Skiing is a great way to make the winter season a lot more fun.
Not only does it keep you active, but you can enjoy nature even when it’s frigid.
Getting started with skiing does come with some costs, however.
For one, you’ll need to get a pair of skis.
Here’s what you need to know about how much a pair of skis costs.
How Much Do Skis Cost?
The average cost of new skis range from $500 to more than $1,200.
This cost does not include other optional accessories, bindings, poles, or boots.
After adding these additional options, this could push your price between $700 to $1500 in total cost.
The variability in price comes down to experience level, size, design, and type.
Some stores offer ski packages that include boots and bindings that could reduce some costs.
Let’s take a look at each of the factors that affect ski price in detail.
1. Experience Level
One factor that contributes to the cost of skis is your experience level.
Someone who’s a professional skier or competitive skier isn’t going to spend the same amount of money on skis as a beginner.
Beginner skis are usually lower quality.
They may be a bit wider than other types of skis because they’re designed to help new skiers hone their balancing skills.
Manufacturers also know that not everyone is going to love skiing after they try it.
People who are wary about skiing may look for affordable skis instead.
That way, it isn’t as much of a wasted investment if they decide they don’t like the activity.
That’s why manufacturers tend to make beginner skis of lower quality.
They don’t want to waste their best resources and materials on a pair of skis that might get returned, resold, or just never used.
When shopping for skis, you’ll usually find that beginner skis are cheaper than professional skis.
2. Size
Like snowboards, there are different sizes of skis.
Some are longer than others.
Some are thicker.
Some are even a little bit wider than others.
The size of your skis has to do with everything from your weight to your ability level.
The heavier you are, the wider your skis should be.
That’s because your weight needs equal distribution across the skis.
The more surface area that you have to spread your weight around, the better your skiing experience is going to be.
If you use skis that are too small, then you’ll have a problem with digging into the snow.
You won’t be able to move much since the skis will dig into the snow rather than glide across its surface.
You’ll also find turning a lot more difficult.
Medium-sized skis tend to be for beginners.
They offer just enough surface area for the best possible control of the skis without sacrificing too much speed.
If the skis are small, then you can turn more sharply, but they’re a bit more difficult to balance on since there’s less surface area.
If the skis are long, then you’ll have some difficulty with turns.
It’s easier to get tangled up with longer skis.
This all comes at a cost, too.
The bigger or longer the skis are, the more expensive they are.
That’s because more materials went into their production.
Some skis may also be for specific professional uses.
That adds to the cost as well.
Skis are sometimes a bit expensive because of their size.
3. Artistry
When it comes to skis, you’ll have your choice between solid colors and graphic designs.
Solid colors are the cheapest skis because they’re cheaper to make.
If you want a certain graphic on your ski, then you can expect them to be a bit more expensive.
It costs a bit more to make skis like that.
Skis become extremely expensive when you hire your own artist to make the graphic for the ski.
That’s because you’re hiring an artist who might charge you a high commission fee for their work.
The benefit is that you’ll have a custom set of skis that may inspire awe in those who behold them.
Skis are expensive when you include custom art on them.
4. Type Of Skis
Along with the size and look of your skis, you’ll find that there are different types.
Each one caters to a certain style of skiing.
For example, there are downhill skis, cross-country skis, trick skis, professional skis, and several others.
Each type does a specific thing a bit better than the other types.
Cross-country skis, for example, are a bit longer than other skis.
They’re designed to make moving in a straight direction as easy as possible with maximum control over the skis.
They’re a bit wider, too, to further help maintain control.
Trick skis, on the other hand, are usually smaller and narrower.
They emphasize speed and agility.
It’s hard to do tricks when you have very long skis to handle.
Shorter skis allow the skier to make quick turns and overcome air resistance to get as much air as possible.
Because these are usually specialized skis, they tend to cost a bit more money.
That’s because manufacturers know that not everyone is going to be buying them.
The general public tends to get standard downhill skis or cross-country skis.
A much smaller group of people are going to want to start performing tricks or need them in a professional setting.
As such, the prices tend to be a bit higher.
Skis start to get more expensive when you need specialized ones.
5. Pre-Owned Or New
A final factor that can influence the price of your skis is whether they’re pre-owned or brand new.
You can always find pre-owned skis on sale.
Because they’re used, they often come at a discounted price.
Buying pre-owned skis isn’t a bad idea for a new skier.
It allows you to experience skiing without making too heavy of an investment.
If you decide that you enjoy skiing and want to do it more often, then you can start to plan to make a bigger investment in a new pair of skis.
Pre-owned skis are also ideal for people who consider themselves passive skiers.
Maybe you only ski a handful of times each year.
Unless you’re skiing every weekend or every other weekend, you might not want to spend over $1,000 on new skis.
In this case, you can get the kind of fun and experience that you want from skiing with pre-owned skis.
Those who buy brand new skis will face more expensive prices.
The benefit of buying brand new skis is that they’re fresh and undamaged.
This can make a difference in terms of how well you’re able to ski.
For example, damaged skis tend to glide on the snow a bit differently from undamaged skis.
Damaged skis are more likely to fall into a rivet or groove which can be difficult to correct.
Undamaged skis are a bit easier to control since they glide smoothly on the snow, but they do tend to be more expensive.
How To Save Money On Skis
If skis are a little bit above your budget, then there are a few ways that you can save money on skis.
