Which Rental Gear Should I Choose?
When you’re planning your next ski vacation, you might be tempted to save a few bucks on the equipment. The equipment you choose can make or break your skiing or snowboarding experience.
We've done our research and assembled the all inclusive guide to understanding the options available, so that you can enter your next fitting session like a pro!
Let’s start with the most important part of a day: Boots:
As with all sports, if your boots make your feet ache, you’re not going to have a good day. Never has this been more true than with ski boots. Not only are the wrong ski boots uncomfortable, but they can lead to foot, knee, or back problems, completely ruining your day on the mountain.
It used to be a challenge to find ski boots that fit right and not make your feet ache, no matter how much you paid. Today’s technology has largely overcome this obstacle and ski boots no longer automatically come with pain and discomfort. A good will fit snug. The way to know a fit is perfect is that when standing upright, your toes curl just slightly, and when bending forward at the knees, your toes have just enough room to straighten out. Stick to the pros on this, it’s worth enjoying the recommended or custom fit picked by the experts in the ski shop.
Skis:
If your skis don’t respond the way you expect them to, you might falsely surmise that you’re a bad skier and lose your enthusiasm. Skis now come in all different shapes and sizes, and it’s important to choose one that fits your style of skiing. Even over the past 10 years, you’d notice a big difference in desirable lengths and shapes.
While different skis are better for different conditions and types of skiing, some are definitely better suited for different skill levels, as should be considered first. Personal preference plays a large role in which skis are right for you. A teenage boy will tend to ski a lot differently than his parentsa and both require specific characteristics. Longer skis tend to be more desireable for better skiers and are also relative to the size. As a general rule, a ski should stand at around mouth-nose height from the ground. Beginners will look for narrower skis, while experts looking to take advantage of a resorts legendary powder will want a fatter ski that can float. Again, let the experts at the ski shop help you out!
Helmet:
If your helmet is not comfortable, you might not even wear it.
More heat is lost thru the head per square inch than any other body part. If your head is cold, you will feel like your freezing. If your head is kept warm, you will not lose as much heat and you will stay warmer longer.
Helmets have come a long way in the past few years. They are lighter, warmer and more functional than earlier models. Some even come with built-in headphones with Bluetooth to connect wirelessly with your phone.
Except for extremely cold, windy conditions, you will probably not need to wear a hat under your helmet. In fact, a hat is not recommended because a helmet should fit snugly against your head. Ski helmets are designed to be warm on their own, so not wearing a hat should not be a problem.
Goggles:
If your goggles fog up, you’ll be blind, and you won’t be able to ski.
It is important to wear your goggles. They protect your eyes from the burning sun beaming from above and reflecting off the blinding-white snow at all angles. Eyes can be burned in too much sunlight, just like skin. Goggles protect your eyes from snow. Even on clear days, snow on the ground can be kicked up while skiing and temporarily blind you. Goggles also help to keep you warm. If you love skiing in trees, your goggles protect your eyes from branches.
Helmet:
Fingers and Toes:
If your fingers and toes get cold, you’ll spend more time in the warming hut than on the slopes.
These extremities are especially prone to getting cold because they’re furthest away from the heart, they have a large surface area and not a lot of blood flow.
Make sure your hand protection is waterproof. Mittens work better than gloves because the fingers keep themselves warm when they’re all together. Hand and foot warmers make a big difference. Keep them away from your skin so they don’t burn you. Heated gloves and boots are becoming more common.
Conclusion:
On you next ski vacation, don’t skimp on your equipment. Make sure you stay warm, dry and comfortable. The right gear is one of the most important parts of a successful ski vacation. It could mean the difference between being miserable and having a great time.
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