Ski Gear: What to Buy Second Hand, and What to Buy Brand New
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Lounging beside the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps
The costs associated with skiing can add up, so if there’s an opportunity to buy quality gear second-hand, I would take it. In my years of skiing and testing different brands for apparel, gear, and accessories, I’ve learned which items are best to buy brand new, or which items you could search for on a second hand or resale site to score some big savings.
Continue reading for a few of my tips for shopping for ski gear either directly from retailers or on resale sites, along with my personal recommendations.
Ski Gear You Could Buy Second Hand
1. Skis
The second hand market is full of skis that have been barely used, and year-to-year the models of new skis don’t change that drastically. A practical program that is offered by many rental shops allows you to demo a specific model of skis to see if you enjoy them, and then if you choose to purchase them you’ll often get a discount applied to the final price. Local ski shops also tend to have great sales on both new and used gear toward the end of the season. I found one of my favorite pairs of skis (Black Crows Divus) on a road-side second hand sale rack on my way to ski Argentière in Chamonix a few years ago, and have extended their life by continuing to have epic days on them.
If you buy a pair of skis that have been pre-loved and already show a few signs of a good time, you also don’t have to be as precious or worried about them when you take them out for your first time. However if you do buy skis second hand from an individual on a resale platform, be sure to take them into a shop to have the mountings checked and fitted to your boots by a professional before you use them.
Where to shop: (In the US) Geartrade, Craigslist; (In Europe) Everide, PrivateSportsShop, Leboncoin, Willhaben, eBay; or local ski shops
My Favorite Brand: Black Crows
2. Ski Poles
While I haven’t come across too many options for ski poles on second hand markets, if you do find some then go for it. It could be that ski poles are awkward and potentially expensive to ship, and because they aren’t terribly expensive when brand new it could just be more practical to buy some in a shop. Local ski shops usually offer a single model of poles when renting and don’t tend to be too particular, so unless you are searching for a specific look or a style with special features, you would be fine using anything as long as they’re the right size for your stance.
Where to shop: (In the US) Geartrade, Craigslist; (In Europe) Everide, Leboncoin, Willhaben, eBay
My Favorite Brand: Leki
3. Ski Jackets
Considering how expensive full-priced, brand-name ski jackets are, people that buy them and then realize they don’t use them very much, or simply want to rotate styles, will naturally put them up for resale. Luckily for us savvy shoppers who don’t mind if a ski jacket doesn’t still have a shopping tag on it when it comes into our possession, we can benefit from the seemingly endless options available on sites like TheRealReal and Vestiaire Collective. While I personally am a big fan of finding relatively new ski apparel on second hand sites, I’ve written a few other guides that you may find helpful: Why I Don't Recommend Skiing in Vintage Skiwear, and The Alternatives You Could Shop Instead and The Best Websites to Find New Stylish Skiwear On Sale.
Where to shop: TheRealReal, Vestiaire Collective, Poshmark, Vinted
My Favorite Brands: Erin Snow, Halfdays, Perfect Moment, Goldbergh
4. Ski Pants
Similar to ski jackets, there are plenty of high-quality, brand-name ski pants available on second hand platforms. However, they may be a bit trickier to shop for— sometimes if items are not posted with very thorough descriptions, it can be hard to know exactly what you’re viewing. For example if you only search for specific brand names like Moncler pants or Bogner pants, search results may yield too many options, and not all of which are truly suitable for skiing since those brands have been producing many collections of clothing over many seasons and many decades. But due to this same fact, you could potentially score an incredible deal if a vendor doesn’t know the real value of the item they’re selling if they’re simply comparing listing prices to less functional pieces.
