Get the best deals at your local Ski Swap

I love Ski Swaps as a way to find awesome deals on gently used ski gear. I have shared below what a Ski Swap is, how to get the best deal at a Ski Swap, and how much you should plan to spend.

What is a Ski Swap?

Think about a Ski Swap as a rented out warehouse filled with ski gear, from kids mittens to mono-skis, that ranges from brand new to 15 years old. Ski Swaps are similar to events like REI’s Garage Sale, but wholly focused on skiing and with a few additional nuances. You can find great deals at a Ski Swap on new and used gear if you know how to look.

Community members bring used ski gear to sell on consignment at a Ski Swap. Typically, the Ski Swap organization will keep around 20% of any sale. And, at the end of the Swap, if the gear hasn’t sold yet, the Community member either comes to pick up their gear again, or donates it to the Ski Swap. There are also Vendors who come to Ski Swaps. Vendors sell a combination of new ski gear and last year’s rental skis. Vendors’ gear is typically higher priced than the consignment gear, but also comes with a ‘Certified Pre Owned’ level of evaluation.

Ski Swaps typically benefit a local skiing-related non-profit, like a local college’s race team, a local adaptive ski program (teaching skiing for people living with disabilities), or another youth program. This is a great reason to attend and try a Swap out, even if just to build some excitement for the coming ski season.

Also, Ski Swaps are ‘manned’ by a cadre of volunteers who love skiing and enjoy sharing their knowledge with people. If the volunteer you are talking with doesn’t know the answer, they will likely know someone volunteering there who can answer your questions. Oftentimes ski clubs or other community ski resources will be on display at Sky Swaps, which can be a helpful way to also plug into your local ski community (if that is an interest).

Local Ski Swaps

Snow Brains does an awesome writeup each year on finding local Ski Swaps. You can find the link to their regional list of ski swaps here:

https://snowbrains.com/ski-swaps-in-the-age-of-covid-19/

How to find the best ski deal at a Ski Swap?

Attend the Swap on the first day

Typically a Ski Swap goes from Friday to Sunday. I recommend attending on a Friday evening. This way all the gear for sale is still available. Even better, get there right when it opens as you will likely be one of only a handful who got there before dinner time on Friday.

Even better, if you volunteer at a ski swap on Wednesday or Thursday, you often get a chance to see all the inventory and even put a couple things aside. Plus you get to share your time with a great cause.

Prioritize your shopping

If you are looking for something specialized, like 3-yr-old ski boots, or telemark skis for a 10 year old, go to that section first. Typically you will find one of everything, but that means each thing can go quickly.

Bring your kids

I know, shopping with kids sounds like a pain, but you will need them to try on things like Ski Boots. And, showing your kids the skis they will be using for the season, and getting them to help pick the skis, can be really motivating for them. My local Ski Swap run by Sky Tavern brings a bounce house to keep kids sane while shopping.

Make sure to set the right expectations with kids. Namely:

1. We’re going to choose size and fit over color or style as a family
2. We’re going to bring a book / snack to dive into while Child B or Dad looks for their own gear

Bring the Bare Necessities

Friday afternoon, tired from a week of school, and we’re going shopping. That sounds like a recipe for disaster so make sure to bring snacks, technology, toys you don’t mind losing, and anything else that keeps your kids sane.

Also, don’t forget good ski socks, or buy a pair there to use. You want to try on any Ski Boots with the right socks.

Look for gear that is only 1-3 seasons old

Gear has progressed really rapidly, and you want to make sure you are not buying gear that has been ridden too hard to be salvageable. Unless you know a lot about what you are looking at, think about sticking with newer models for sale at the Swap. Also, since many technologies have changed significantly, you can run into issues with 10+ years old gear that will be unserviceable at your local ski shop.

Use the expertise of the sales people

The two types of people working at a Ski Swap are professional ski swap travelling sales people and local ski program volunteers. Both of these groups tend to have a lot of knowledge and really want you to find a great gear for a great deal. Definitely ask the opinion of someone working there. If they are steering you somewhere outside of your comfort zone or budget, let them know you are looking for something cheaper.

How much should I spend to outfit my kids at a Ski Swap?

I would plan on spending the following amounts on each piece of gear for your kids:

Boots: $15-30

Skis: $25-75

Helmet: $10-20

Total: $50-125

You will see that you can get outfitted at a Ski Swap for a cheaper price than either buying new gear (easily $400 each season) or a seasonal rental (about $150 each season). Plus, the great thing about Ski Swaps is that you can bring the gear back to sell it next season for as much as you bought it.

Overall best deals at ski swaps

If you like hunting for great deals and keeping costs low, Ski Swaps are a really fun way to work to get set up. Plus, I think it helps teach our children about Recycling in a very real and tangible way. Finally, the proceeds go to local non-profits, which makes them a really positive way to invest in your local community.

Let me know your Ski Swap wins in the comments below to help encourage other parents to give them a try! And, you can find other tips on Affordable Skiing here:

https://teachyourkidtoski.com/affordable-kids-to-ski/

Thank you for reading.  Please follow our blog below to receive emails on new posts to help you teach and equip your child to ski with you successfully!

I earn an affiliate credit for items purchased when accessed through the links on this post. None of these manufacturers have provided incentives to me for these endorsements or reviews.