Anyone had a ski trip in the £500-600pp range before?
Slovakia.
If you are in London then it is a [url= https://wizzair.com/en-GB/Select ]budget WhizzAir flight from Luton to Poprad[/url] and a short transfer. Accommodation is cheap and food/booze out there is ridiculously cheap (e.g. beer for a euro, 2 course sit-down lunch on the mountain for 5 euros).
Go here http://chaletslovakia.com/ or here http://www.snowboardslovakia.co.uk/
(the first one suits me better).
Oh and they've had some snow recently:
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😯
ooooh, that looks good. I cant get my mates to consider Bulgaria or Slovakia for boarding, it doesn't have the "reputation" yet..
It's not always like that - but it is always a good laugh! 😀
If you wait for it to have a reputation then it won't be cheap and will just be a mini-Alps.
Anyone got any recommendation for luggage? We don't have skis, but our own boots. Of course, these days boot bags cost you extra, so looking for a wheelie bag that can house a pair of boots in their own compartment and big enough for the rest of the skiing paraphernalia. Being able to cinch it down to size depending on how much is packed into it would be ideal.
Obvious one is the Dakine split roller, available in tragic colours for accessorising with your Beats headphones I guess.
Anything else that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
Anything else that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
Take them as your carry-on luggage?
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Or wear them! (note: that's a bit more practical with snowboard boots)
Or wear them!
Also, even with snowboard boots, going to be a bit of a pain when security-bot tells you to remove them for the x-ray machine. 🙂
I'm not sure about the luggage question...can't you just pack them into a normal roller case and stuff them with socks, underwear, buffs 😯 , goggles etc so they don't take up too much room?
That's what I do. In a big Animal split roller, stuff boots with socks etc.
No.Take them as your carry-on luggage?
Yes. But our normal roller case has exploded after being lugged around with 5kg plastic shoes in it. Before I buy something else that will be dead in three trips, thought I would see how people have got on with something that is more purpose built.can't you just pack them into a normal roller case
I have an, erm, actually, two (one for me, one for mrs DD) 😯 DaKine split rollers. Both of which have been excellent to be fair. And, they're in non-tragic Black. 😛
Having done winter holidays with crap luggage, the convenience of sturdy purpose built stuff was refreshing.
I recently got a Dakine double ski bag with rollers. You can also fits two pairs of boots in it. Great I thought, until I weighed it and realised it was over the 20kg EasyJet sports equipment limit. DOH!
Can't speak for skis but yeah, I've used a [url= http://eu.dakine.com/p/snowboard/gear-bags/board-bags/low-roller ]Dakine Low Roller board bag[/url] for a good few years and it has lasted very well.
I generally find Dakine stuff is relatively well made so I'd expect the ski stuff to be similar.
Yeah, we have that problem with our upcoming EJ flights - but as we have a toddler with us, with his own seat, we could book a bag for him which gives us 60 kg over two bags rather than 2 x 20kg. 20kg doesn't go far if you're taking ski/snowboard boots with you.
Low Roller here too. Very good i think. Make sure you differentiate it somehow from the others on the flight with colourful tape on the handles or something, or be prepared to go to your resort with someone elses board. (which could be a good thing)
Ski Boots. Usually inside check-in suitcase, have carried them as hand luggage before. I have once in 30 years been challenged with ski boots as hand luggage and I said I would wear them if necessary and the fuss was over.
I have a 90L North face duffle, which is as tough as old boots, no compartments or wheels though. It is light in itself though. You can carry it on your back which is convenient.
My mum got a cheap wheeled bag from somewhere, it weighed a massive amount on its own with no luggage in it. Not great depending on how you are traveling.
[url= http://powdermonkeyuk.com/snokart-kabin-boot-bag?gclid=Cj0KEQiA3bymBRC19IrD7O_NrYsBEiQAb2dpA3Eu43OVv1M7e02TVwiAzLnjrZI0G6bCJnFi-p8fj0IaAv4u8P8HAQ ]Boot bag as hand lugagge[/url]
[url= http://www.sportsdirect.com/nevica-large-ski-holdall--400306?colcode=40030603 ]"CHeap" bag that will take ski boots[/url]. Boots go in the end compartments, I've not got one myself bu I hearthey're ok
personally I use take ski bag, boot bag and suitcase. Never had any issues (I've flown easyjet with that setup and they didn't charge extra)
IME, cheap ski luggage comes in two guises: cheap heavy materials which means it's at luggage allowance as soon as I put a pair of my lacy knickers and basque in there, or cheap light materials which don't stand up to the rigours of baggage handlers in winter. The DaKine split rollers are a bit clichéd for sure, but ours have taken a hell of a few beatings and are as good as the day they were bought.
+1 for Dakine rollers - mine has seen many an outing
Cheers folks.
The nearest thing I'll get to skiing this season is the 10 minutes sledging I did on Saturday. It put down over 17cm of snow in our garden on Thursday. It's snowman city around here 🙂
Quite enjoyed 'The Jump' last night. Actually recognised some of the slebs on there.
Surfanic do decent sized split rollers at £40-50 - stitching on of zips can be hot and miss with Surfanic so check before you buy but decent quality other than that.
Used them summer and winter for three or four years now.
