Cost of rental vs purchase and transport

A snowHead

I was wondering if anyone had purchased kit for the first time, or thought about it since any hold luggage started becoming any "extra" on budget / short haul flights?

I've been snowboarding one or occasionally two weeks a season for 20 years or more now, and still hire kit. A number of reasons, but the main one was looking at the cost.

When I used to do the maths, hold luggage was usually included in your flight price, but sports kit or oversize was extra, say £40-50 a flight as a ball park figure. Kit hire was maybe £70-80 so it was cheaper to always hire, even before looking at the cost of buying kit. Yes, you ran the risk of some mediocre kit, but I get in touch with hire shops in advance, make some friendly enquiries, and we've always been okay. You rarely ever ride the same kit twice, it might not be best suited to your riding style, or perfectly prepared, but then it also never gets older a couple of years max.

A check today of budget flights to Geneva had £36 for a 23kg hold bag, or £42 for a snowboard bag each way. I know the board bag has space for a fair bit of clothing alongside the actual kit, so for the price of a beer I could now upgrade to take my own kit. Some decent hire kit is setting me back £115, so I'm now looking at a £33 extra cost to hire rather than fly with kit, or if you expect to have a hold bag anyway, actually it's £103 more expensive to hire!

A quick search of Sportpursuit's deals gets me a pretty handy set of kit for maybe £700 I think. Hmmm, I break even on 7 years, and get to ride my own kit, set up as I want it, every time.

a couple of decades change in salary has also meant the lumpsum payment is less of a problem than it was at 24...

I feel I want to go shopping...

Any thoughts?

A snowHead

Ive only boarded twice but have gone with my own kit for my next trip.
One main reason - I hate bending down to strap in (skied previously and the hassle of having to get in my bindings is hell!!!)
Bought some Nidecker supermatics.
But also can really look at getting a board that suits my height and build. 6”3’ and 17st.
Didn’t really look at the carriage cost before doing. But easyJet is £42 each way. And BA is included with their standard baggage.
Feels a bit of a no brainier. But fully appreciate that I’m in a privileged position to not only be able to afford the kit but then the holiday to use it!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Also hoping that after using it a few times it will feel familiar. Kind of the same way that driving my car feels so much better than when I use a hire car……..

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Another factor for buying kit is, like you, I'm at the end of the size range, so sometimes feel I've ended up with poorly sized kit. (I tend to shift the mental state by deciding that if the holiday presents me with a shortish board, then I should spend more time trying to spin rather than go flat out fast)

Lots of reasons to buy now, and few reasons not too, whether logical or emotional.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I've been using my own kit since my 3rd or 4th ski trip, but that was because I won a pair of Atomic skis in a competition in the Ifyouski website. And then bought my own boots to go with them.

I've always bought package trips (my wife doesn't ski, so always going by myself), and the cost of adding ski carriage has varied, but has usually been less than half the cost of renting.

This time (with Crystal to St Johann in Tirol), it was £60 for ski carriage. The cheapest rental (via Crystal, probably less in resort) would have been £129 for "standard" skies and £79 for boots, so carriage well under a third of the cost of rental. Just had a look at the sport2000 cost in St Johann and it would be €183.60 for the cheapest skis + poles + boots. So that would have been about 2.5 times the carriage cost.

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If you feel you want to go shopping, then just do it!

Add in your time cost, too. The time spent in the hire shop as part of the scrum on the first Saturday or Sunday morning. Or the time lost waiting for the Sunday morning scrum to clear. Just up, strap in, and away you go.

I've got my own skis for the first time this season and I'm very excited about it. If I can get the planets to align with the trains, I should be skiing 20 minutes after disembarking the train on the day I arrive. No fuss, just a quick change into my ski boots, sling my snowboots in my backpack, and away I go. Also, because we get the train, it doesn't cost any extra to take them. But I've found the cost of hire vs carriage is similar, so why not have something you can become familiar with?

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

sometimes feel I've ended up with poorly sized kit. (I tend to shift the mental state by deciding that if the holiday presents me with a shortish board, then I should spend more time trying to spin rather than go flat out fast)

I’ve kind of felt that I just end up on some cardboard type board that has had the nuts ridden off it.
Don’t get me wrong, I could be completely incorrect. But the thought of having my own board, plus some nice easy bindings feel lush!

