Ski equipment: General information

Before you direct to the slopes, you need to obtain in general the following:
Ski Equipment
Warm and appropriate ski clothing, including a ski jacket and snow pants
Ski gloves,
Ski goggles.

If you are determined to devote your leisure time to the ski sport, you need to obtain ski equipment in advance. Being a beginner or just trying out the sport, it makes no sense to buy ski equipment until you decide if this is the right sport activity for you. In the moment you are sure that you are ready to spend enough time on the slopes, buying ski equipment (which can be expensive) will be justified and you can invest in your own ski gear.

Renting Ski Equipment
Most rental packages include skis, boots and poles. From the different elements of ski equipment, here is the list of ski items available to rent:
Skis
Ski poles
Ski boots
Helmet


In details about renting
In many ski resorts there are local ski shops renting equipment packages. The advantage to rent at place is that you can keep your equipment ahead of time and thus avoid waiting each day in a line at the local ski shop. From another point of view, if you rent equipment locally at the resort you may store it during the day or overnight for free or for a nominal fee. Skiers can rent a full package or the different items from the ski gear individually: only skis or only boots. You can rent separately also a helmet and poles.

Regarding the price, rental equipment costs according to the type of ski items you are renting, the place you are renting from, and for how long you are renting. Some resorts automatically add in the price the cost of damage insurance. In order to save time and energy, it is better to reserve your ski rental equipment in advance, especially during the time of busy holidays and school vacations. This way you will be sure that the equipment you like most and fits you best is available, when you arrive to pick it up.

What you need to know before renting ski equipment
Skis
If you are a novice, it is not so important to choose the best ski type and brand when renting skis. The ski types differ according to the discipline: alpine style, telemark style, cross country style, freestyle and others but renting alpine skis as conventional type is the best decision. In fact, it is better to be more careful and take those with the appropriate ski length, since it affects your performance in skiing. In general, you should listen to the technician in the rent shop who can decide which length would suite you best.

Ski Boots
Before you rent ski boots, it is important to ensure that the boots fit properly and are adjusted for optimal skiing. You may spend more time in trying the different ski boots but you need to do it since they have to fit you well. Like the shoes, some ski boots have wider widths, others run larger or smaller. It may appear that in the rent shop certain pair fits you well but when you step on the slope, you will feel different. That is why you should try your boots on with the socks that you are going to wear skiing. The boots should be comfortable and feel snug on your foot because it is truly terrible skiing all day on boots that make your feet sore.

Regarding the type of ski boots, there are variants with top entry or rear entry. In the boots with rear entry, you slip your foot into the boot from the back and in those with top entry - from the top.

If you decide to buy ski boots
In case you decide to buy boots, no matter you are a beginner, it is important to go to a reputable ski shop, with experienced salespeople who are preferably themselves skiers. Moreover, it is better to search out a store with boot certified sales personnel and have a trained boot fitter adjust your boots for you.

Ski poles
Regarding the ski poles, you can rent whatever pair you decide but it is important to take the proper length for you. The best variant will be to advise the person in the rent shop in order to make the right choice.