Sponsored by Grass Sticks Bamboo Ski Poles
Get 10% off with code REP367
Snow sports are expensive. According to the Aspen Institute and the Utah State University 2019 Youth Sport Survey, if your child participates in skiing or snowboarding it will cost you, on average, $2,249 a year (not even including being a part of a club). This makes skiing the second most expensive sport for children, behind ice hockey.
Families will do just about anything to reduce that bill, from volunteering at a ski resort to scouring garage sales in search of the cheapest jacket. Unfortunately, this process takes valuable time and effort. Fortunately, we’re here to help you find the right gear and clothing, sans the big price tag. With this guide, your kid will be warm, comfortable, and prepared out on the slopes without you having to break the bank!
Where to Find Cheap, Used Gear
How many times have you said, “Wait, what?! We just bought you these shoes!” As shocking as it may feel, kids are always growing, and sometimes at a rapid rate. This means that you will probably have to up-size their gear almost every season. For this reason, we recommend going for used gear or rentals over buying a brand-spanking-new set of skis for your kid. (Trust me, they won’t notice the difference.) Fortunately, other people’s kids are growing as well, so you can often find used gear that others are trying to get rid of. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
Phone a Friend
Hand me downs are a great option if you know other families that ski. Think about which friends of yours have kids that are a bit bigger than yours. If you have some folks in mind, simply reach out and ask them if they will give you their old gear or sell it for a reasonable price.
Local Options
If you don’t know anyone with hand-me-downs, but you do live in a ski town, there are still plenty of other options. Garage sales, consignment stores, and Facebook Marketplace are great spots for affordable, used kids ski gear. If you have some patience and time, you can scour the internet or someone’s lawn for the perfect set of boots, bindings, skis, or clothing.
Make sure to take the time to thoroughly inspect the gear and confirm that it is the right size and actually what you are looking for. Pictures of gear are great, but it's essential to see it in person before you pull the trigger and make the purchase.
Another option for used gear is to head out to your local, mountain town ski swap. It’s important to know that there is a tried and true strategy to shopping at ski swaps. Swaps can be a bit chaotic–OK, let’s be real, they’re absolute free-for-alls. To rise above the noise, be sure to get there early, have an extra set of hands, and don’t get distracted by shiny objects. In other words, make a list of what you need and stick to it.
The Visitor’s Venue
Rentals are often the best option for tourists. If you only ski a few times a year, you can do a weekend rental each time you visit your preferred mountain. This will be more cost effective and practical than buying gear for your kid for the whole season. If you ski regularly and are able to travel with your skis, consider a season rental for your child.
Rentals can be more costly overall, but they come with serious perks. You can often find bargains for the whole family, such as free rentals for kids when the parents rent as well. Plus, if the gear doesn’t fit, it’s uncomfortable, or not what you wanted, you can usually swap it out for something else that better suits you.
When to Buy Kids Ski & Snowboard Gear
Finding good used and rental gear is possible, especially when you know where to look. This means that, most of the time, you can avoid buying new gear for your kids. However, sometimes you might want to (or need to) make a purchase at a ski shop.
If you are spending countless hours trying to find the right piece of gear for your kid and you just can’t seem to find what you're looking for, you might have to purchase it. This can happen if you are looking for something that is hard to come by. For example, in many ski towns there is far less used snowboarding gear for kids, simply because less kids snowboard.
Other times, your kid will rapidly progress in the sport and begin to take it more seriously. If this is the case, you might need more skis or special boots that are going to be harder to find used. When you are in this situation, buying might be the only option.
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And finally, perhaps you’ve reached the glorious point where your kid has reached their full height and shoe size. Girls typically slow down at around fourteen or fifteen, and boys at around eighteen. (Your pediatrician can help you figure out if your kid has stopped growing) If they are going to stick with the sport this can be a great time to buy them some flashy new gear for their birthday (or maybe last season’s ski, if you are hoping to save a little money still).
It is true that buying your kids next set of skis, boots, helmet, poles, or winter clothes can be a process. Luckily, once you find your main source of gear, you become familiar with this system and get into a routine. Whether it's perusing facebook marketplace, dominating the ski swap, or pestering your friends for hand me downs, it is absolutely worth it when you find that next best deal. Happy shopping!
Sponsored by Grass Sticks Bamboo Ski Poles
Get 10% off with code REP367
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If you’re a local or visiting a mountain town to go skiing, more likely than not, the town will have a consignment gear store. I second visiting this store to supply your kiddos with gear. You’ll be supporting the local economy and sometimes gearing up cheaper than rentals!