 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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They are all great skis. The Rossi's would probably be my choice (my GF has the EXP80s) as they are so damn light... much lighter than my Salomons.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@JO7, I have the Atomics, well last year's version of them.
They are great piste skis. Fast, stable, good turn radius and able to handle varying piste conditions with ease. I don't ski off-piste, but there have been days this season (during January's mega snow event for example) when there has been deep fresh snow on piste. Although this is not my favorite thing, I can't fault the skis, just my ability. I was never a big fan of the soft slushy snow in spring either, but with these skis I feel far more confident in such conditions.
However, I would echo what the previous poster said. These skis really are more piste than off-piste. I wouldn't have bought them otherwise. I wanted piste skis which could handle varying conditions with ease, and they definitely fit that category.
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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 am having the XDR 80 and enjoying it a lot. Intermediate skier mostly skiing red and black pistes, 184 cm/89kg.
Used them for 6 ski weeks, from slushy pistes in Tignes last April through unbashed fresh ones this December and January in EK and L2A to last week in 3V on icy morning slopes on Mont Valon/Col and slushy ones down to Meribel center in the afternoons.
They have a perfect grip on ice and hold nice on deep unbashed fresh snow. Stable at speeds over 70 km/h.
They are still mainly for on piste skiing, IMHO, being 80 underfoot. Useful for going in between pistes and in the conditions I have mentioned. I believe going off piste deserves a 2nd pair of fatter skis.
The best will be to try them all for a day before buying, in your next ski trip. This will require a better/more expensive rental shop but it is the only way to know which one you enjoy most
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Having rented Nordica Enforcer 100s for the past 2 years, I’ve just bought Dynastar Legend X96 as they are livelier and more fun.
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Always wonder which resorts people go to ski mainly reds and blacks. Even if that was my aim think I'd find myself on mainly blues and reds....
Anyway to try be helpful. I'd be looking at something 90/95 underfoot, rocker-camber-rocker.
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A wider ski will definitely make off piste a bit easier and most things I've skied in the 90-105 kind of range are more than capable on piste.
If you're more likely to stick to the piste then I'd recommend trying the Scott Slight 93, I tested them at the EoSB with a dodgy knee and they were superb, I'd like to try them now that knee is better and I can put proper power through them but I'm worried I'd have to buy a set 
As I've mentioned in other threads, my go to ski is an Armada ARV 106. Really playful and soft enough that you can really whip them in the turn. Only stuff that they aren't particularly pleasant on is out and out hardpack (i.e not hard corduroy, the proper flat stuff). Other than that they cope with bumps, narrow stuff and they're a hoot in soft/slush.
Another one you might want to look at if you're getting second hand is the Whitedot One. I think it's 89 underfoot and possibly might feel a bit narrow in deeper snow if you're not experienced off piste, but they absolutely rip on piste. I believe the Altum (Asbo) is the indirect replacement and is well recommended, plus is a bit wider IIRC.
One caveat though, if you're a once a year skier then it may not be worth the hassle, particularly if you fly. I think EasyJet charge about another £70-80 to take skis (although you can include other luggage), some transfer companies charge a bit extra too, plus you have the service the things. It's possible to DIY the service, but getting the kit isn't cheap in the first place. I like having my own kit, the ski I like is something that you don't really see in rental shops and I like clicking into something familiar, so I consider it to be worthwhile. Worth thinking about why you want your own set.
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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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Always used to hire Experience 84’s which were a pretty reliable to find hire ski in French resorts, which I considered to flatter my on piste skiing. In truth I think that good sub 84 piste skis are easy to find in hire shops.
I have now purchased XDR 88’s since my brief is not dissimilar to yours, a one ski quiver with some between pistes/off the edges ability. In my experience these were far more fun and carvy on the piste, and hold an edge, and also flattered me on powder compared with other 90mm skis I have hired.
If you are looking at Experience 84’s I would also consider XDR 84’s.
If you are trying to justify buying skis to save money, I would suggest that this is a waste of time unless you drive to the resort or live in a resort. But if you want skis that you like and know every time you go skiing, the cost of airline and servicing is worthwhile given the total cost of a ski trip.
