 Poster: A snowHead
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It looks like I am going to be taking a couple of pairs of skis with me for the first time this year and I do not have the first idea about ski bags!
I don't want to pay a fortune if a cheaper one/pair will do just fine, but I also don't want to risk wrecking the skis on thier first outing.
Can anyone recommend a particular make/model, or let me know which to avoid?
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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Paul Holland, My advice is to go for a double ski bag, that way u can double up on the skis saving on airport charges! Dont worry too much about the bag, its how u wrap the skis inside that will determine whether the skis survive or not.
That, and the whim of baggage handlers, who may or may not have had a good day, and may or may not think it funny to return your skis to you in twice as many pieces as you gave them in as!
Having said that, have been on 4 holidays, with most people taking skis, and we have never had a problem with damages, just one pair got delayed, and they were snowblades so...  !!
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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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Many "single" ski bags will actually fit two pairs in if you try hard enough!!
I bought a cheap ski bag, and pad the skis out with luggage (which helps protect them).
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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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Bev used bubble wrap on our skis at Christmas and it was really effective for protecting them. I think you have to regard the ski bag as the "sacrifice layer" as they certainly take a hammering.
We use a padded Atomic double bag while Jon has a single unpadded Fischer one. No apparent difference in effectiveness. I would be doubtful about packing wanted stuff round skis as the edges and sticky out bits wreck the stuff around the skis. Hence the bubble wrap.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Definitely invest in some bubblewrap: make a "sock" of wrap to go over the tips, and another to go over the tails; then wrap plenty round the bindings as well. You could pack in some old tea-towels as well but I don't usually bother. They never seem to weigh the bag at check-in so in theory you can jam in as much as you like.
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Don't bother with any protection - in 25 years of ski holidays I've never had my skis or poles damaged.
If you want to take 2 pairs of skis (or more) plus some extra luggage consider using a snowboard bag; lots of extra room and they are more rigid, offering a bit of protection.
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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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| John Scott wrote: |
Don't bother with any protection - in 25 years of ski holidays I've never had my skis or poles damaged.
If you want to take 2 pairs of skis (or more) plus some extra luggage consider using a snowboard bag; lots of extra room and they are more rigid, offering a bit of protection. |
You don't surprise me, they're desgined to be chucked down a mountain at speed with a bloke stood on them who only takes excercise one week a year, you'd think they'd stand up to a bit or air travel 
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First time I used a soft ski bag they managed to punch the tips out of the end of the bag. I use the plastic ski boxes with wheels. Two pairs of skis in a single box or four pairs in a double box which is a tight fit. You need the wheels as four pairs of skis weigh a bit.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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John Wells and others... don't get one of those (a SporTube) if you have touring bindings (ie Fritschis) - even one pair of skis won't fit in a single box ... however hard you try 
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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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the ice perv, Bubblewrap won't be a problem. We accidentally over ordered at work and now have enough to last us approximately 4000 years!
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You know it makes sense.
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Paul Holland, Make sure you 'personalise' your bag (bright tape maybe)....ease finding it at baggage reclaim. Ski bags make ideal laundry bags for the trip home......
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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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easyJet often weigh skis at check in...but that's because they are generous enough to allow you an extra 10KG of sports equipment.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Elizabeth B, thanks for that - 10kgs is going to be 1 pair of skis, at the most (or do I just have heavy skis?)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ise, Comparing the damage to the ski bags caused by internal nibblings by the skis with that caused by same skis to same bags when Jon and I went on our own (i.e. without Bev's supervision) at Easter.
But hey, I'm not a scientist! 
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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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Paul Holland, I've been surfing the net for 2 weeks comparing and contrasting - and it's amazing how much the same ski bag varies in price and postage costs. I guess at the end of the day, it's like anything, you get what you pay for but unbranded are cheapest. I came across www.nevisport.com they had the cheapest, padded, extendable bag (160 -190) £24.99 + £2.95 pp. because it’s their own brand. Ski bags have been going on ebay for some ridiculous prices, far more than they are new in the shops, but that’s auctions for you! I guess the most important issues are: Padding around the binding area if you feel you need it (otherwise, as others have suggested, just pack stuff around them). Making sure it’s long enough. Having a carrying/shoulder strap. A full length zip if your skis are long. Compression straps to make sure nothing moves about. After that it’s a case of personal choice about colour, how designer-name conscious you are, and how much you want to spend fulfilling that!!!
We have never yet paid for carriage on our skis or boots, nor have we ever been asked at the airport to do so, we only fell for paying the 1st holiday we ever booked. We just walk up to the gate for skis and hand them over with all the others doing the same. We have never quite understood why this happens, but we aren't going to ask! But the later you check in the more weight conscious the airline becomes!
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sharon1953, Thanks. I've also been looking around just about everywhere. Nevisport do seem to cheap in other respects too - The Skis my partner is getting are £280 at EB and Snow n rock, but are £220 in Nevisport. I just wonder if there's a catch
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've bought 2 sets of skis from Nevisports viz Atomic C9s (last year at £143, end of season - but I got 2 weeks out of them over the Easter hols) and Atomic C7 (this year at £165). Both times, Nevisports have been very efficient and have delivered the skis quickly (the C7s were ordered Sunday night & delivered Wed afternoon).
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Wear The Fox Hat, I took two sets to Meribel (SL and GS), weighing 15kgs. No problem at Gatwick, but they were weighed in Geneva. Still got on the plane tho........ 
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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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An alternative to bubblewrap (and clothes) is to go to an upholsterers and get some foam they use to put into seat cushions (as opposed to back cushions). My local shop cut pieces for me to fit my bag and the skis are almost "damage proofed".
The prob with stuffing gear round your skis is that the bags can get left on trolleys in the rain or snow at airports and you arrive in resort to find that your clothes are, well, interesting to wear !!
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Elizabeth B, Easyjet weighed ours last week, and also included our boot bags in the 10kg allowance, making us well over the weight. They didn't charge us however, as we were well under the standard luggage allowance. My answer will be to buy a holdall that takes my boots too, then they won't know I'm carrying ski boots. However, on the return flight, they weighed the botts with the rest of the luggage, but didn't even bother with the skis.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Helen, last time I travelled easyJet, my ski boots were in my main suitcase (in a bootbag so they could easily become hand luggage), my board boots were in a carry bag with my snowboard and my skis were in their own bag. I fully expected to have to pay for the skis or snowboard, but despite weighing everything (and being over the limit) they didn't charge anything.
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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 use an old foam kip mat taped around the skis with the ends folded over inside my ski bag, then an additional layer of clothes. Stuff a few thermals or socks in the ends of the bag to prevent the tip damage.
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FAQ
Do they weigh the skis at check in?
