To rent or to buy? That is the million-dollar question skiers and snowboarders face when gearing up for winter adventures. While owning your equipment has perks, the people at Canyon Sports tell us that renting in certain situations can be the smarter choice. Here is a guide for deciding if a ski or snowboard rental is the right move.
You’re Just Getting Started
If you are brand new to skiing or snowboarding, rentals are definitely the way to go as a beginner. Purchasing a full getup of gear like skis/board, bindings, boots, and poles is a pricey investment before you’ve even mastered fundamentals. Start with affordable rentals to allow time to learn the essentials.
Rental shops have an enormous selection of beginner-friendly skis and snowboards that are ideal for rapidly progressing your skills. As you gain experience, you’ll better understand what gear style and specs are the best personal fit before committing to any purchases. A rental snowboard package removes the guesswork.
You Only Ride A Few Days Per Season
Do you only make it to the mountain a couple times each winter? In that case, rentals are far more economical than buying gear that sits dormant most of the year. Ski and snowboard rentals average $30-50 per day depending on package type.
That means if you only ride 5 days annually, you are spending under $250 total to rent brand new equipment every single year. Buying matching quality brand new gear often exceeds $600, with no option to upgrade as technology evolves.
You’re In A Growth Spurt
Families quickly realize how impractical it is to keep purchasing new skis and boards every year or two as kids experience growth spurts. The cycle never stops and expenses can skyrocket. That is where rentals become a smart, affordable solution.
Most shops allow kids to rent ski or snowboard packages for free with an accompanying adult rental purchase. Even if you do pay, rental rates stay far lower than replacing outgrown gear annually. Rent and return until they hit their full adult height.
You Like To Experiment
Do you get bored sticking to just one type of skiing or riding? Do you have resort access with options to explore groomers, glades, parks, and pipes? Then you may prefer renting over owning your own one-trick setup.
Renting gives you the flexibility to sample different ski and snowboard styles tailored for different terrain and conditions. Try fat powder skis one day, carve-ready rentals the next. Many shops rent specialty backcountry gear too so you can chase side country stashes.
You Travel Frequently
Lugging lots of heavy, rigid ski and snowboard gear through airports and across terminals is a perilous hassle very few travelers wish to endure. That’s where portable ski and snowboard rentals become essential resources while globetrotting.
Rather than paying obscene fees to transport your personal gear, simply rent equipment after arriving at your destination resort. Most rental outfits deliver gear directly to your lodge or hotel too for unbeatable door-front convenience.
Whether you are visiting one resort or several on an extended tour, renting allows you to pack light and still ski/ride like a local anywhere luck finds fresh snow!
Conclusion
At the end of the day, a ski or snowboard rental serves as the affordable gateway to enjoying winter slopes whenever the opportunity arises without heavy upfront investments. Rent for fun, convenience, or to eventually learn your ideal geared up style before potentially investing in ownership down the road. The flexibility of renting opens up possibilities for skiers and riders of all abilities and ambitions to explore the sport more economically.