Harryjan
Easily possible BUT you have to be brave with waiting till 6 days to go before booking, and accept that the choice will be limited.
You might need to book a 1/2 day holiday on monday am to get the very best prices.
SuperBudget . Crystalski
Budget Ski world last minute chalet deals
Then Iglu /Ifyouski lastminute bargains
If still no joy Ebay for accom and train / bus / drive out
Slightly more expensive, but still discounted Neilson and Mark Waner
Won't somebody think of the base!
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No treble?
No, Graham. Because you know I'm all about that base. No treble.
Be alright, couple of sticks of p-tex and a light belt sand, maybe.
To be honest I've seen worse conditions at Cairngorm.
Where's good for base layers these days? All my previous HH ones are a bit knackered and need to get a couple each for mrs DD and myself. Found some bargain jobbies from Dare2B on outdoorclearance.co.uk - mix of cotton and bamboo 😕
Anyone else found anything good for less than twenty calamari?
I use Aldi stuff when they have it. On-one merino is good too for the price
where did you book for in the end?
Not much wrong with Smelly Hellys - you can usually find them fairly cheap somewhere. Likewise the Aldi (Crane?) stuff is fine. Tinky Maxx sometimes have stuff in too at this time of year.
Personally I'd avoid cotton as a base layer as unless it has something clever done to it then it just doesn't breathe well enough. Merino is supposed to be great but I've never found one that doesn't itch a bit (including all the "non-itch" ones). Maybe I'm just a sensitive type.
Worth looking on [url= http://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/S/Buy_THERMAL_UNDERWEAR_base_layers_skiing_mens_extra_small_SALE-%28234%29.aspx?sort=1&ViewType=GridView ]Absolute Snow[/url], [url= http://www.sportpursuit.com/join/graham_getsmoneyfromthis ]SportPursuit[/url] and other bargain sites. Plenty on there for less than £20.
If you are going in March then there is a fair chance you'll end up in a t-shirt anyway 😀
Sports direct have their own brand ones for £6.25
I decked out the whole family with Devold merino thermals, when they were on offer at Sportpursuit.
Really comfy, great fit, no itching and no smells.
Merino comes in different grades, you need the finest that you can find: Ultra fine (under 16.9 micron) or Superfine (17 micron to 18.9 micron) should not itch.
HH stuff is still very good too.
Ok, thanks folks. Plenty of options to go and look at. Yeah, won't be touching cotton. Oh hang on, just realised I was talking out of my arse (nothing new under the sun) about those Dare2B ones - they're a mix of [i]polyester[/i] and bamboo.
Dare2B is the worst name for a clothing brand ever.
What I normally do for baselayers is look for a local outdoor store that has been acquired by JD Sports and is in 'closing down sale' mode, then stock up. I have a mix of Helly Hansen (the 'Warm' stuff is good), Columbia (still undecided about the stuff lined with tin foil dots), and various brands of Merino stuff. You do get what you pay for with Merino I find.
If you can leave it until the last minute you can easily do a ski/snowboard holiday for £5-600 (if you've got your own gear anyway). I've had half board accom./flight in Austria for around £250-300 a couple of times. Lift pass is usually around £170.
Beers etc out there aren't generally too pricy but you do have to be a bit strict about not eating/drinking out too much if you want to stick to the budget.
Dare2B is the worst name for a clothing brand ever.
I stopped giving a shite about that kind of thing years ago tbh. If it works, and is good value, then who cares what it's called.
Crap (Winter) Sports brand-names (not necessarily crap gear though)...let's have 'em. 🙂
Trespass!!
Avalanche ski gear might not crap but the name is.
am now awaiting delivery of a new Dakine Split Roller... this bastard website! 👿
You've made a good choice there. Could have gone a bit more budget-conscious, and gone for an Animal, but you'll be pleased with your choice.
I've been using heat tech long sleeve t shirts for base layers now for ages from Uniqlo, they seem ok. Am I missing something? My inner snob has never tried Helly Hansen as its a brand for posh sailor lads ?
Agreed dare2b is an appalling name. Trespass, Protest, Head .
I've got a couple of decent Dare2B bits that were super cheap. Don't really care about the name.
BTW for Lancashire/Yorkshire folk, Another World in Ogden has decent snow and is plannin to open every night this week under the floodlights. It's short but there's a few different runs and jumps and a great friendly setup. Get down there! Check em out on Facebook.
Could have gone a bit more budget-conscious, and gone for an Animal, but you'll be pleased with your choice.
I dunno. I've been using my Animal bag for skiing, normal holidays and bigger work trips for about ten years now and it's nearly flawless. One buckle broke, but the lovely people at Animal sorted me out a replacement without even asking about any sort of warranty period.
Normal work travel bag for 3 day trips is a top end Samsonite that gets used a lot more, and sadly is soon to be replaced. Am pondering going for Osprey to replace both eventually.
The DaKine ones are damned good, mind you.
Actually.....Animal is a rubbish name! I remember buying one of their watchstraps in about 88 and loving it, but they've just got too big now. And their "sponsorship" of Mitsubishi plumbers wagons is awful.
It's ok flashy, I'm sure yours works fine. Sometimes, the budget option Is worth the risk.
🙂
If it works, and is good value, then who cares what it's called.
As a wise man once said......
