Choosing Ski and Snowboard Rentals for an Awesome Ski Trip

Are you a beginner skier just looking to try out the sport? Maybe you’re a family of intermediate skiers that take the occasional skiing trip and want to maximize your family time by cutting out worrying about gear. 

Choosing to rent ski equipment can be a great choice for your budget, your storage needs, and your family. Renting gear is an especially great option for families with young kids. Kids grow quickly and skiing gear can get expensive, especially when kids need new gear each year. 

Whether it’s a rental for a couple of days or full season rentals, renting gear can be a cost-effective way to maximize your skiing or snowboarding experience. 

This sponsored post contains affiliate links for Christy Sports, but as always, all writing is my own opinion. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our family!

Why Choose Rental Equipment for Ski or Snowboarding Trips

Rental gear is a great choice for any skiing family that only skis a few times a year. This will not only save potentially thousands of dollars on new gear, but it also saves you the headache of making sure any used gear you purchase is safe and fits correctly. This is what my family always chose to do when I was in high school and lived in Oklahoma. It also saves you from having to store all your skiing equipment. Believe me, all that gear can pile up quickly! 

However, if you are planning on skiing frequently, purchasing your gear can be a better option. Personally, we own our ski equipment since we ski every weekend. I think if you are going to be skiing more than ten times per a season, and plan to do that for years to come, then purchasing your gear is a better option. 

What to Look for in Ski and Snowboard Rentals

You can choose to rent gear directly from most ski resorts by visiting the ski center, or you can choose to rent gear from a local rental shop. Sometimes these are located at the ski resort village or in a local town. 

Ski shops are a great option because they often offer lower prices on rental packages than renting directly from the ski resort. However, you want to choose a private rental company that’s reputable and knowledgeable to ensure you receive high-quality, safe gear that fits well. 

Christy Sports Rental Gear

Christy Sports is a premier outdoor retailer and rental service provider, with over fifty locations throughout the Mountain West in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Washington. They offer a large selection of outdoor gear, including ski or snowboard gear and offer very competitive rental rates. 

Christy Sports provides three levels of ski packages for adults, so everyone from beginner skiers to expert skiers can find the perfect rental gear for their needs. Snowboarders can also choose from three different package levels. This gives you great flexibility in choosing what you need in your gear rentals. Like the adult packages, kids can choose from three levels of rental skis and snowboards.

For beginner or intermediate skiers, I’d recommend choosing the Premium Package. That will give you better quality gear, such as premium ski boots. If you’re an advanced or expert skier, or you’re wanting to test out the top brands in skiing, consider upgrading to the Demo Package. It includes the best gear on the market with the latest technology in skiing. This would be a great choice if you’re considering purchasing gear in a few seasons and want to test out the perfect gear for you. This is a great way to get a better feel for skis that you may want to eventually invest in. 

If you reserve at least twenty-four hours in advance through Christy Sports, you can save up to 20% off your rental gear. 

Kids Ski Free Program

One of the best things Christy Sports offers is their Kids Ski Free program! This is a fantastic way to save money for the whole family during your vacation planning. Children ages 12 and under receive free ski or snowboard rentals with four or more consecutive days of an adult rental package. 

“Our Kids Ski Free program is one of the many ways we strive to make snow sports more accessible and fun for families,” said Gordon Wade, Vice President of Rental, Repair and Risk Management at Christy Sports. “We’re committed to inspiring the next generation of skiers and riders by removing barriers and ensuring families can focus on creating unforgettable memories on the slopes. Whether you’re a seasoned skier or hitting the mountains for the first time, we’re here to make the experience seamless and enjoyable for everyone.”

Choosing Christy Sports will give you the best prices on rental packages when you’re renting gear as a family. 

Seasonal Ski or Ride Rentals

Another affordable option through Christy Sports is choosing one of their seasonal packages. I have several friends who chose full-season rentals through the Salt Lake City location. One thing they all loved about their seasonal rental was the option to receive complimentary tuning for the entire season. My friends also loved how easily they could swap out gear, whether that was a different fit on ski boots or a new length of skis.

If you’ve got growing kids, this is an excellent, economical choice for skiing families. It’s already happened to us this season when my daughter was ready to move up in ski sizes. Since we buy our skis, we had to secure a new pair of skis. If we had opted for a seasonal rental we could have easily swapped out her skis for the next size up instead of having to buy a new pair. 

The Difference Between Rental Packages and Demo Skiing

Sometimes ski resorts, ski brands, or even a local ski shop will offer a demo ski day or demo ski packages. This offers an opportunity for you to test out different skis to find the best ski for you. It’s a fun way to figure out what you want to eventually purchase, or just spend a day riding the newest skis with the best features. 

Rental packages can include demo packages, like Christy Sports offers, but not all rental packages are for the top of the line ski gear. Christy Sports also offers their daily ski test program at their slope side locations. This allows you to test different gear throughout your ski day, and choose to apply the test credit to your purchase of the perfect set of skis. 

Personally, I’ve had a great time skiing all sorts of different skis on a demo day and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to purchase new skis or a snowboard.

What Gear to Always Buy vs. Rent

There’s one piece of gear that can be rented, but I always recommend purchasing instead, a ski helmet. Sure, you can save a few bucks by renting a helmet for your ski trip, but you don’t know the full history behind that helmet. 

Helmets should be replaced after hard crashes, and while rental shops will inspect their gear, they may not know if a helmet has been through a crash that warrants replacing it. 

Be safe and take the time to find the perfect helmet for yourself, or your kids. 

Other gear I recommend buying includes your layers and goggles. If you’re not going to be skiing often, consider choosing a versatile snowsuit for your kids that can work well for playtime as well as ski trips. For adults, a basic pair of snow pants and a shell works well. Pair them with base layers and a fleece and you should be good to go! 

When to Buy Your Own Gear

When do you reach the point where you’re ready to commit to buying your own gear?

I’d say if you’re purchasing a season pass year after year, definitely commit to buying your own gear. The exception for this would be when it comes to kids gear. You may end up saving money and time in the long term by choosing a seasonal rental for your growing children. 

If you are considering purchasing your own gear, consider lightly used gear. Ski swaps, local used gear shops, even rental shops selling their previous skiing inventory, can offer a discounted rate on used ski gear. Christy Sports hosts an annual Ski-Ya-Later Sale online and in stores late in the winter season and is a great opportunity to get the best brands at a great price. If you choose to buy used gear always have the gear inspected to ensure the ski bindings are in good condition and safe to use. 

Choosing Ski and Snowboard Rentals for a Family Ski Trip

Choosing to rent your gear can be a great way to maximize the fun on your skiing vacation. Be sure to go with a reputable rental company that offers high-quality equipment at a great price.

Christy Sports is an excellent option for the best equipment at low prices, especially for families. Taking advantage of the Kids Ski Free program is a great way to save money on a family ski vacation.

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