Here are some tips you can use to save money on skis.
1. Don’t Buy In Season
Skis are the most expensive during winter.
That’s because everyone is looking to get them and use them.
Since skis are in high demand, suppliers can increase their prices.
The best time to buy skis if you’re on a budget is out of season.
Sometimes this means later in the spring season.
Suppliers who weren’t able to clear their inventories will put their skis on sale.
They’ll want to make as much room as possible to fill up on new stock for next winter.
Once the snow melts and everyone is putting their skis away, that’s when you should start looking for deals on skis.
2. Buy Pre-Owned
You can save a few hundred dollars off a pair of skis if you focus on buying pre-owned models instead of brand new models.
There are always going to be people who try skiing and find that it isn’t quite to their liking.
These people will want to get some of their money back and put them up for sale.
Buying pre-owned skis is a great way to save money, but just like any pre-owned item, you’ll want to inspect them first.
Skis are not unlike a car.
If it has too much damage, then it isn’t worth the investment.
Unlike a car, which you can repair, skis aren’t always repairable.
There comes a point where you’re putting more money into the ski than it’s actually worth.
To ensure you’re saving the most money possible, you’ll want to inspect the skis for yourself.
As long as they’re gently used and not obviously broken, then you can save money by buying used.
3. Stick With Standard Colors
Ski makers know that people are often attracted to bright colors and stunning graphics.
That’s why you’ll sometimes find that skis with beautiful graphics are more expensive than skis with standard colors.
You’re essentially paying more for the graphics.
If you’re on a budget, then you don’t need pretty graphics.
Standard colors will do just fine.
The aesthetic of your skis has nothing to do with their performance.
As you develop your skills and commit to skiing, then you can start working on your style.
For those who want to save money, the best thing you can do is stick with standard colors for your skis.
Don’t let the pretty and flashy graphics pull you into spending more money than you need to.
4. Go Shopping With A Plan
If you go to a ski shop without a plan, then salespeople are going to take advantage of you.
It’s their job.
They want you to spend as much as you can in their store.
While they might be very helpful and get you exactly what you need, in many cases, the products they recommend are going to be the more expensive options.
That’s why it’s important to do your research beforehand and come into the store with a plan.
It’s easy to do a bit of research and determine the size of skis that you need based on your weight and height.
It’s also helpful to know the type of skiing that you want to do.
For example, maybe you just want to do downhill skiing or cross-country skiing as opposed to performing tricks.
You can also tell the salesperson that you’re on a budget.
They know where the budget skis are in the store.
By being clear with your intentions and knowing what you need, you can be a bit more involved with the sales process.
You can help steer the salesperson rather than the other way around.
To ensure you end up with affordable skis, you should come to the store with a plan.
5. Bundling
Another way that you can save money on skis is to bundle.
If you’re a first-time skier, then you’re going to need a lot of equipment.
Skis are only the first part of the equipment that you’ll need to hit the slopes.
You’ll also need poles, boots, bootstraps, winter clothes, and goggles.
Buying all those things separately can get quite expensive.
Some ski shops offer bundles of equipment.
You can get basically everything you need at a slightly discounted price.
This is ideal for beginners because it gets them everything they need right from the start.
They’ll be able to hit the slopes the next day.
However, it isn’t ideal for skiers with some experience.
You may know that there are certain things in the bundle that you don’t particularly need or want.
In this instance, it might be better for you to buy each item individually to ensure you’re getting exactly what you want.
For everyone else looking to save money, getting your skis bundled with other pieces of equipment may be exactly what you need.
6. Rental
A final way to save money is to rent your skis.
This is a great option for someone who is unsure whether they want to ski or not.
It’s also ideal for the skier who doesn’t ski that often.
Renting skis is a lot cheaper than buying skis because you’re only spending a bit of money to use them for a day or two.
You don’t have to make a huge investment only to find that you hate skiing.
Renting is also ideal for those who don’t ski that often because it allows them to easily ski when they want to without having to make a huge investment to do so.
Instead, they can rent skis and equipment when their budget allows them to.
Renting is a great way to save money for someone who is trying skiing for the first time or someone who doesn’t ski that often.
Should You Buy Or Rent Skis?
If you’re planning on going skiing, then you may wonder if you should buy or rent skis.
Here are a few factors to consider that can help you determine whether you should buy your skis or rent them.
1. Storage
One of the first things you should consider before you buy or rent skis is your storage situation.
Not everyone has enough room or the right climate to store skis.
Skis need a specific type of environment to ensure they don’t dry out or crack.
Skiing equipment also takes a lot of space.
If you don’t have that space available, then you might be better off renting.
If you do, then you might want to buy your skis.
2. How Often You Ski
Another factor to consider is how often you ski.
If you only ski once every few years, then it doesn’t make sense to spend $1,000 or more on skis and winter equipment.
Your gear might end up going bad or deteriorating before you use it again.
If you don’t ski that often, then you should consider renting.
If you ski every winter, then it might be worth buying your skis.
3. Budget
A final thing to consider is your budget.
While your budget might determine whether you should rent or buy your skis initially, it also determines how often you’re able to ski.
For example, if you know that your budget isn’t going to allow you to afford regular trips to the local ski resort, then it doesn’t make sense to buy skis.
You’re probably not going to ski as often as you might prefer.
However, if your budget does allow you to afford several trips to the resort, then you might want to buy your own skis.
