How to Get Cheap Snowboard and Ski Gear

Posted by Max on December 6th, 2009 in Ways to Save

If you’re like me, then it’s right around this time of the year that your feet really start itching to get on some boards. You know what I’m saying. Hit the POW. On a good day with the right conditions, I don’t think anything is closer to flying. (Except for that crazy wingsuit stuff.)

What am I saying? Any day on the boards is a good day.

Here’s how to save money on gearing up. Do it right, and you might even cover the cost of a couple extra days on the hill.

Buy in the Summer

Yeah, we’re all dummies because we all start drooling and buying gear now. Without fail, we find other toys we want for summer, right? Camping gear, bikes, golf stuff, boating, whatever. So many sports, so little gear.

We all know that previous year’s snow gear inventory can take some serious price drops in the late spring and summer, but it’s always worth mentioning again. With all the shops dumping inventory and people selling off old gear, it’s probably the truly best time to buy.

Use the Holiday Sales

For most of the U.S., December is still pre-game to the main snow season. Your local ski shops and online retailers like REI, Sierra Snowboard, Sierra Trading Post, GearX, BackCountry.com, geardirect.com, and many more will be running some pretty decent deals. Check the GSS for updates. You’ll be unlikely to find better prices during the season.

There might be some President’s Day sales and other smaller promos retailers will run to try to liquidate their 09′ – 10′ inventory, but, most of the time, December represents the best deals of the year.

Once the lifts are in full swing, retailers take advantage of that as much as they can. From January through late March or so, depending on the length of the season, retailers will keep their prices high. However, if there’s not much snow that year, there will probably be lots of opportunity to find cheap gear.

Also, the closer you get to the mountain, the higher the price of an item will climb. Never, ever buy gear at a resort’s ski shop if you can avoid it. Sadly, sometimes you can’t.

Make Friends

If you live in a resort town, it never hurts to befriend some local pros or barter with local ski/board shop owners. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but if it is, you will be a pretty happy kid. Even if you’re not a kid.

Swap it Up

In just about any avid snow sports area, you can find local ski and snowboard swap meets where people sell old gear they’re no longer using and look for new (to them) items. Local outdoor stores often help in facilitating these, so ask the nice guys and gals that work there if they have or know of one. Some of the best ones occur in the summer.

No swap meets near you? Don’t boohoo. There’s always eBay and Craigslist, the ultimate swap meets. If you know what you’re looking for, places such as those provide great deals on gear all year long. Don’t be afraid to get advice and check out gear at a local store and then buy online — should you find better prices there.

Hit the Outlets

The outdoor sporting good outlet stores serve up some of the best deals on gear you’ll find anywhere. The North Face outlet in the SF East Bay and the PacSun store at the Napa Valley Outlets (which carries Element, Burton, Da Kine, and many more) offer HUGE discounts on some of the most styling and technically advanced (= warm + breathable) snow sportswear you’ll find anywear. Hey, you might even find something affordable at the PataGucci (Patagonia) outlets.

While traditional sporting goods stores and their outlets don’t typically carry much in the way of high-end snow gear, you can find deals on entry-level gear and all sorts of winter clothing at these locations.

Spend Money in the Right Places

There are places you can skimp on spending when it comes to outdoor gear. You don’t need big name brand jackets or pants to get down the slopes — especially for kids. The secret to staying warm in cold conditions is to have layers. So instead of spending $300 on some crazy jacket you think will keep you warm, a much better approach would be to spend $80 to $120 on a discounted one, then make sure you have the right layers to adapt to different conditions. You’ll really be getting much more for your money.

When it comes to buying skiis, boots, snowboards, bindings, snowshoes, etc. — almost no one needs to buy this year’s model anything. The technology typically doesn’t change too much from year-to-year and you’ll almost always find a better deal on last year’s model, if you can find it.

If you fall in love with a certain piece of equipment, well then, sometimes it’s worth paying full price to have the right thing. Try to avoid it if you can, or make sure you have a really good reason to do so.

It’s Gotta be the Shoes

Okay, I mean the boots.

Whether you’re a beginner starting out or an expert upgrading your gear, your ski or snowboard boots are the one piece of equipment I’d actually encourage you to spend more money on. Whatever you have to spend on gearing up, but more of it towards boots. To make sure you get the right fit, you should even be willing to splurge, if you’re able to do so.

Why? Your boots are your most intimate item of gear. Your skis or snowboard can be garbage and you can still have fun. A pair of poorly fitting boots almost guarantees a bad time.

Whether you ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or teleski — everything gets strapped to your boots. They take all the impact and transfer it to your body. They are the transition point between you and your planks. To slide down a hill harmoniously, you don’t want too much friction on your feet.

Great boots can make your skiis or snowboard feel like an extension of yourself. Poorly fitting boots will make the cost of that expensive lift ticket, your whole day, your whole trip, and maybe even your whole season feel like a total waste.

Don’t let this happen. Try on lots of boots, wear them for a long time around the store, check out the sales in local stores, and compare them to what’s being offered online. Spending extra time and money on the right pair of boots is well worth it.

If you’re a beginner snowboarder or skier and looking to buy your own gear, boots should be your first big purchase.

If you have problems with your feet, or have trouble finding a good fitting pair of boots, having your boots professionally fitted will make your life easier. Even if you don’t have any problems, professional boot fitters can do wonders. The more you ride, the more you should consider this. You’ll simply have more fun.

Be Real

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen some teenage kids with some $500 planks strapped to their feet. Do they really need these?

Maybe. Some of these kids shred hard, ride upwards of 100 days a year, and get every penny out of their gear.

For others, they only use it once or twice. It’s really just a waste.

Be honest with yourself and your local ski shop dude or dudette — they can give you more accurate advice that way. If you’re a beginner, you really won’t need the more expensive, top-of-line gear for a good while. Many times, lower-end gear will actually make your life easier. Higher-end boots and boards are often stiffer and less forgiving — making them too tough for newbies to handle.

On the other hand, if you ride hard or frequently, spending a little extra on your gear can prevent the need to upgrade too soon and save you some money in the long run. It really depends on your ability, how devoted you are, and how able you are to get out there.

Lastly, I just have to say, part of being real also means knowing your limits. Don’t try to do things that are too advanced for you. If you push yourself too far, especially at the end of the day when you’re tired, you run the risk of damaging your board or breaking yourself. Both can be quite expensive to repair.