Last winter my wife and I had a great week in Bulgaria learning to ski. At the end of the week we were pretty confident on the blue runs. We had hoped to get back out skiing in Feb mid term, but that is now looking dubious for obvious reasons. Most likely best case now is the odd day trip to Glenshee (if that opens plus gets snow this winter!).
However I'm the optimistic sort and crossing my fingers for heavy snowfall in Scotland this winter. Our house also looks out onto the Pentlands with Harlaw carpark being a ~5 min drive away.
Looking at ebay / facebook marketplace, secondhand skis seem to go pretty cheaply. I was thinking about getting a cheap pair for use in the Pentlands / Cairngorms this winter.
So, question being what should I be looking for as an OK to get started, but will likely get trashed on thin snow this winter so don't want to buy a new/ expensive pair?
I'll likely buy a new pair of boots from Decathlon.
Cheers
Look at the photos of the ones you used in Bulgaria?
I've had decathlon boots for the kids no problem.
I've bought my boots mail order with no problem.
Some folk swear by having them fitted properly at a specialist.
Skis
Second hand, you need to check that the bindings will fit your boots. Ex hire will have the fully adjustable bindings and it won't be a problem, but others only usually have a limited adjustment beyond the size of the boot they were fitted for.
I've bought skis from Decathlon but also online from the european discounters (Ekosport) too.
You might get lucky with a pair of suitable rock hoppers off Gumtree though.
https://www.ekosport.co.uk/4-681-alpine-ski-package.html
I'd go for something that you don't mind getting trashed. My, albeit limited, experience of Scottish skiing involved a lot of rocks. Also you'll want something pretty flexible while you are learning, but you will outgrow them as you improve. Second hand is the way to go, just make sure they are fairly modern. Just like bikes, the geometry has changed and newer stuff is better.
You can usually pick up ski's pretty cheap off eBay and the like. Ski technology hasn't changed drastically in the last 5 or so years - more like the bike industry...designing ski's for an ever increasing number of weird and obscure categories of skiing so just a half decent pair of carving ski's and you'll be fine. The only real big change to ski's was the move from straight edged planks to carving ski's which happened about 15 years ago. Since then it's been finessing of the carver design and messing around with different materials that give different characteristics. As a beginner you don't yet know what you're looking for in terms of the characteristic of the ski so just go with something relatively recent and you can't go too far wrong. Put it this way, if you were on holiday in the Alps and were renting ski's you'd just receive whatever beaten up crap the shop got a good deal on that season (and not always new that season) so hardly much thought gone into the spec of the ski for your purposes, so don't deliberate too much on it, it's just not important.
Boots are different however and are very unique to you and your fit. You can get brand new boots that will be fine for beginner to intermediate level for £150 or so, so I'd target brand new if I were you, try on as many pairs from as many different brands as you can. Don't be fooled by all the heat-fitting stuff...best if you can find a pair of boots that fit without all of that. And don't look for specific brands or colours or designs...just go with what fits the best. All the brands have different shapes - some narrow fitting, some wide fitting, some suit people with big calves better etc.
I guess the biggest thing for Scottish skiing is having decent coat and sallopets for the conditions. Spring skiing in 25 degrees and perfectly sunny conditions in the Alps is a different ball game altogether compared to what you're likely to face in Scotland.
I always say the same, buy the boots, hire the skis.
A good pair of well fitting boots can make a world of difference to your skiing experience and enjoyment. They can last for years and once fitted need nothing else doing to them.
Skis however are a pain to transport, need maintenance to keep working well and can be wrecked by rocks. Rental fixes those issues.
When you say skiing in the Pentlands - do you mean off piste in the hills or at Hillend? The former will be a whole different ball park to a nice pisted blue run (and might suit different design of ski).
Whilst you could not bother servicing skis, unless they have just been done it would be worth it for second hand ones. Given that cost, and the cost of the skis you'd need to use them a good few times to make it worthwhile financially although it can be worth it just for convenience to not have to hire.
I've done some touring in the Pentlands the last 4 winters - its pretty hardcore and I used to be a ski instructor and guide ! Spend some time at Hillend and spend all your money on getting well fitted boots.
I have some Atomic skis for sale which did me brilliantly while I was learning. Looking to sell them now and I'm only up in Perth if you want to have a look at them before buying. Not wanting a lot for them £30? I
I always say the same, buy the boots, hire the skis.
From which I can deduce that you've rarely ( if ever) skied in Scotland.
Having your own skis/ board is more or less essential to have happy skiing in Scotland.
Woman in front of me at 13:30 a few years back in the Glen Coe ticket queue:
Woman:/Incandescent with rage.
I want a refund for this lift pass please
Counter assistant: Sorry, we don't do refunds, what's the problem?
Woman: I bought this day pass at 8:30 this morning and have been queueing for ski hire ever since. I just got to the front of the queue a few minutes ago to be told there are no suitable skis left.
