How to Choose the Right Ski Gear

Want to enjoy the skiing season? It all depends on the type of ski gear you select. Just as hiking boots which are more robust and useful when you use them on trails but quite useless and ridiculous even if you were to wear them to a party, so also ski gear has to be suitable to the purpose you have in mind for it to be of any use.

Of course, you need skis. Beside that, you also need ski goggles, ski jackets, ski hats and ski gloves.

Ski gloves: Every seasoned skier knows that much of the body heat is lost through the extremities. Ski gloves keep your hands warm and dry. Do not compromise on the quality of these gloves. They must be well insulated and water proof. At the same time, they must allow enough ventilation. Leather ski gloves are particularly strong and waterproof. They also last longer. But these are expensive. So, if you decide to give leather gloves a miss, at the very least, your gloves must have leather seams. Mittens are a good choice but they may pose grip problems. In either case, gloves or mittens must carry elastic wrist welts and overlapping cuffs with Velcro.

Ski goggles: When you?re cruising across slopes laden with snow, proper vision could be a matter of life and death. Regular ski goggles are good for those people who do not wear any kind of protective eyeglasses. In case you wear eye glasses, your ski goggles must fit snugly over the glasses. Yellow or brown tints are helpful because they help you see contours better. Your goggles should fit snugly over the helmet so they can rest over the helmet comfortably. Adjustment straps are a must.

Ski helmets: Comfort and safety are the main things to look out for when selecting ski helmets because they can save your neck, literally. Besides, fashionable helmets make you look cool and sleek. Select helmets that have snug interiors. That will keep you warm and dry. Adjustable ventilation allows you to regulate the temperature. Adjustable straps are another wonderful feature.

Ski jackets: Ski jackets stand between you and the elements. So they had better be good if you want to enjoy your skiing. The most important features of ski jackets are waterproofing and ventilation. If you are on a tight budget, you could look for ski jackets that are only taped at critical seams. However, to be well and truly dry and warm, you must select a jacket that has all its seams taped. Ventilation is important because skiing can make you lose up to half a liter or more of liquid every day. If the jacket does not release moisture, then this moisture can condense within the jacket, making you feel cold and wet. Combining ventilation with waterproofing is the tricky bit and this is what decides the quality of the jacket you select. Ski jackets must have a base layer to keep the moisture out and an outside layer for letting out moisture. Jackets with hoods, pockets and stretch panels are helpful.

Ski gear has to keep you comfortable, dry and safe. Of course, if you are in a mood to splurge, there is no limit to what you can buy. But, if you are counting your dollars, then you need to buy those items that are most important and will give you maximum skiing pleasure.

Aspen Ski Rentals – Gear Guide – Aspen & Snowmass Ski & Snowboard Rentals

Don?t you just love the sound of your skis clicking into your bindings and the squeaky sound of ski wax on Colorado snow? There is something so invigorating about gearing up for a day of skiing or snowboarding. Read tips and information for selecting the perfect ski and snowboard equipment for your Aspen, Colorado vacation.

Many visitors find that ordering Aspen ski and snowboard rentals online in advance saves them a lot of time by not having to wait in line. The following information will also help guide you through selecting the ideal gear for your Aspen, CO vacation.

First, when selecting Aspen ski rental and equipment, you need to sort out what type of terrain you will be skiing, what are the current conditions like and the all important question ?What type of skier are you?? These factors will determine a number of things when it comes to fitting your Aspen ski rentals.

As most avid skiers know, today?s equipment is far superior to yesterdays gear. With this advancement in technology, renting the ideal Aspen ski equipment can seem like a daunting task. You will most likely need to get fitted for boots, skis and poles. Some say, a proper fitting ski boot is the most important part of progressing in your skier ability.

Getting fitted for ski boots

Comfort isn?t king when it comes to renting ski boots. To improve your skiing ability and to progress to the next level, it is imperative to rent boots that support every inch of your feet. You want to prevent having what is known as sloppy feet. Sloppy feet happens when there is too much room in your boots which will lesson the amount of control you have on your skis. You obviously don?t want to strangle your feet so you can?t feel them, but you definitely need your boots to be tight. This will maximize your sensitivity to the terrain and increase your control.

Often times, ski rental shops in Aspen will size your poles for you, but if you?re an advanced skier, you might want to be aware of a couple of things. The ideal pole size changes with what type of terrain you prefer to ski. If you?re a big fan of ripping up fresh corduroy then you need to get a standard sized pole. You can measure what size pole you need by turning the ski pole upside down and grabbing directly under the basket. If the pole is correctly fitted, you?re arm should be bent at a 90 degree angle.

On the other hand, if skiing zipper line bumps is your thing, make sure you get smaller poles so you can plant correctly while bashing those bumps. Get the poles to long and planting on the mogul will push your shoulders back which will cause you to either be kicked to the back seat or redirect your skis. Since you want your upper body to be ?quiet?, short poles will enable you to simply flick the top of the mogul while skiing through the line.

Skis are the number one question when renting gear for your Aspen, Colorado ski vacation. Common questions include:

1)How long should my skis be?

Length of skis depend on your skier ability. If your standing up, ideal ski lengths for beginner to intermediate skiers tend to fall anywhere between your upper chest and nose. For advanced skiers who tend to seek powder stashes, skis are generally longer to support their body weight while in the deep snow.

2)What?s the difference between powder skis and groomer skis?

Floating in Aspen, Colorado?s deep powder stashes is what a ski vacation is all about. In order to ski powder, it is essential you have skis wide enough to carry you on top of the snow. If you are on narrow racing skis, you will tend to sink too deep. Thiis will turn your powder day into a long leg workout. On the other hand, if you?re into carving flawless turns in Colorado cordoroy, then you need to rent skis that are a little narrower which will hold the line tighter while leaning into your turns.

3)What does parabolic mean?

Parabolic skis have revolutionized the ski industry. They have enabled beginner skiers to advance to intermediate while intermediate skiers have enjoyed tackling advanced terrain. Basically, parabolic skis enable for quick edge to edge turning radius. Simply pivot your knees, put the skis on edge, and they do the rest of the work for you.

4)What?s the difference between a flexible vs. stiff ski

Stiff skis are great for holding an edge on hard packed snow. They also allow a skier to ski faster without the skis from loosing an edge. Flexible skis are great for blasting through the crud and blazing over moguls.