If you’re looking for an unbiased list of pros and cons for buying vs renting winter ski gear, you’ve come to the right place. Making the investment in ski equipment for yourself and your children can require a good deal of research, time, and not to mention, money. Skiing is an expensive hobby no matter how you go about it. There are some things to consider when weighing your options of renting vs buying equipment.
Don’t forget to factor in buying winter gear and clothing when considering the costs of buying vs renting. You may want to consider the costs of jackets, gloves, goggles, and helmets for the family.
Pros & Cons of Renting
Pros
The biggest pro to renting your skis is that you don’t need to travel with them, which can save you a lot of money. If you were traveling with your own, you’d have to buy a separate ski bag for your equipment to be checked on the airplane.
If you rent, you also have the advantage of trying out the new and different models on a regular basis without worrying about maintaining or storing them. You can almost guarantee you’ll be using professionally maintained skis each time.
Cons
In peak seasons, your choice of ski or boot simply may not be available. You likely not get the perfect fitting boot each time which can result in blisters or cramps. Let’s be real, it may be a little gross to think about using boots after hundreds of other people, too.
Another con is the fact that you’ll have to pay each time, whereas if you own your own boots and skis, then you just bite the bullet and get it over with once and for all.
Cost
The average daily rental cost is anywhere between $25-60 which includes skis, boots, bindings, and poles. Renting per week could cost $200-$400. The cost varies depending on what state or mountain you go to. Renting the year’s top model ski and boot will obviously cost more whereas renting last year’s intermediate boot will be cheaper.
Pros & Cons of Buying
Pros
Your skiing will be more consistent since you have the same trusty skis to use each time you hit the slopes. This eliminates the learning curve because no matter how pro you are, it takes some time getting used to a new pair of skis. Your boots will be a perfect fit, unless you’re a growing kid (more on that later). You’ll also commit to skiing more now that you own your very own pair of skis!
Renting can also be a lengthy process so you’ll certainly save time skipping lines at the resorts and heading straight for the slopes.
Cons
You have to pay to transport your skis which can quickly add up to being the same cost or more than just simply paying for a week of rental gear. Plus, renting means not having to haul the gear around. It all just depends how comfortable you are using gear you’re not used to.
One solution is to mail your ski equipment to your destination for less than the airline fees. Every courier charges more for shipping large parcels but what they constitute as “oversized” varies so be sure to compare rates.
Cost
If you choose to invest in your own equipment, you could be spending upwards of $800-2,000 for everything you need. This includes skis, poles, bindings, and boots. Additional accessories include goggles and helmets. Servicing your own skis can cost around $25-50 a year.
So, Rent or Buy?
Bottom line, if you’ve never skied before, then it’s best to rent your skis. The experts will be able to advise you on the perfect fitting boot and the right skis and you’ll have the chance to explore different options. Once you hit the slopes more often, you’ll have a better idea for what works for you and what doesn’t. If you’re an avid skier who bypasses the bunny slopes each season, then it may be time to bite the bullet.
Purchasing a set of custom-fit boots is arguably more important than buying your own skis. They don’t come with the same travel and storage complications that skis do so this may be a good place to start, especially if you’re on the fence.
What About the Kids?
Now, buying skis for your children is a different story. It’s probably not ideal purchasing skis and boots for your kids who could easily grow out of them by the next ski season. As we’ve learned, ski equipment is not cheap. If you choose to rent, it’s worth looking into your local ski shop’s season-long equipment rental program. This will allow your child to get used to the same ski and boots and eliminate the time it takes to get them fitted at the resort. Many ski shops will even allow them to switch out their gear if they happen to experience a growth spur mid season, making the boots too snug.
However, if you have your heart set on purchasing their own equipment, there are cost-effective strategies to doing so. For instance, you can look into purchasing demo equipment at the end of the season at a discounted price.
Overall, you’ll want to be sure you get your money’s worth if you buy your own equipment. According to data that Ski Trip Guide analyzed, you have to ski approximately 19 times in order to pay off your skis that you bought. So, if you ski 7 times a year, it will take two and a half years to pay off your skis.