After all it is free

Fly Swiss on their Economy Classic fare and above, 23kg hold bag and up to 23kg Snowboard/Ski bag included as standard, invariably considerably cheaper than the "budget" airlines. Have to pick your timing on when to buy as they start high on release then drop for a while and start to rise again closer to departure.

We have our own kit and hence I favour booking with one of the Swiss / lufthansa / Austrian for flights as ski bags are free in addition to your normal hold luggage.

Second is BA which you can take a ski bag INSTEAD of hold luggage bag. Although if you are going off peak, and book early enough the the Business class seats give extra hold bag, so that can end cheaper than EasyJet once you add a ski bag AND hold bag.

One of the major things I like about my OWN skis means I could get knee bindings, which gives me an extra release direction.

I do love the lack of faff at the beginning and end of holiday not having to traipse to ski hire place Smile

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Don’t forget the cost of maintenance & repair. À basic kit set will cost up to £200 and your own time doing the work or you pay a ski shop to do it. Also find out your edge angles and insist that any ski shop respects them otherwise you’ll get whatever the machine default is.

That said I find the servicing to be enjoyable and knowing I’ve got my skis set up as I want them is most satisfying.

You will also find that over time one board isn’t enough and you will end up buying several “unmissable bargains” acquiring an ever growing pile of kit over the years Puzzled

Its all part of the fun.

I don’t know much about the dark side but I believe most board bindings are removable so you can use the same binding system across multiple boards in the future. If I’m wrong about this look into Quiver Killers or Binding Freedom. For skiers using one set of bindings across multiple pairs of skis saves a lot of money and weight when travelling. I’ve managed 5 pairs of skis in 1 EasyJet allowance carrying the relatively heavy bindings in hand luggage.

The satisfaction of heading straight out onto the slopes as soon as you arrive, with your own kit set up as you want it is huge. I’d go for it if I was you. Best of luck.

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I have my own skis and boots at home, and use them in Scotland.

I have stopped taking skis and only take my boots when I go to the Alps though. Usually pay for top kit which I can change as and when during the week.

That worked really well this year when we started a week in Tignes with pretty hard packed pistes, and a couple days in had a decent dump of fresh snow - swapped my piste skis for some much wider ones and got to play in the excellent slopeside powder for a few days.

Makes a difference.

I guess if you own your own place in the mountains its completely different.

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Take my own boots and kit but rent the skis. I did have my own set once, but hated transporting them, had anxiety every time I left em outside a bar or restaurant, panicked if the terrrain got a bit rocky then in a year or two they were obsolete. I’m just much more relaxed with a pair of rentals. Always get the latest models, freshly serviced, can swap em out if they don’t agree with me and happy to go anywhere and leave them anywhere.

The visit to the ski shop on arrival is the only negative for me.

Hmmm, yes, wear&tear and security worries are a couple to add to the hire side of the scales.

As for multiple boards... well I'm up to 6 windsurf boards now,all with some level of justification, so I know that n+1 feeling.

Thanks all for the thoughts and experiences.

You know it makes sense.

As someone who has owned their own kit for 25 years you can guess what camp i'm in.

There are some very good hire shops out there for snowboard gear, but you do have to hunt for them, or you will get handed some pretty wretched gear. Predominantly you'll get a Head or Burton generic hire board and bindings which are far more geared to the hire industry than the rider - heavy - quick to setup - easy to maintain - HEAVY. I hired kit for one of my kids when they were maybe 8 or 9, and their short board and setup was significantly heavier than my full adult board and bindings.

Ultimately, you can hire if it makes financial sense for you, but if you have your own - second hand or a few years old - it will most likely be better for you as a rider than a generic shop setup. But if you are going to hire, do get in contact with the shop and see what kit you will be paying for.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Yes, I definitely email and call around hire shops in advance.

If there is something in the 165W sort of size, it is either barely used, or could be the aforementioned slice of damp cardboard.

This year I know the shop has Nitro, Amplid and Dupraz alongside the Burton and Head gear, and I've the option to swap kit through thr week.

Previously I've even had shop staff bring in something from the older end of their own quiver to make sure I had something useful. I had a week on a nice Burton 168W Pisteboard, that really showed me what an extra bit of stiffness and rail length can do for you for control at speed on the piste.

I'll get through this week and maybe try a few different boards for a bit of research.

