Buy vs. Hire

I totally agree with Ian. I have two boards which allows me to cover all types of weather conditions (Powder or park). The best thing about your own gear is you learn exactly how to ride it and ride it well. You will become a much more confident skier/snowboarder if you use the same gear each time you step on the slope as you know how far you can push your gear. Plus its set up exactly how you like it, I have never rented as was lucky enough to loan a friends board when starting out so I can't comment on the quality of rental gear.

As for servicing, it's not difficult and is actually enjoyable. Plus you can spend as long as you like on it making it (again) exactly how you want it. I'm all for owning your own gear but it's not cheap by any stretch.

As Tony H said you also have the option to load your board/ski bag with loads of gear.

Tony you need a wheelie bag mate they are life savers when you're trying to rush through a busy airport.

I agree too really...unfortunately as I only get to go for one week a year (boo hoo) it doesn't make sense for me personally. After several years I finally cracked and bought a good pair of boots which are worth their weight in gold though...and I would recommend this to anyone with more than a passing interest. Compared to hire boots it's like wearing carpet slippers....

In an ideal world and if you can afford it get your boots from a show with an experienced fitter.

If not there is an alterative to hiring boots - Ebay - you can often pick up a pair of boots that fit as well as rental boots for less than the cost of rental. If they don't fit - sell them on & usually all you are down is the cost of the listing. Bought half a dozen pairs on behalf of family/friends and all but has been in better nick and fitted as well as hire boots. As my teenage daughters grew out of them they went back on ebay

Andy I did the same before I purchased my first pair of new boots. Got some of ebay for about £30 then left the hair dryer in them for 10 mins and stuck them on my feet to try and remould them to my foot shape. Sort of worked and they were pretty comfy, sold them on for £35 so cant complain

Thanks for the responses guys, the poll results are remarkably even - and sober for an Internet forum!

Unless I'm missing something, cheap boots and skis will save me money this season. I'm not ready to spend more on boots yet, and I'm yet to see a downside in the responses so far...

I bought my own boots quite early on but they were doing a half price offer on good quality boots that couldn't be bettered. Otherwise I would probably have stayed renting. I have never regretted buying my boots as they are sooo comfy.

I recently had them looked at again by a specialist with a view to maybe buying a new pair, if they were considered past their best but was pleasantly surprised to be told they are still absolutely fine, fit well and will see out a few more seasons yet. So no extra lay out for me and the chance of a sale passed by the retailer who was refreshingly honest with me and checked my boots for free. That was Snowfit in Norwich by the way, highly recommended.

I have since bought a pair of skis as I rented the same pair last year in Val Thorens and got on so well with them that I decided to splash out on my own pair rather than risk getting other rentals that were less suited to me. Bought at the end of last season and so with a huge discount, now can't wait to try them out.

We tend to drive now, as we cannot stand the cattle market that the flying game has become. We don't like being ripped off for carriage on baggage, boots and skis by the airlines and so we load up the car with all the home comforts and go for it. We usually go at least twice during a season, so buying our own Boots and Skis should be cost effective for us. But I totally understand the other comments on here and it is a personal preference.

Please, please let there be snow for the 17th Dec.

tin pot wrote:Thanks for the responses guys, the poll results are remarkably even - and sober for an Internet forum!

Unless I'm missing something, cheap boots and skis will save me money this season. I'm not ready to spend more on boots yet, and I'm yet to see a downside in the responses so far...

Seriously, spend what you plan to on skis and boots at Decathlon and get some much better quality boots. My boots are Salomon with custom linings, and they also do custom shells now so they really do fit your own personal foot. Expect to pay about £230 and it will be far better than having a cheap pair of boots and some cheap skis, then rent what you want when you're out there and maybe in seasons to come you'll end up buying your own skis.


Re BA ski carriage, can I remind people that ski carriage is NOT free. What they allow you is 1 bag free up to 23kg which can be a ski bag packed up to weight. However if you take a full size case and then an extra ski bag it will cost you £56 to prebook online or more if you pay at check in.

tin pot wrote:It's our second season skiing, and we're driving this time. I'm expecting we do another trip this season, and as the kids are into it this is an ongoing thing. That's the good news! :)

At Megeve ski hire is €100 per week, at Decathlon I can buy a set of boots £100 and skis for £150.

Buy or hire?

Cheers.

You could try these guys, a set of skis, boots and poles suitable for second week skiers for 70€, 60GBP (xe.com) in Rochebrune, Megève.
http://www.best-price-ski-rental.com/
Good for other j2skiers too.
Personally I bought my first set of boots after 4 weeks of skiing and at the beginning of my first full season.
They were amazing and I improved enormously because I just felt so much more comfortable.
Kept them for 2 seasons, then upgraded to a better pair of boots. Kept them for 5 seasons until they were absoulutely knackered.
Eventually I took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and bought a very good pair of boots and had them foamed.
It was expensive, very expensive, but I now have boots that I can ski in all day, all week, all season and never get uncomfortable.
Whether this level of expense is "worth it" is an impossible question to answer but the pain of purchase has long been forgotton whilst the pleasure of ownership continues.
Skis are best rented in my view.