It happens loads. Buy yer own
Just to flag up that you should join https://www.skiclub.lowtherhills.com/
£75 season pass for a family.
They have a piste basher and a club hut now!
From where you are based it should be just over an hour's drive.
I have some Atomic skis for sale which did me brilliantly while I was learning. Looking to sell them now and I’m only up in Perth if you want to have a look at them before buying. Not wanting a lot for them £30?
very interested - what size are theY - can you PM me details / photos?
NewRetroTom
Full Member
Just to flag up that you should join https://www.skiclub.lowtherhills.com/£75 season pass for a family.
They have a piste basher and a club hut now!
From where you are based it should be just over an hour’s drive.
Thanks for the heads up - that set up feels just the ticket!
your own for UK
rental for forin, Given the extra luggage cost of flying with skis, its just not worth taking your own. Scratch up the hire ones.
boots - get whatever fits you properly. You dont need dedicated boot bags.
best skis I ever used were an instructors personal pair that he let me use as a binding had broken on mine, ~I wasnt going to get down the next stage of the mountain on one leg. They were a grand slalom with damping bars front and back, in pristine condition. It was so easy to ski on them, I couldnt keep my speed down to my mates 🙂
flying with skis, its just not worth taking your own.
Oh yes it is 😃
Even at Ryanair £90 return rates it's cheaper to take our own than hire.
Though once the kids grow it may get tricker fitting four pairs of skis into one 22kg bag !
/MasterOfSub£2.5kFamilySkiHolidays
It used to be worth taking skis abroad... but then it used to be free.
Have a look at some of the ebay shops, Ski Barn have never let me down. It is all ex Austrian Rental gear. Sounds like it will be knackered but so far it has all been perfectly usable for the couple of weeks use per season that I have time for. Cheaper than Rental, come with Rental bindings so easy to be sure it will fit boot. As the Generalist, I live if fear of the check in desk asking how many pairs of skis I have in the bag and the kids correcting me "No daddy there are four pairs in there" And, Bindings off ftw!
live if fear of the check in desk asking how many pairs of skis I have in the bag and the kids correcting me “No daddy there are four pairs
😃
Agreed, also much easier to keep a straight face if there is a mixture of skis and boards.
"just two pairs"
As I lifted a 31kg bag containing 4 skis, 4 poles and two snowboards onto the carrousel.
Ah Utah, back in the days of 64kg luggage allowances. Those were the days.
And, Bindings off ftw!
Totally. As each year goes past and the kids' skis gradually get bigger and bigger I'm finding myself having to unscrew more and more binding bits in order to come in sub 22kg.
Eek
From which I can deduce that you’ve rarely ( if ever) skied in Scotland... ...It happens loads. Buy yer own
You can avoid this by not hiring at the lift station, you typically drive past 2 or 3 places on the way (who usually have better kit) and pre-ordering if you know you are going rather than being the person hanging on for the one good weekend of weather and snow a year.
We have both skis and boots going spare if you're prepared to pay the postage. My other half is pretty tall so the skis are 180 and his boots are a size 11
If your wife has small feet then I have some size 22.5 boots that she can have ....
It's a great but expensive hobby
Scruff YGM
You can avoid this by not hiring at the lift station, you typically drive past 2 or 3 places on the way (who usually have better kit
Erm yes. Nevisport on Soggyhall Street, Tiso's on Buchanan Street, Ellis Brighams on Deansgate, Snow and Rock at Chillfactore.
Only a fool or a complete optimist( or TBH someone with midweek holidays ) would head to Scotland skiing without having kit bought up front.
If we do happen to get snow and the Shee fires up I recommend the Cabin ski hire , reserve beforehand and pick up on the way (heading N at Bridge of Cally)
Lowther Hill good but quite often when it’s open actually getting there from W Edi isn’t easy due to roads but I’ve been a member for anwhile
As per NZ Col there are at least 3 places between Blairgowrie and Glenshee that provide equipment hire.
For Cairngorm, if it ever opens again, there's the Pinemarten bar that does equipment hire.
I'm not sure about Glencoe, The Lecht or Nevis Range.
Join a ski club that does hire!
Like my local, Bathgate Ski Club.
Membership is buttons and think a few hires from the club soon repays the fees over renting.
You'd also get loads of advice on kit etc.
Usually they run a minibus to Glenshee when conditions are favourable.
This obviously restrictions permitting.
When you are a Snowsports Scotland member you can get discounts on mid week lift passes and at some outdoor style shops.
Think there is a ski club in Penicuik called Beeslack, not sure if they do hires though!
It can be worth looking at the likes of Glisshop and Ekosport for well priced mail order brides skis. I've bought a few pairs c/w bindings this way and for on piste, you probly can't go wrong though you need to know your boot size and preffered ski length obv.