Rent vs. buy vs. lease

If you’re going to take one ski trip a year, renting is the obvious way to go.  If you’re going to log in more than a handful of skier days, buying or leasing from a ski shop makes sense—economically and for ease.  

For many, leasing makes a lot of sense since children are likely to outgrow boots each year for a while.  In my son’s first year, I bought a used set of skis and boots that I saw on a flyer posted at his child care center since that was about the same price as leasing.  For his second year, I bought a new set of equipment since it was clear that he skied hard enough to make good skis and boots a worthwhile investment, and he has a younger sibling who’ll be able to get a few more years out of that purchase.  

If buying boots, make sure they fit as snug as possible without any discomfort—which is why annual leases can often make more sense given how fast their feet grow.  Used boots are typically fine—if the fit is good.  I’d be comfortable buying used boots at a ski swap or a rummage sale if my child were with me.  But I wouldn’t be comfortable buying used boots off of eBay since you can’t try those on before buying.  

-    If buying skis, make sure that it will be easy for the child to turn—shaped skis somewhere around nose-high.  For a beginner, chin-high might be acceptable.  For a child that can turn a ski easily and likes to ski fast, forehead-high might be acceptable.  Used skis are typically just fine as long as the bindings are adjusted to the boot correctly by a knowledgeable technician—and they are relatively new shaped skis.