What are the best ways to obtain ski equipment on a budget?
It isn’t exactly “news” that it can cost a certain amount of money to go skiing. However, the widely perceived “aspirational” image of skiing might lead you to presume it is a pricier endeavour than it strictly needs to be.
Let’s take a look, then, at some of the proven ways to slash the cost of both high-quality and reliable ski gear in the UK.
- Shopping out of season
As we’re a UK store here at Ski Exchange, let’s presume for a moment you’re looking to get hold of ski equipment for use at a European resort. The ski season on the “Old Continent” runs from around late November until mid-to-late April.
That means if you’re trying to save money on excellent-quality ski equipment for the European ski season, a great time to do it is… now!
To be specific, in case you’re reading this blog post at a later date, we’re referring to March or April, when a lot of retailers try to offload old stock ahead of the arrival of new stock for the next season.
Keeping an eye out for ski equipment at this time of year could enable you to save as much as 20%, or even 50%, on items that might not be the very latest style or trend, but will nonetheless more than “do the job”.
- Purchasing ex-demo items
When you see mentions of “ex-demo” ski equipment, this refers to items that were formerly used as part of a manufacturer’s demo fleet. In other words, the brand used the given ski equipment to showcase the products to customers at ski resorts or events.
“Ex-demo”, then, basically means “previously used as a demonstration item”.
So, it can be well worth checking your favourite online ski store for “ex-demo” offerings. Our own ex-demo skis at Ski Exchange, for instance, are fully serviced and in good condition.
These skis are sold at often significantly discounted “used” prices. And yet, a particular item that catches your eye might have only been used for less than two weeks of skiing, and may more-or-less resemble a “new” set of skis.
- Having a strong sense of what you do, and don’t, want
It is a commonly given piece of saving advice, but it is worth emphasising, nonetheless: grabbing a particular product at a discount doesn’t necessarily constitute a “saving” at all, if you’re buying an item that isn’t a good match to your needs.
So, here at Ski Exchange, we would always recommend you do your research into particular products in advance, to avoid such poorly targeted (and therefore wasteful) buys.
The actual skis, for example, are available in a huge range of forms, which can make it easy to end up purchasing skis that don’t suit your skiing ability and style of skiing. This is why it can be a good idea to make an in-person visit to a ski shop, to “test” a pair of skis you have already thoroughly researched and would like to try.
Ski boots, too, should be subject to extensive prior research. We offer some very attractive discounts on end-of-line ski boots on our website, in addition to making available a renowned ski boot fitting service. The latter can greatly help ensure you aren’t distracted by cramped or cold feet during your time on the slopes.
There you have it; just a few excellent ways to drive down the costs of buying well-made and reliable ski gear in the UK (and to get more out of your money when you do spend).
For tailored help and advice in your search for the best possible ski equipment for your needs, why not contact the Ski Exchange team via phone or email today?