When you head to Alaska for some skiing, every resort is going to have rental equipment for you. Still, before you pay a premium at the resort, consider these tips for Alaska ski rentals.
Easy Ways to Save Cash
As soon as you know you want to go skiing, start planning your rental strategy. You want to plan ahead and book in advance. This strategy can save you a significant chunk of money. Alaska ski rentals are usually about 20% cheaper when you book with us. Additionally, booking online means you can zip by the shop and pick up your gear without waiting in lines. After all, when you’re in Alaska, the last thing you want to do is stand in a line for equipment.
As with lift tickets, avoid renting equipment from the resort counter. They generally charge more. This isn’t because they have better equipment, but because you’re a captive audience. You’re at the slopes; you want to hit the powder. As an example, if you’re going to Alyeska for a week, a basic rental at the resort is going to cost $203. That’s even with a 20 percent weeklong discount. Hit up Sports Authority on your way to the resort and you’re only going to pay $20/day, saving you sixty bucks over the week.
Resort Gear vs. Off-Site Rentals
You probably wonder if there’s a difference between the Alaska ski rentals you’re going to get on-site vs. off-site. The quality of the gear is going to be the same, if not the gear itself. It isn’t cutting-edge stuff, but it’s good. There may be some small differences, but you probably won’t notice the difference between a pair of K2’s and a pair of Atomic skis. In fact, the majority of skiers run on rentals regularly until they are skiing enough to make paying $700 for a basic ski set worthwhile.
That said, there is one piece of gear that you should buy as soon as you can. We typically recommend getting a personal helmet as soon as you can. Helmet rentals are usually about $5/day. A helmet only costs about $50 to $100. You can see the math. If you go skiing more than ten to twenty times in your life, that helmet pays for itself. Plus, unlike skis, it’s usually no issue fitting a helmet into the vehicle or even on a plane. And on a sanitary note, while the rental shops disinfect them, someone else has still been sweating into that helmet you’re going to wear.
Alaska Ski Rentals