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Hire or buy your ski equipment ?

Does this question cross your mind every year when booking your ski holiday? There is no right answer as, to be honest, both options have advantages and disadvantages.

The choice depends on how often you ski, your level and style of skiing and of course; your mode of transport, etc... We’ve put together a list of pros and cons to help you decide…


Renting equipment

Pros:

- You won’t have transport issues such as the high costs charged by some airlines;
- You don’t have any maintenance to do – just leave it to the professionals;
- You can choose new equipment every time allowing you to test the latest gear;
- You can hire skis or snowboards adapted to the particular snow conditions during your stay;
- Often ski hire shops have lockers where you can leave equipment overnight so no lugging heavy skis back to your accommodation – a big plus when skiing with young children!
- If you’re not satisfied or you have a technical problem, you just have to pop into your ski hire shop to sort out the problem.
- Ski hire shops are also generally very flexible and will allow you to interchange between skis, snowboard or other equipment during your stay.

Cons:

- Some ski hire shops will try to give you low quality equipment, especially if you’re a beginner - so be demanding and if you’re not happy, go elsewhere!
- Long queues in the ski hire shops especially during school holiday periods;
- Each time you go skiing, you have to get used to new equipment which for less skilled skiers, is a little unnerving!

Buying equipment

Pros:

- No waiting around in ski hire shops – you can be first on the slopes on your first morning;
- You choose exactly the type of skis or snowboard you want; you have no obligation to take what’s left or accept low quality equipment;
- You progress quicker as you do not have the adaptation period needed with rented equipment;

Cons:

- You have to deal with transport issues and costs;
- It’s up to you to keep your equipment in good condition – this can be costly and time-consuming but is essential;
- You need to have space at home to store equipment ;
- Like a lot of high-tech equipment these days, your skis and snowboard will soon be outdated;
- If you have a technical problem or damages during your stay, you have to pay to sort the problem out!

Get up to 40% off your ski hire


If you’ve decided to rent this year then check out prices via our new partner Snowell on our website and pre-booked equipment online – one less thing to think about!

Happy ski holidays!

Does this question cross your mind every year when booking your ski holiday? There is no right answer as, to be honest, both options have advantages and disadvantages.

The choice depends on how often you ski, your level and style of skiing and of course; your mode of transport, etc... We’ve put together a list of pros and cons to help you decide…


Renting equipment

Pros:

- You won’t have transport issues such as the high costs charged by some airlines;
- You don’t have any maintenance to do – just leave it to the professionals;
- You can choose new equipment every time allowing you to test the latest gear;
- You can hire skis or snowboards adapted to the particular snow conditions during your stay;
- Often ski hire shops have lockers where you can leave equipment overnight so no lugging heavy skis back to your accommodation – a big plus when skiing with young children!
- If you’re not satisfied or you have a technical problem, you just have to pop into your ski hire shop to sort out the problem.
- Ski hire shops are also generally very flexible and will allow you to interchange between skis, snowboard or other equipment during your stay.

Cons:

- Some ski hire shops will try to give you low quality equipment, especially if you’re a beginner - so be demanding and if you’re not happy, go elsewhere!
- Long queues in the ski hire shops especially during school holiday periods;
- Each time you go skiing, you have to get used to new equipment which for less skilled skiers, is a little unnerving!

Buying equipment

Pros:

- No waiting around in ski hire shops – you can be first on the slopes on your first morning;
- You choose exactly the type of skis or snowboard you want; you have no obligation to take what’s left or accept low quality equipment;
- You progress quicker as you do not have the adaptation period needed with rented equipment;

Cons:

- You have to deal with transport issues and costs;
- It’s up to you to keep your equipment in good condition – this can be costly and time-consuming but is essential;
- You need to have space at home to store equipment ;
- Like a lot of high-tech equipment these days, your skis and snowboard will soon be outdated;
- If you have a technical problem or damages during your stay, you have to pay to sort the problem out!

Get up to 40% off your ski hire


If you’ve decided to rent this year then check out prices via our new partner Snowell on our website and pre-booked equipment online – one less thing to think about!

Happy ski holidays!

137 - Winter - Nikki

About Nikki

Being lucky enough to have parents who were crazy about skiing, my love for the mountains started when I was 4 years old on our first family ski holiday to Austrian ski resort of Obergurl. One ski holiday a year was never enough and tears rolled down my face as I looked out the back window of the car on the drive down the valley on the way home!