# Ski Equipment Suggestions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-equipment-suggestions/227161>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 2, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-equipment-suggestions/227161 "2004-02-02T07:08:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-equipment-suggestions/227161/1 "2004-02-02T07:08:49Z")

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I’d really like to get into skiing a lot more, and I think my next step is purchasing some equipment: skis, boots, bindings and poles. Maybe not all of them at once, but I’d like to start. The problem is, I have no idea what to look for. I’ve probably been skiing 15-20 times or so in the past 6 or 7 years, so I am by no means a great (or even good) skier.

Any suggestions? Brands, models, places to purchase?

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**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ski-equipment-suggestions/227161/2 "2004-02-02T16:39:30Z")

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Foot comfort is paramount, imho, so own your own boots. Over the past 15 yrs or so, I’ve upgraded twice (that’s a total of 3, y’all) and I’m looking for a new pair this off season.

Owning your own boots means you can get a perfect fit. I get mine gel formed (or whatever they call it) for an exact fit. Rental boots suck.

But, the other equipment I rent. That way, I get to take advantage of the newest ski and binding technology with out a huge cash investment. Plus, it makes it a hell of a lot easier to drive or fly back to Colorado. When I lived there, I had purchased three different sets of skis (one of them being X-country\*) and had a rack on my car. Now, I just drive or fly in, and go to the ski rental.

\*totally different in every way - boots, skis, bindings… worth a try if you’ve never done it