A snowHead

So the Big part of @BigSouthernJesse is relevant from you're hunting in the mid 160s and Wide. Kudos, and absolutely will limit what you are going to be offered at a generic hire shop.

Seeing you're in Hampshire, I'd suggest you pop down to the Snowboard Shop in Fleet - scratch the kit itch and see if they have anything from last season which could work for you. If you're putting a bundle together, you may get a better deal in person too. If nothing else you can talk it through with them and get a better idea on what kit might work for you.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I'm ok to use anything I can try, never want to blame skis or board for not suiting me, like to experience characteristics that offer something different in interest with regard to development of equipment.

Also own kit longer term, with which I can take time to fully explore what they give over more extensive scenario than short rental etc. Something feels good to fully understand far more of them once chosen to buy it.

Both have their merits, I'm OK transporting them as mostly driving to get there. Also enjoy servicing them too.

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Do it.

I've had my own boarding kit from the start, and despite it not being the absolute best, it's mine and I like it. And it's kind of saved me some money here and there.

I have spent the last few holidays renting skiing kit - moreso because I didn't want to invest in skis and boots - and the last trip I swapped out for a board and it really gave me the bug back. This Christmas trip I was keen to buy some new gear but I put it in order of importance = 1) new boots, 2) new board, 3) new bindings - and started with some fancy boots that actually fit me better. A new board and bindings can wait, I'll make what I've got work (I'm 6' 3' / 84kg on a 159 K2 Raygun so probably not ideal but easy to turn with my bad hip)

We're going to Saalbach this crimbo and I couldn't find a board and boots setup to rent for less than £140, so for the £60 carriage It was a no-brainer take my own. Also, we bought our son his first setup, so he wants to take his own kit. My boots were £150 so if I get 6-8 trips out of them, they've easily paid for themselves and I don't have deal with other people's minging sweat in the liner Toofy Grin

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Cheaper to rent & use your own boots - fwiw ive also had a rental shop mount by stepon bindings on a rental board for a short trip.
However, Its always roulette on what is available in the shop & I am finicky about a board, so take my own for a week.

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Buying your own kit is worth it if you can buy the right kit for you.

Boots, helmet and goggles are easier to pick and are a no brainier.

Bindings you can go for a middle ground binding (adjusting for your weight).

When it comes to boards you need to try a lot of boards and understand what is different about them and how that affects how it rides. Effective edge Length, side cut radius, shape, profile, flex pattern, responsiveness etc. You also need to understand your own riding style or styles and how they interact with a board. It’s harder for you at your weight range because demo boards will often be around 156-158 suitable for 65kg-90kg.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@BigSouthernJesse, I bought my first kit from my 2nd trip some 15 odd years ago and never looked back. My crew stayed on hire gear for another 3 or 4 trips until they realised that hire gear was pretty crap. As we progressed it made sense to get our own even though I needed a bit of trial and error. But I never lost out bought and sold snowboards and with free carriage and a 10kg cabin bag, I was saving money compared to the boys. I have 3 boards 2 bindings and 1 pair of boots and haven't bought any kit for a number of years now as I'm settled with what I have and I'm still saving compared to hiring. You've been riding long enough to know what you like and what you need so go for it. Don't rule out s&R as I've picked up bargains from there too. If you want some board advice let me know.

After all it is free

The last time I took skis on a train, then on a flight, and then in a fairly small rental car, and in and out of that car in the car park at Aosta, I confess to having found them a right pain. I would always have taken my boots but I found myself wishing I was renting skis, as my daughter did. Yes, they were my own skis, but I'm no expert and for a few days pootling about I'm sure I'd have been fine with rentals.

@BigSouthernJesse, buy all the kit you want. Pack all the gear you want. Load up the car, and drive to the snow.

It's the only way.

I'm driving to the Alps in a few days, and I could take 3 boards if I wanted, but I only need two (piste & powder).

In Feb, I'm driving to the Dolomites.

Don't let the airlines grind you down.

If you can't face driving, at least let the train take the strain.

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@Crosbie, I would do that every time instead of flying if I lived in the south of England but I'm up in Aberdeen which makes it approx twice the distance to the Alps than from the south of England.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

if you're travelling by plane economically, it doesn't work out to have your own kit, at least if you're only doing 1-2 weeks a year. But if you drive, or do 3+ weeks a year or weight value on something more than just the cheapest option you're own skis makes a massive difference. Consistency of having the same ski and that its setup to your weight ability does is a major advantage.

