• Hello there guest and Welcome to The #1 Classic Mustang forum!
    To gain full access you must Register. Registration is free and it takes only a few moments to complete.
    Already a member? Login here then!

Ski Equipment Recomendations?

nymustang

Member
Anyone have any suggestions of decent ski equipment that won't break the bank? I'm a decent skier and I have gone out enough times this year that I'm thinking getting my own equipment makes sense. I've looked at a number of shops online and don't really know how to compare. I don't need anything crazy as I am no pro but I don't want crap either. Does waiting till the end of season and getting some used rental stuff make sense? Thanks for any thoughts.
 
Do a little research first. Look at the major players like...
Skis: K2, Salomon, Dynastar, Rossignol, Atomic, Volant
Bindings: Marker, Salomon, Look, Atomic
Boots: Salomon, Dalbello, Nordica, Tecnica, Rossignol

Links for research:
http://www.ski-review.com/
http://www.skinet.com/skiing/gear/skis/2008/08/the-2008-09-gear-guide-ski-boot-reviews

Then, find some used gear on CraigsList.

The only item that may make sense purchasing new are boots. If your feet aren't comfortable, you'll be unhappy.
 
Concur. Definitely deals to be had on sllightly used ski equipment. There's lot's of folks that "take up the hobby" for 1/2 a season and then decide it's not for them.

I'd steer clear of the rental equipment. If it's being sold it's likely trashed/been thrashed.
 
When I would head over to South L.T. (before purchasing my own equipment) some of the nice shops used to have really nice promo gear you could rent. That's how I fell in Love with my Forum snowboard, before the start of the next season I found the same board I was riding in Tahoe for a great price and pulled the trigger.

Here in the SF bay area we have some really nice snow gear expos with really great deals. Maybe look into those once you know what your looking for.

I'm sure you are probably very aware of this next suggestion especially with our LOVE for Mustangs, but as is usually the case, most of the time you really do get what you pay for.

Good luck
 
Thanks guys that's a big help. Didn't occur to me to look for lightly used equipment on craigslist or something of the sort. I'm checking out those links now and looking for some ski expos in the area.
 
I can't stress enough to get boots (preferably new) that fit well. When I was in high school, I ended up with tendonitis in both knees from a week in rental boots. I couldn't run for about 4 months afterwards. The ski boots I rented felt tight when I tried them on, but got loose as the week wore on. The foam padding was so worn out that it didn't spring back.

I think getting used demo skis would be a good way to get a higher performance ski for relatively cheap. The ski techs can repair any gouges in the bottom and sharpen the edges if they've been beat up by renters.
 
Like auto parts, it is very easy to over-buy gear, but there is no need to pay retail. I replaced my equipment in 08, and I was in the same boat as you.

After skiing one day, my 20 y/o old boots literally fall apart in the parking lot. I bought my replacement boots at the local family-owned sporting goods store in the spring for 50% off; $150. Find a smart sales person and pull as much info out of them as possible. Be sure to bring you ski socks when tying on the boots. My sales guy helped me narrow my search down to 2 models. I went with medium level Rossignols, because they fit better than the others. Again, bring your ski socks.

The next day I brought in my 20 y/o 205 K2's to have the boots adjusted to the bindings, but because they were so old, for liability reasons, they would not touch them. They some leftover floor models and I bought them at 66% off.

I skied with a buddy that had the new parabolic skis. He was really happy with his, so I decided to demo a pair. I thought the performance was awesome. Again, I pulled as much info as I could from the rental guy. He suggested 3 models that matched my ability.

When I got home, I Googled the model numbers and found some K2's at a great price as Al's Ski Barn: Weird url: http://www.untracked.com/. They were last year's model for $150 - cheap.

You may want to rent some demo skis first, and I don't mean the POS 'rental' ones. If you have any specific questions, feel free to send me a personal message.
 
What these guys are saying is pretty much spot on. New boots, no questions. Check local shops for demo units as well as cl. I wouldn't worry about buying good used equipment but stay away from the rental stuff. Many years ago (before some broken bones, surgeries, etc) I bought a "last year's model" set of skis, bindings, and boots all brand new. They come out with new crap like anything else so if you spend a little time shopping, you can get some nice stuff cheap. I had around $300 in close to $700 worth of equipment IIRC.
 
Back
Top