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Newbie question alert about equipment

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
We have just booked our first ski holiday for next winter. As a total Newbie I was hoping that the learned members of this forum could offer some advice on what equipment/clothing we should take with us. Embarassed

Is it possible to hire clothes, jackets, gloves etc. in resort or should we buy our own and take them?
What will we need and how much should we expect to pay for new equipment?

Please do not shoot me down for such a generic question but I am at the bottom of the learning curve. I may be new but I do not want to arrive in France looking like a goon and standing out as the village idiot. Very Happy

Thanks in advance,
Mike.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Mike-H, There's a great piece here that Masque has written - have a read to get you started!
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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?
Excellent starting point. Thank you. Jeez I've got a lot to learn Shocked
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Mike-H wrote:
I may be new but I do not want to arrive in France looking like a goon and standing out as the village idiot. Very Happy



You've answered your own question here Mike by use of the word "France", ergo inferring to "Ze French". It is nigh-on impossible that you will look like a goon and if you do - then you are amongst friends! wink
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Welcome and good luck with your new skiing obsession Very Happy

Where have you chosen to go on your first trip?
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Quote:

You've answered your own question here Mike by use of the word "France", ergo inferring to "Ze French". It is nigh-on impossible that you will look like a goon and if you do - then you are amongst friends!


Had not thought of that.

I'll fit in like a dream.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
La Plagne - France. Took a lot of research, in part on this forum, as we are two families with infants.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
You can hire in some resorts, but i would have thought it would be much more cost effective (and a whole lot less hassle) to buy in the UK. A trip to TK Maxx and/or Decathlon will have 2 of you fitted out with the basics (jacket, trousers, gloves and socks) for under £150 for both. Hats, base layers and other such thing you will likely have in some form anyway.

You also have the advantage that when you realise what fun it is (note i said when, not if snowHead ) you will already have the stuff. You'll also find most things can be used away from skiing.

Edit, Just seen you have kids also, they can be kitted out for very little in the 2 shop mentioned, just make sure there extremities are well covered and the gloves are attached to them in some way, they have a habit of going missed!!!
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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.
get spare mittens/gloves for the kids. Even if they don't go missing, they'll get saturated (even if they say they're waterproof). Another thought - there are often good kids ski things in charity shops. By the way, in many years of skiing in France I've never noticed any clothing for rent, though you can rent in the UK (eg in Filarinskis in Havant, Hampshire). Have fun! snowHead
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Mike-H, welcome to snowHead . it may be worth waiting til the end of the season to buy your stuff if you're not going until next season. that way you'll save even more at the stores mentioned. i know decathlon start reducing their wintersports clothing prices from around late march/easter. if you know what you want (i didn't suggest you don't window-shop wink ) keep an eye on it until it gets reduced, then get it. unless you're an unusual size, in which case buy the first stuff that fits!
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Mike-H, Since you are not going until next winter, it is also (i.e. in addition to TKMax and Decathlon) worth looking out for Aldi, Lidl and Tschibo ski weeks. Their stuff is all cheap, and will do you for a few trips, but they only ever have it in for one or two weeks at a time.

Matalan are another who have some cheap ski wear in for most of the winter.

Or look in your nearest outlet centre in the Tog24 or Trespass shops, particularly towards the end of the current season (i.e. around March - April).
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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.
It may be a long way off but I am so tempted to start buying stuff. I will, however, wait as advised for sales in March/April. Then i will go crazy. Thanks to all for the advice. This forum has some great members.
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 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
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
Might be worth looking here -

http://www.skiwear4less.com/index.html

we have had bargains from them in the past. also, if you are near one of the retail outlets they usually have gear that doesnt feature on the web site. Might be worth a gander...
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Mike-H,

Aldi has ski stuff in at the moment (which is more than adequate IMO), if your really deperate to spend some of your hard earned wink .
I wouldn't spend a fortune on gear just in case you turn out to be very odd and don't become instantly addicted Laughing Laughing.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I have had a go (2 hour lesson) at snowboarding on an indoor snow dome and that was great. I think I am going to love it! Probably ski this time though.

Next stupid question. Why are some trousers for skiing and some for snowboarding, but then some are for both?
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Mike-H, 'cos we boarders need room for our enormous cojones . . .











usually caused via violent impact with bits of the local furniture or scenery
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Mike-H, As a skier I wear boarding trousers as they seem to allow for more movement... plus padded shorts for the park.
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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?
So any trews as long as they are comfy Smile I'll keep my eyes open for a bargain towards the end of the season.
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
Mike-H, for the kids, ask your mates who ski with slightly older kids for hand me downs. There are bits of kids' ski kit circulating which have done 15+years of service, several weeks each year, and if not as good as new, are fine for kids for a week or two. We've just passed on a couple of pairs of trousers and a jacket, and I imagine that they'll be seen on the slopes for years to come.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Mike-H, i've just received an email from decathlon that some of their snow stuff is reduced by up to 50%. worth a look?
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