Don't allow ski and boot rental shops to fob you off with equipment that doesn't fit or isn't properly maintained. Here's our completely updated guide.
Ski Equipment: Get it Right, or Ruin your Holiday
SKI EQUIPMENT: FEATURED
SKI EQUIPMENT: GET IT RIGHT, OR RUIN YOUR HOLIDAY
Skis and ski boots can be hell.
We’re not kidding. Get your choice of ski equipment wrong and you’re on a downhill Schuss to misery. Aside from a 30mph argument with a tree, few things are more certain to ruin the enjoyment of your holiday.
If your ski boots are too loose, you might as well be skiing in an old pair of wellies, for all the control you’ll have to have over your edges. If they’re too tight, you will probably start crying after a couple of runs. And then, a week or two after the holiday, your toenails will fall out.
As for the skis…Yes, yes, we all know Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn can ski on anything. But most of us manage six or seven days a year on snow. We need something a little more tailored to our level of skill. After all, there are few things more alarming than trying to initiate a turn and finding that your skis are just not interested because, you know, zay are built für ein Austrian ski racer und have no respect for a weakling like you.
So how do you avoid the common pratfalls? Well, by following the tips in this section for a start. Anyone who’s planning to hire skis and ski boots should do so online, before they go on holiday, so they get a discount. And then, before they actually go to the rental centre, they need to read our guide to getting the right equipment. Better still, they should read it when they’re actually in the shop, and quote it at the assistants if they’re not getting good service (and boy, we’ve had some shocking service in rental centres over the years).
Meanwhile, if you’re planning to buy skis, check out our guide to what skis actually do – so that you don’t look blank when the assistant starts talking about radius, side-cut and camber. We’ve also got features on avalanche airbag rucksacks and the right kind of ski boot liners, and over the coming months we’ll be adding plenty more.
Welove2ski Classic Collection: Our Best Ski Equipment Advice
If you're completely new to Welove2ski - or even if you're not - this is the place to start. The following guides are the cream of the crop when it comes to ski equipment information. Make sure you read them first - they'll give you a solid grounding in what you need to know and allow you to get the most from the rest of our archives.
LATEST SKI EQUIPMENT ADVICE
A new wave of technology has hit the ski industry: and it’s small enough, and light enough, to fit in your googles or slide into your ski boot. Perfect for Christmas gifts, too.
Sprinter crosses the line in 14:09 seconds.
Should you wear a ski helmet? And how do you buy the right one? Michael Pettifer weighs in on the debate and expertly answers the most common questions about them.
Skiing technology is constantly evolving, and the latest gadgets can help you ski better and more safely.
Virtually every activity can be enhanced by an app, and you will find an abundance of apps that will help make more of your time on and off the mountain.
With the help of pro boot fitters, Amy Fletcher explains how to find a pair of ski boots that will have you hollering with pleasure, not howling with pain.
You never know when the opportunity to ski untracked snow is going to open up. Here's a list of 22 items you might need on the mountain.
Planning on taking your skis with you on your holiday this winter? With a few notable exceptions, the cost now kicks ownership into touch. The harsh fact is that, unless you choose to drive to the...
It's light and responsive, but sure-footed too. No wonder the K2 Pinnacle 95 has ski testers buzzing.