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| DavidYacht wrote: |
If you are trying to justify buying skis to save money, I would suggest that this is a waste of time unless you drive to the resort or live in a resort. But if you want skis that you like and know every time you go skiing, the cost of airline and servicing is worthwhile given the total cost of a ski trip. |
In spades.
Before l bought my own, i read every thread on the pros and cons of ownership, and never really grasped just how much of a ball-ache getting skis to an from a ski resort would turn out to be.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| DavidYacht wrote: |
If you are trying to justify buying skis to save money, I would suggest that this is a waste of time unless you drive to the resort or live in a resort. But if you want skis that you like and know every time you go skiing, the cost of airline and servicing is worthwhile given the total cost of a ski trip. |
It's way nicer/easier to ski on your own chop sticks, being accustomed to them from the very start.
Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian have free ski carriage, on low cost flights it may be lower/higher than renting. Plus anual service is about 40 euros.
It's also a question where you're skiing. I just checked for the EOSB how much it would cost me to rent a gold category ski plus insurance from Prosneige in Val Tho, through Alpineresorts.com using snowball code (if I wouldn't bring mine)
About 62 euros. However in Solden it would have been 100, in Verbier 160 euros and in St. Anton it would have been 176  at Jennewein.
So pick your poison. IMHO, if you buy yours at the end of the season with a hefty discount, it becomes financially worthy.
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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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| DavidYacht wrote: |
If you are trying to justify buying skis to save money, I would suggest that this is a waste of time unless you drive to the resort or live in a resort. But if you want skis that you like and know every time you go skiing, the cost of airline and servicing is worthwhile given the total cost of a ski trip. |
Well, it depends - I have found a second-hand very decent pair of skis for a bargain (cheaper than hiring one time) and I travelled from LHR to Geneva 3 times this year with Swiss Air, benefiting from a £50 discount EACH time, b/c of my Ski Club. Skis carriage is free, so no extras cost in this case. Might not suit everyone but its possible. Unfortunately, most operators packages will charge extra..
I definitely saved money comparing to last season which I spent about £400 on renting (various trips), I found Austria renting costs utterly expensive for good equipment, France is ok.
Arriving at the resort and not be worried about having to sort equipment is a plus as well - depending might even proportionate some arrival day skiing.
For one-trip/year skiers I can't see a financial benefit but if you stack a few trips it can work out, given you find skis for a good price.
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@drporat, I think it varies heavily on your circumstances. If you ski 3 or 4 weeks a year then it's easier to recoup your money, but if you're only going once then it's going to take longer. E.g say you spend £250 on a set of skis, then £50 on poles and a bag, then you fly EJ and pay £80 to transport them (this is the case for virtually every trip I do). So for trip number one you've spent £380. Let's pitch ski hire in the middle of what you state, at around £120, and you're £260 down for the first trip. After that you're saving around £40 (the difference between ski carriage and rental), you've got to get to 7 trips before you're seeing a benefit, and that's not taking servicing into account.
I still think it's worth having your own skis, but I don't think it's worth it if you're just aiming to save money.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Despite the hassles of owning and transporting skis, I quite like having them. You know what you are getting, rather than relying on the rental shop (like car rentals, you never can tell what you get). Also if you squeeze more than one pair into a ski bag (our record is four) then the air carriage cost gets defrayed over more pairs to and the recoupment is quicker. I mostly have bought second hand and have never spent more than £200 (nearly that on mine, but strangely a lot less on the family's).
Also it makes you look like a proper skier in the check-in queue.
| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
@drporat, I think it varies heavily on your circumstances. If you ski 3 or 4 weeks a year then it's easier to recoup your money, but if you're only going once then it's going to take longer. E.g say you spend £250 on a set of skis, then £50 on poles and a bag, then you fly EJ and pay £80 to transport them (this is the case for virtually every trip I do). So for trip number one you've spent £380. Let's pitch ski hire in the middle of what you state, at around £120, and you're £260 down for the first trip. After that you're saving around £40 (the difference between ski carriage and rental), you've got to get to 7 trips before you're seeing a benefit, and that's not taking servicing into account.
