How often does your ski equipment need to be replaced?
There is a lot to think about when it comes to the use, maintenance, and eventual replacement of your ski equipment over time. While we are proud here at Ski Exchange to be a reputable source of long-lasting and reliable ski gear in the UK, the reality is that such equipment will, in most cases, eventually need to be upgraded or replaced.
So, what principles should you follow when you are deciding when, and how frequently, to replace your skis, ski boots, bindings, and poles? Let’s take you through each of those categories.
Skis
Most skis tend to last for around 100 to 150 days of use. Assuming typical frequency of use – the user of the skis going skiing about 12 to 15 times a year – this will probably mean them needing to be replaced every five to eight years. So, if you ski more often than this, you can expect a shorter interval before replacing them becomes necessary.
The probable lifespan of your skis will also hinge on such factors as how you maintain and store your skis, as well as your style of skiing, and the terrain to which the skis are normally exposed. Especially bumpy, rugged, and challenging routes will inevitably wear out your skis faster.
Ski boots
Of all your ski gear, it is your ski boots that you need to be especially vigilant about when you are deciding when and whether to replace them.
After all, even the best-quality and optimally fitting ski boots have a finite lifespan. This is due to such factors as the plastic inevitably becoming stiffer and more brittle with age, as well as the soles wearing down and the liners becoming compacted.
The short answer to the question of how long ski boots last, is around 75 to 200 days – presuming the boots are used regularly, and depending on the boot quality. However, it is the overall age of the boots that contributes to their degradation, not just how frequently they are worn. So, you might be best advised to use around six to eight years as a “rule of thumb”.
There are various issues that, if and when they arise, may prompt you to seek out a new pair of ski boots. These include – but are not limited to – cracks emerging in the shell, the buckles being broken, or the liners becoming compacted, which may mean they no longer provide a good hold.
You might also replace your ski boots simply because your skiing capabilities and requirements have changed – for example, an improvement in your skills bringing a need for stiffer boots than you presently have. In that situation, a custom boot fitting appointment with Ski Exchange will ensure you achieve the right fit.
Ski bindings
Even if your ski bindings look great at first glance, you might still need to replace them. The age of the bindings will be a major factor here; you might have decided to get back into skiing using bindings you were last using five years ago, but in the meantime, the bindings may have become obsolete. Indeed, this is likely to be the case for bindings that are 20 or more years old.
Even if your bindings are “merely” 10 or more years of age, professional shops often refuse to service bindings of this age, due to safety concerns.
Presuming your current bindings aren’t especially old, a good “rule of thumb” – if you ski about 30 times a year – is to seek the replacement of your bindings after approximately 150 days’ use.
Ski poles
We have left discussion of ski poles in this article until last, largely because they are among the least urgent pieces of ski equipment to replace. In fact, you probably won’t need to replace your current poles – even if they are “old” – unless they are broken or are too long or too short.
You might also decide to invest in new ski poles if you are putting together a touring setup and require a set of adjustable poles. Otherwise, you could find that you are easily able to use your existing ski poles for decade after decade, with very little issue.
Whatever your present needs are when it comes to high-quality and reliable ski gear in the UK, there’s no need to look beyond Ski Exchange as your one-stop shop. Whether you’re a novice or elite skier, or anything in-between, you can count on our far-reaching stock of ski equipment, encompassing the best in skis, boots, clothing, and so much more.