How to Buy Skis | Ski Equipment Advice |

Skis

How to buy skis

Test before buying

Some shops in the Alps provide a wide range of well-tuned test skis and offer a comprehensive test programme to help you find the ski that suits you. But in many resorts, choice and availability is limited.

So if you do have a local shop that can give you good advice, get down there and sort your kit out before you go on holiday.

Research & Guarantees

Read through every ski test and buyers' guide available. If possible ask your instructor what he/she recommends.

Look out for suitability guarantees, breakage guarantees, price guarantees and childrens' buy-back guarantees.

DIN setting

Ensure the bindings are checked before you leave the shop. The DIN release settings should be adjusted to suit your size, weight and ability.

Advice

Find a shop that listens to you and be honest, so that you buy a ski that suits your style, ability, weight and aggressiveness.

Buying a ski way above your ability will hinder your performance and hurt your pocket.

It's worth remembering that 80% of skiers are intermediates and 80% of those think they are experts.

Length

If in doubt go short. If you go too short, the only loss will be slight instability at higher speed and less flotation off piste.

You will, however, be able to bend the ski with ease, gaining excellent snow contact from tip to tail and consequently improved edge grip.

Bindings & Mounting

Go for a binding that suits your ability, not just because it matches the ski.

Take a boot with you, as this will be needed to mount the skis. The shop should do this free of charge.

Where to Buy?

So, you've decided to take the plunge and kit yourself out with some new gear. Do you buy at home or abroad? We've always been fans of supporting UK grown snow wear retailers, and with the combination of the current exchange rate and competitive UK prices, buying gear locally can now leave you with more beer money in your pocket than buying abroad. Plus there is the added advantage of sales assistants that speak the same language and not having to take a plane if something goes wrong with your equipment and you need to return it!

For a great selection of ski and snowboard wear, see what our friends atSnow and Rock have to offer.