I still think it's worth having your own skis, but I don't think it's worth it if you're just aiming to save money. |
£50 for poles?!? Nah, just borrow them from the resort pool of poles. There are always plenty of all types on racks outside restaurants and base stations!
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Poster: A snowHead
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@ster, £50 for poles and bag, not poles alone. Having had some c*** steal my brother's Leki poles I'm all for the 10 euro set.
You're very much looking at it from your point of view, e.g buying second hand, travelling with enough people to effectively reduce carriage costs. Not everyone will follow that logic, in fact I'd gamble that the majority won't.
Note: My skis are all second hand, I usually share travel costs with at least one other person and I do my own servicing. I just think it's worth pointing out to people that having your own skis isn't necessarily a money saving tip.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
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having your own skis isn't necessarily a money saving tip.
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Mmmm...the preciousss 
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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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| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
@ster, £50 for poles and bag, not poles alone. Having had some c*** steal my brother's Leki poles I'm all for the 10 euro set.
You're very much looking at it from your point of view, e.g buying second hand, travelling with enough people to effectively reduce carriage costs. Not everyone will follow that logic, in fact I'd gamble that the majority won't.
Note: My skis are all second hand, I usually share travel costs with at least one other person and I do my own servicing. I just think it's worth pointing out to people that having your own skis isn't necessarily a money saving tip. |
Indeed, I would not say to buy your own skis will guarantee you saving money vs renting. But if the costs come close by various means, buying second hand and sharing carriage etc., then I would buy as there are the those less quantifiable benefits too. So anything to reduce the costs of buying skis are good to point out for consideration, you can do some or all of them, as you do. Sadly I don't have the appropriate space to self -service but basic services dont seem too bad when I get them done in the resort at the end of each trip.
Just joking re the poles, of course. I too go for cheap poles, mostly Sports Direct/Decathlon specials. I certainly dont worry about bending/losing them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| ster wrote: |
| But if the costs come close by various means, buying second hand and sharing carriage etc., then I would buy as there are the those less quantifiable benefits too. |
Yeah that's what I tried to get across in my first post. It can be an advantage to have something familiar to click in to, if you are a bit picky about the type of ski you want then it's nice to know you don't have to worry if the rental shop has it. It's even nice to start your holiday without having to worry about going to collect kit. But I initially bought because I thought I'd save money and that's not the case...partly because I quickly applied the n+1 rule and found myself with 5 pairs
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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.
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| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
| It's even nice to start your holiday without having to worry about going to collect kit. |
Even better when its boots and all, times by four!
And no discussions about it a slight scratch in the base and not really a gouge to the core when returning them.
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@DrLawn, i tried the X12 in Tignes in last april. They have them at Le Vallon Blanc.
Heavy and quite narrow under foot, requiring strong ankle pressure but perfectly obeying.
Advanced skis that should be perfect on icy and hard snow. Wow!
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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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Hi @drporat I nearly rented from Le Vallon Blanc last December excepted that they only stocked Salomon and Atomics.
I just wanted to try a few others and change as often as I wished, so I went across to the road to the Mountain Story. A bit more expensive but excellent service and all brand new kit.
I'm sure that where I last got my feet on the Rossi Experience 84s. It could have been I was having a bad day, but I took them back that night.
Took out the Head Magnums out which I always feel good with.
They talked me into trying Black Crow Captis
They did the job and interesting graphics, but the Magnums suit me much better.
I'd like to try the Magnums against the X12's on the same day.
I wonder what I'll manage to try on the EoSB in a few weeks time?
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Sorry can't help you on what skis would suit you, my advice would try as much as you can whether at a indoor or even the snowhead ski test bash thing just before the season starts. Even a better idea for testing is come to the EOSB next weekend!
Tbh I don't really find airports/travelling a big hassle and I have never paid extra for ski bags on the transfers, I think I would look for another transfer company. I usually fly BA so not paying extra but need to watch the 23kg allowance if taking multiple skis with me.
I just like having my own skis, even on a weekend trip I wouldn't consider not taking my own gear. I recently ended up in the CF in Manchester unexpectedly with my 5 year old neices.... I hired some thing that looked like skis, but wasn't!
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