Where to shop: TheRealReal, Vestiaire Collective, Poshmark, Vinted
My Favorite Brands: Erin Snow, Halfdays
5. Avalanche Gear
Finding used avalanche gear in good condition on a resale market is possible, and could be a logical and economical choice for some skiers. While I wouldn’t normally recommend searching for life-saving devices from unauthorized retailers or platforms that have no responsibility for the integrity of the products, it’s important to know that many brands that produce avalanche gear (Black Diamond, Mammut, Ortovox) do offer to professionally service their products to confirm they are in top working order. Also important to note, it’s best to send off your avalanche gear for service during the low season (late spring and through the summer), so there is no urgency before your next ski trip. Prices for gear tend to be lower on resale platforms during the low season, so if you’re able to find your avalanche gear for a great price during the perfect time for servicing, then that’s a win-win!
Where to shop: (In the US) Geartrade, Craigslist; (In Europe) Everide, Leboncoin, Willhaben, eBay
My Favorite Brand: Black Diamond, PIEPS
Ski Gear You Should Buy Brand New
1. Ski Boots
I’m personally pretty particular about my ski boots, and in my early days of learning the sport and renting all my gear, I was definitely handed a pair of not-so-fresh rental boots more than once. If you are in the market for your own pair of ski boots, I suggest buying brand new and starting fresh. Even if you come across a good-looking pair on a resale market, you never know if they’ve been worn with dirty or sweaty socks, or have been stored somewhere that harbors bacteria. If you’re still looking score a deal, you can find brand new ski boots that were previous years’ styles from various online retailers, at discounted prices. And once you’ve purchased your brand new boots, you can visit this guide to follow my personal tips for keeping them fresh for years to come: How to Keep Your Ski Boots Smelling Fresh
2. Ski Helmet
Considering it’s something you wear so close to your face, I would also suggest buying brand new if you’re in the market for your own ski helmet. Visiting a retailer like REI in person can be helpful so you can try on your helmet for size and fit. I would also recommend buying your helmet and goggles at the same time, so you can ensure there is a nice fit (and no gap) between the two when worn together.
Where to shop: Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, FarFetch
My Favorite Brand: Kask
3. Ski Goggles
Just as I would recommend choosing a helmet that’s brand new, I would also suggest buying ski goggles that are brand new. Because they are used daily and sit directly on your face, it’s best to start fresh and clean. Ski goggles are available in a variety of different price points, but because I’ve found that upgrading to high-quality lenses was one of the most essential steps that allowed me to greatly improve my skill as a skier, I would recommend finding a set with lenses that are photochromic or interchangeable so you can have better visibility in variable light conditions.
Where to shop: Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, FarFetch
My Favorite Brand: Chimi
4. Ski Gloves
I’m also particular about my ski gloves, and always wear glove liners when skiing. Temperatures can vary greatly from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain, and also between being highly active on the slopes or while sitting idly on a freezing chairlift. Inevitably, your hands may sweat while you ski, and while leather or Goretex ski gloves are not washable— glove liners are. Because you never really know if the pre-loved gloves you found on a resale site were really worn with care or were stored in pristine conditions, I suggest buying yourself new ones.
Where to shop: Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI
My Favorite Brand: Hestra
5. Ski Base Layers
For me, base layers are about as personal as underwear, so I definitely recommend buying them brand new. If you buy a high-quality set (I’ve been very happy with my Smartwool Intraknit Merino set), they will last you years and keep you warm and comfortable while on the slopes. You can also find some well-priced and highly-recommended sets from Amazon, so if you are doing multiple days of skiing you can have a few fresh pairs to wear throughout your trip.
Where to shop: Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI
My Favorite Brand: Smartwool
In my years of skiing I’ve picked up a few tips on when to spend and when to save, and found that there are plenty of great opportunities to save on high-quality gear simply by shopping second hand. Knowing when to look for a resale deal or when it’s best to buy brand new can help you save time, save money, be more comfortable, and be more practical while skiing.
Are you looking for tips on how to save on ski gear for an upcoming trip and have any questions about my experience? Let me know in the comments below.
Shop my top picks of ski gear and accessories that are better when purchased brand new:
About the author
Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:
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