which cost more - skis or boots

[St. Bear]

Is that even realistically possible? It's like MSRP on a car.

It definitely happens. I used to sell home fitness equipment, and every so often you'd get someone in the store who wants to best model that you sell, and doesn't flinch when you tell them how much it is.

It also came up when I was talking to a sales rep at Ken Jones in Manchester, NH about the Volkl V-Werks. He said he sells a couple every year to people who drive up in Porsches, and only look at the prices to justify to themselves that they're getting the best ski in the store.

[dlague]

2nd, I'm pretty certain Hawkshot was talking list pricing and not what he actually paid. List price skis + bindings are going to be more expensive than list price boots. I doubt he paid those prices as a ski shop manager with the pro deals some people in that profession get. Given his profession, he also may take some issue with some of the gear advice you have given in the past; especially concerning boots. You might not appreciate the difference some higher end gear makes, but some others will. Hawkshot has been working ski retail for YEARS. Given that experience, he's going to know more about equipment than a recreational user like you or I.

This explains a lot! In addition, I am sorry, with the plethora of videos, reviews and data available online, so much can be learned without stepping foot into a shop. Even forums like this one help a lot. Personally, I will always research online and know what I am looking at so when on the few occasions I walk into a shop I can spot good deals! In any case, I mostly buy online.

Disclaimer - this is my own opinion and not necessarily for the intended use by others!

[deadheadskier]

dlague,

You can spare the disclaimers when you write correctly.

To review again. Your first claim was written that ANYONE who pays 700 for skis either should be competition level or sponsored. Meaning, you think someone like skianywhere shouldn't buy the skis he did. That's what caused Hawkshot to call you out for you telling other people how they should spend their money.

You have since further explained it's your own opinion for your personal skiing budget and you don't care what other people do. Fair enough....we can all move on. No need for future disclaimers.

And regards to the availability of information on the internet for research? Yeah, we all do that. No, none of us are going to be as knowledgeable as a long time ski shop manager. We're not privy to the knowledge coming from manufacturer reps that a store manager receives, nor do we go to the training seminars they do nor do we live, eat and breath ski talk 40-60 hours a week professionally. You can acquire a lot of knowledge on the internet, but no, you and I don't know nearly as much about gear as someone like Hawkshot. Amateur vs. Professional

[Abubob]

[dlague]

dlague,

You can spare the disclaimers when you write correctly.

To review again. Your first claim was written that ANYONE who pays 700 for skis either should be competition level or sponsored. Meaning, you think someone like skianywhere shouldn't buy the skis he did. That's what caused Hawkshot to call you out for you telling other people how they should spend their money.

You have since further explained it's your own opinion for your personal skiing budget and you don't care what other people do. Fair enough....we can all move on. No need for future disclaimers.

And regards to the availability of information on the internet for research? Yeah, we all do that. No, none of us are going to be as knowledgeable as a long time ski shop manager. We're not privy to the knowledge coming from manufacturer reps that a store manager receives, nor do we go to the training seminars they do nor do we live, eat and breath ski talk 40-60 hours a week professionally. You can acquire a lot of knowledge on the internet, but no, you and I don't know nearly as much about gear as someone like Hawkshot. Amateur vs. Professional

Fair enough!

[VTKilarney]

Where a ski shop manager can really come in handy is knowledge about their product. The ski industry is full of shameless (and usually meaningless) reviews that are nothing more than pandering to the manufacturers. I'd love to see a website that has accurate and honest reviews of equipment. The only place you can find that is in forums, as far as I can tell.

On the other hand, I've often wondered if people critique skis like they do wines. Sure, there are differences - but some people seem to claim to have near paranormal sensory abilities. I'm not convinced that the difference in skis of a similar geometry is as much as people want to believe. I'm also convinced that people who pay top dollar are inclined to think that their skis are more special than they actually are. In other words, if you are not a racer or starring in a Warren Miller film, is a $1,300 pair of skis that much different than a $1,000 pair of skis? Than a $750 pair of skis? At some point there have to be diminishing returns.

[Hawkshot99]

Where a ski shop manager can really come in handy is knowledge about their product. The ski industry is full of shameless (and usually meaningless) reviews that are nothing more than pandering to the manufacturers. I'd love to see a website that has accurate and honest reviews of equipment. The only place you can find that is in forums, as far as I can tell.

On the other hand, I've often wondered if people critique skis like they do wines. Sure, there are differences - but some people seem to claim to have near paranormal sensory abilities. I'm not convinced that the difference in skis of a similar geometry is as much as people want to believe. I'm also convinced that people who pay top dollar are inclined to think that their skis are more special than they actually are. In other words, if you are not a racer or starring in a Warren Miller film, is a $1,300 pair of skis that much different than a $1,000 pair of skis? Than a $750 pair of skis? At some point there have to be diminishing returns.

I read all of the ski reviews, only because I want to have some clue what they say when a person starts quoting them. I do not take any of them seriously. For starters, the ski manufactures sponsor the mag. If Ski Magazine says bad thinks about Volkl, Volkl will stop advertising. Secondly I can not remember ever reading a negative review in a magazine.

There are some pretty decent differences in gear that on paper is basically the same. Can every one feel them? Maybe, maybe not. But when I ran a on mtn demo center the majority of customers can.

[mishka]

We're not privy to the knowledge coming from manufacturer reps that a store manager receives, nor do we go to the training seminars they do nor do we live, eat and breath ski talk 40-60 hours a week professionally. You can acquire a lot of knowledge on the internet, but no, you and I don't know nearly as much about gear as someone like Hawkshot. Amateur vs. Professional

Manufacturer rep not necessarily ultimate source of knowledge imho

What do you want to know? lol

[Brad J]

I was a spoiled kid my dad bought me a pair of Hart Javlin xxl when I was 14 in 1969 , they were $200 plus bindings (look nevada) so I have alway's had expensive equipment.( still have them) now that I am older ,skiing and ski equipment is a big part of my life's enjoyment. I am very cheap on many other things but skiing is not one of them. Having good equipment for different conditions is so worth it to me, and at the end of the day that what matters. I do have 8 year old boots that I payed full price on from a really good boot fitter and with a new liner( zip fits ) still ski great.

[deadheadskier]

You should post a picture of the Javelin's. Crazy to think they made a $200 ski in 1969. I'd love to see what they look like.