 Poster: A snowHead
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I was just wondering when/if I should splash out on my own equipment? I've only been skiing once so far (outside) had a couple of trips to indoor slopes etc
I have got myself some (ill fitting) boots already - I thought it would be best to get these first and worry about the other stuff later. Now I'm wondering if I should even bother with getting skis?
I'm probably very naive about all of this stuff, so what are the benefits of having your own equipment i.e. skis? I can imagine it being a hassle taking them on airplanes etc and also I have absolutely no idea what is required in terms of maintaining them so they are fit to use. Infact - I wouldn't even know where to start with them.
Any help appreciated!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you're asking these questions then almost certainly its not time for you to buy skis. If you've had a holiday ruined by crappy rental gear or start to know what length, dimensions and type of ski you like then it may be time.
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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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Cool... I suspected it was a bit too early to be thinking about buying skis just yet, just wondering out of curiosity when people took the step of buying them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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have got myself some (ill fitting) boots already
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er, Get yourself some proper fitting boots... 
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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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MarjMJ, in the process of sorting that. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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v1cky24, The first thing I bought was boots, better than rental and more comfortable, I would take your boots back, assuming you bought then in the UK,if you didn't, see if the local ski shop might help out. I bought my ski's after my 6th week as fatbob say you will then have a feel for length etc , got mine in the summer and looked at them longingly for months!
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Good ohv1cky24, . FWIW have been skiiing for 15 years and never wanted to buy own skis. The technology in that time has advanced so much, and I don't recall getting rubbish hire skis ever. But there are plenty of others here who will say different, so it will be down to whether you want to spend the money. If you are still relatively early in your career, you might buys skis and find you need to replace them quickly as you 'outgrow/outski' them. If you are someone who likes to have the kit, then have a search through the previous threads here and see what has been said.
As to carrying them on planes, trains and automobiles...someone else will be along in a minute to tell you all about that! 
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Getting your own boots is a good investment. I have had a couple of pairs of second hand skis in the past but not sure I'd ever consider new ones. I don't think I'd use them enough to justify the large outlay. Plus ski carriage costs on flights are getting increasingly expensive, over half the cost of renting in resort.
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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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queen bodecia, that reminds me i need to dig those skis out for your for saturday 
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Oh yes, it would be ncie to have some edges!
Rental equipment in the Alps is loads better than at Tamworth. Wonder why? LOL! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I got my own equipment as soon as I moved within driving distance of a ski area or three (Glenshee, Cairngorm, The lecht) as it is much easier not having to hire on busy days in scotland. Plus I have a decent set of skis and a rockhopper set for early and late season conditions.
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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 had my first skis bought for me at 5 and boots a day later when we discovered that wellies were not appropriate ski wear. Since, I've always had my own boots but stopped using my own skis between around 1996 (having bought a new pair in 1995 - doh!) and around 2001 as tech was evolving and improving so rapidly.
Having your own boots is almost always a good idea, especially if you have tricky feet. E.g. my wife has an arthritic toe from a childhood injury and if she was ever to use hire boots they'd be two sizes larger than she needs.
If you only ski a week a year it makes no sense economically, practically or logistically to own your own skis. From maybe 3 weeks a year upwards, you might be getting close. Especially if you always ski the same place and can leave them there.
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You know it makes sense.
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I'd say it's entirely dependent on the individual. I'd certainly recommend owning a good set of well fitted boots, as these can be a bit hit and miss in hire shops. As for equipment, well that's entirely up to you. I own my skis, I got them after 3 weeks of skiing, but I bought them more out of desire than of necessity. I just wanted the security of knowing that the kit I would be using was gear that I had researched properly and was suitable for the type of skiing I do. Plus I ski mostly on-piste so changes in technology shouldn't make a huge difference to me for the time being.
But with ski carriage prices only going one-way with the budget airlines it's maybe something I'll have to look at in future. Though I'd always take my own boots as I've always had problems in the last with hire boots, but never with my own pair which were custom fitted.
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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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There are lots of well reasoned points of view here, not one word i disagree with, it doesn't make much sense for the casual skier or boarder to own their own equipment beyond boots.... any yet... the call of 'My Own' is strong.
Winter sports are a kit fetishists dream. Soooo many things to buy, soooo much tech, new stuff every year.
Skis, boards, boots, bindings, poles, base layers, thermal layers, protection layers, outer layers, shell layers, and any hobby that can make Socks 'Technical' is going off the deep end.
