'top and tailed' with small things shoved down the little gap in the middle of the two boots. Like they they don't actually take to too much extra space.
2. The sole of both boots in a pair is the same so you only need to take one down to the hire shop with you when you pick up your skis.
3. Specialist boot fitters, like Solutions 4 Feet or ProFeet are more expensive than the high street stores but even without odd feet buying cheap can often mean buying twice...
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
@tl266, absolutely a good idea but the execution is trickier, in that, if you have difficult feet, getting the fitting right to begin with may be an obstacle.
E.g., almost 100% if you just go down your local Snow and Rock, you'll be sold boots that are too big. And very easily too soft. It’s just a skills and marketing availability thing.
So your boots may be comfortable, but the performance will be sorely lacking. They may not even be comfortable.
Which means ultimately a false economy and a second pair of well fitted boots.
Far better to get a properly fitted and suitable pair of boots which may or not be on sale and regard them as the investment that they are. |
Seconded. I did this exact thing. Boots were one of the first pieces of ski equipment I bought because I had such a horrible time finding rentals that didn't kill my feet. The boots I got were much better than the rentals but ultimately too wide and too big. This season (years later) I've upgraded to a second pair of well fitted boots, though I had to try a couple of fitters and get some internet advice to make sure I was getting the best fitting service. So far so good!
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Remember to take a boot with you to the ski hire shop - they need to adjust the bindings for your boot.
(No need to take two unless you are going straight out to ski though!)
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You know it makes sense.
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A few comments :
1. Buying your own boots is a must do. A boot fitted to your feet is a prerequisite for learning skiing.
2. If you hire your skis, book on the internet (or on the phone after having checked prices) and never from the next-door shop (sometimes twice the web price)
3. You then have the answer to your question : all best prices are usually on internet
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Thu 1-08-19 17:09; edited 1 time in total
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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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@proskilab, uhhh, internet booking may work in big chains, but not always. Our clients get better deals, service and better skis with our friendly shops....
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Poster: A snowHead
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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 am quite sure that your shop offer a great service and certainly good prices, but what I see is that the price you get on the internet is usually much lower than when you walk-in in a shop, even when it is the same shop !
It is a matter of competition. Competition is much tougher on the internet than in the resort... and you get the lowest price where the competition is the toughest. It is usually the same for hotel bookings, car renting, etc.
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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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Bootfitting can't be done on the internet.
Beside the skier - the boots are the most important item for skiing. 
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@proskilab, the shop we recommend most has the same price online as in shop. Their reputation gets them the business - and the quality of the kit. But you typically get a more discerning client in Chamonix. Or, at least, they think they are discerning.
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FAQ
on the correct way to do ski boots up that my feet were comfortable. Boots should be tight around the ankles but only finger tight over over your feet. 
