Renting ski and snowboard gear is far more affordable than buying. But rental costs can still put a dent in your winter sports budget if you are not savvy. Use these insider tricks to score the hottest deals on rental packages from your local ski shop.
Book Early Bird Rentals
Just like reserving flights or hotels well in advance, renting ski and snowboard equipment with plenty of lead time pays off big time with discounted rates. Many shops offer increasingly cheaper “early bird” rental package pricing the further in advance you book online.
For example, a shop may charge $50/day for a basic ski rental package booked a week or less in advance. But booking 3-4 weeks early could slash that rate to $35/day or less.
Hit Up Rental Swaps
Attending an off-season rental swap is like scoring a golden ticket for deeply discounted, gently used rental equipment. These annual swaps are when ski resorts and shops sell off their previous year’s rental inventory at rock-bottom prices to make room for incoming new stock.
You can often snag full rental packages, including skis/snowboards, bindings, boots, and poles – for 50% or more off fees for technically “used” but still acceptable condition gear. Just take care inspecting items before buying to ensure they are still in good working order.
Go Season Lease
If you’ll be skiing or riding frequently all season long, consider a season-long gear lease. Rental shops offer crazy affordable “lease-to-rent” packages where you essentially rent the same equipment for the entire duration at a hugely discounted rate.
For example, an ordinary daily ski rental may cost around $50 per day. But a seasonal lease lets you lock in those same skis, boots, and poles for the entire season for $200 or less total. The longer your season, the more value you get.
Package Deals
When renting ski or snowboard gear, always take the full package of equipment, never piece it out individually. Rental shops bundle the skis/board, boots, bindings, and poles together at a heavily discounted group rate compared to renting each item separately.
You will probably only save a few bucks going a la carte on rentals, anyway. But packaging eliminates the hassles of mixing and matching different brands and models of individual equipment that may not be an ideal fit together.
Kids Rent Free
Kids can be expensive additions to your ski trip, unless it comes to rentals. Most shops allow kids under 5 or 7 to rent equipment packages for free when an adult rental is purchased during the same visit. You will just need to pay modest fees for any helmet rentals.
Check if your rental shop also has punch cards or loyalty programs that foster more savings after several kids’ rentals. The cumulative discounts really help make family ski vacations more affordable over time.
Ask About Snowboard Rental Packages
If you arrived planning to ski but are now keen to also try a snowboard rental for a day, don’t hesitate to inquire. Many rental shops, like Utah-based Canyon Sports, can hook you up with affordable short-term snowboard rental packages and lesson combos to get you started.
Rental shop staff can make recommendations on ideal beginner-friendly boards and provide tips to speed up your learning curve. An openness to try new rental experiences can supercharge your mountain fun.
Conclusion
Tapping these insider tricks and deals means you can shave serious money off ski trip costs without skimping on equipment quality. Let the rental shop staff guide you to the most economical options that check every box; your adventures and your wallet with thank you.