It's a good job we can laugh as the credit card statment hits the mat.
v1cky24, I say go for it! Nothing beats your own gear 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Richard_Sideways, my opinion is based on skis lasting around 140 days (a season) of use. If a skier does a 6-day week a year, that's 23-23 years of use. Fashion, tech changes, kit aging and boredom will all conspire to having the skier buy new skis every 3-4 years.
Which makes the skis actually 4-5 times more expensive than they actually are.
Plus airline charges (not negligible).
And the hassle.
Really, it's not worth it.
I will admit that finding a good hire shop can be difficult. Also one that stocks the skis you want. But I would expect that if you're at the level where you know what ski you want and can use a single ski in all conditions, you're probably skiing more than one week a year.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Buying your own board is a good idea because the average "ski" shop rental fleet is complete and utter fumble with bindings that may as well be made of lead and have the comfort of a beartrap. Always rent snowboard kit from a specialist shop.
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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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The other problem I have with not owning my own kit is the likelyhood of being able to rent decent kit with a binding I'm familiar with in most resorts. I could probably manage in Aveimore, (from Mountain Spirit), but in Europe I have my doubts. I've never seen any kit for rent in any of the rental shops I've been, though I'm sure it must be possible - but i bet the choice is very limited.
Anyone know what I'd be offered if I tried to rent telekit in say LDA, 3V or say Arraba
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Dave Horsley, easiski can point you at who she borrows her telekit form in L2A, possibly sport extreme. Any resort popular with the Scands tends to have a tele kit rental/demo shop e.g. Okay in Engelberg etc
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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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1987
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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1986. Pair of K2 612s
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I bought my own fitted boots after 3 weeks. Best decision i ever made, improved my skiing no end.
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I believe buying is cheaper, in the longer run. However to be honest, I bought some cheap skis rather than anything too expensive / nice.
Personally when learning I would always rent. Not only does it mean you get the latest stuff but means you can try a variety of skis and feel the difference of them (one thing I really miss having my own skis).
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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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Dave Horsley, Ski Extreme in L2A definately rent tele gear.
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v1cky24, 1986 - nordica rear entry boots, 1989 Fischer Vacs in lime green
BOOTS are all you should be bothering about at the moment.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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v1cky24, bought all my own gear in sales around May before I even started skiing at the tender age of 18. Started skiing thereafter. Naiivly the boots were hard race boots, but hey they were bright yellow (bear in mind this is the late 1989) and were reduced to £75 from £350. They did me a couple of ski holidays as did the skis then sold the lot for around £60 when buying my new boots and skis.
Would echo the other comments and concentrate on getting the boots right first. You migtht be a wee bit late picking up a bargain just now as the old stock has probably been cleared away for the new season stuff.
I'm now on to my 3rd pair of boots but these babies are custom made/fitted jobs from Strolz and whilst they cost a a fair bit they should last me around 15 years. Totally agree with
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I bought my own fitted boots after 3 weeks. Best decision i ever made, improved my skiing no end.
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I have a pair of Rossignol Saphir 2 skis which are my wife's and would suit beginner/early intermediate. 154 cm long. I'll probably be posting them on eBay soon along with on here. But would sell them for £40, which is probably at least the cost of hiring a pair for a week?????
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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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boabski, I have paid £80 to hire skis for a week 
v1cky24, I would go along with everyone here, if the boots you have are ill fitting either go and get them fitted, or ebay 'em and present yourself at a reputable shop and get a new pair properly fitted.
Then, if you want skis why not? Just don't pay the earth for them. I can get a set of skis waxed for £6 and edged for £12 at my local store - they will need waxing and edging, say, once per trip when a trip is a week - if you are on soft snow and don't hit anything dire you might get away with edging longer than that. As boabski, demonstrates you can pick up secondhand skis at respectable prices - there are always loads for sale around here. Admittedly I drive to the alps and don't know what it costs to fly with them, but use the search facility at the top of the page as its an often discussed subject here. I bought my own skis before I was confident to ski a blue run and it was one of the best things I did - I'd bought boots the year before. I paid £150 for my skis through snowheads and £110 for boots through my local ski shop - both are now more than paid for in hire costs only a couple of years (I was lucky and got over 2 weeks skiing in last year and that helped, but sooner or later they will pay for themselves. You don't need expert skis, you just need an average set - that's all I've got, in my experience you can't find the top end performance of any set of skis unless you are a top end in competence skier.
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FAQ
) then as said above, get yourself some decent boots. So long as you're not planning whole seasons in the mountains a good pair will last for years and years (I'm on my third pair after 20-several years; how many pairs of shoes can you get 
) and will make the whole experience more enjoyable - comfy, warm feet. 