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@Russeh, It's works out economically for me to fly and have my own skis as I ski in Scotland at weekends and also do more than 2 weeks in the Alps in a normal season. Hiring gear for me seems like a pile of hassle going to a ski shop on arrival day or alternatively miss some early morning skiing the first day while you get kitted up. Not for me I'm afraid and never has been.

@Markscotski, no i get it and i agree. I've got status with BA so i don't pay for luggage at all. It would literally cost me £100+ a trip with a budget airline when paying for a ski bag plus a hold bag. But when when you add in ski servicing etc it starts to add up. Sleezy jet have some crazy carriage charges

You know it makes sense.

@Russeh, Skis are free with BA if that bag is the only hold bag you take. Yeah ski carriage pisses me off too!!

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Markscotski, yes, I appreciate it's another day's drive if you're north of Watford. I wouldn't have championed the idea if BigSouthernJesse wasn't in Hants. An 11pm-7am Portsmouth ferry to Caen would set one up for a 9 hour drive to the Alps.

A snowHead

As others have said, fly with BA or Swiss/Lufthansa if their routes work. Free ski carriage, which works always works out cheaper than the budget airlines + paying for their extras, for me. Sometimes a BA flight can cost less than Easyjet's ski carriage alone!

Nothing like having your own gear, especially with snowboards. So easy to bring two decks and swap between according to conditions.

A snowHead

Sadly getting to the airports that the likes of BA fly from can cost more than the savings from included ski carriage. Using Lufthansa carries the risk of the skis not making the transfer at Frankfurt. My climbing gear didn’t once and they took 3 days to deliver it to my hotel.

Having booked a package with crystal I see ski carriage comes in at £60, much less than a week’s hire.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Once you have your own boots and board you won't go back, most of the resorts ive been to have the same Nidecker rental boards and boots which are pretty basic and you have to go find a shop that has anything decent, i dont think you end up saving loads of money though but you should buy your gear after the season as its much cheaper.

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@johnE, You'll just need to move closer to an airport that BA flies from Toofy Grin

!

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@leggyblonde my BA flights in business class are cheaper than flying Jet2 these days. It's ridiculous. But it just depends on where you're travelling from. Downside to BA is they don't do any international flights outside of London Airports so unless you're london based it means connecting.

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I think it’s well worth buying boots after a few weeks learning. They can be packed in a large bag with everything else and filled with socks, wine etc.. You can select the fit, stiffness that you are looking for. A snowboard is another level - cost to buy, transport each season, service as well as the logistics of pulling a bag and board through a busy airport and from the bus to your accommodation. That being said I have had my own board for over 20 years and it means, like the boots, you can get exactly the type/length etc that you want. I’m on a Jones Flagship these days of the length and width required for my weight and foot size. You’d really struggle to rent something like that anywhere. Less of a factor if you are learning the basics.

As to renting a board much depends on the resort you goto, for example Tignes, Val Thorens there are long established shops with good options I think. If you stay nearby a good shop then probably will be good enough. Now I goto a smaller village in La Plagne by plane/car rental and the few shops there offer a poor or no selection.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

If you have skis that you really feel comfortable on, then buy. I am on a bit of a working out what I want journey right now and will hire and try.

My caveat on hiring is that imo you need to find rental shops with good quality skis that are not going to fob you off with any old tat, and have staff that are prepared to discuss your needs, I have found that the shops in Austria are exemplary in this regard, much less so in the resorts of France that I go to … hence buying my own skis.

This year will be hiring some Stockli skis, where hire looks like the affordable option! Maybe if I love them I might buy!

Quick question: How much do people spend on ski servicing?

My Armadas have done over 200 days (probably over 250) and I have spent a total of £20 having them serviced over that time (the Intersport in Arc 1600). Almost everyone I know serivces their own skis but do other people regularly have them serviced in the resorts?

Since most the time we drive to go skiing airline surcharges rarely come into the costs. So the Armadas have cost me less than £3 per day. This is probably the lower bound of costs.

ps they are lovely skis and the graphics often causes comments on chairlifts (I never knew people even noticed these things) but I have been perpetually annoyed that they were twin tips.

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Cost of rental vs purchase and transport

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