i'm male, about 5'8", 200lbs and i'm a pretty basic skiier. i've only rented skis before so i'm not sure what size i need exactly, last year i used 140cm's but i've gotten taller, i'm guessing i need about a 160cm, i dont know though and i dont want to end up buying the wrong size skis and poles. i'm probably going to buy them on ebay from a seller i was recomended. if anyone could shed some light on the correct sizes, i'd be very grateful. i know i should go with a boot about one half size bigger than my shoe size right? also, are demo bindings safe to use? some auctions say the skis come with demo bindings, what exactly are the differences?
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need help, first time buying equipment
- Thread starter rpv08
- Start date
BeanoNYC
Active member
Hi, RPV and welcome to the forum!
I would say at your level and weight, you would probably benefit most from 160-170 cm. A quick and crude rule of thumb is that a beginner should go no longer than the chin. An intermediate/Advanced should be around the nose. An expert has different tastes and may go longer or shorter depending on what kind of ski it is.
You should really go see a professional bootfitter. Your boots are your most important piece of gear and an impropper fit will end up costing you.
Demo bindings can be quickly adjusted for different boot sizes (because different people will be trying that ski) as opposed to typical binding that will be set for your specific boot. I'm hesitant to comment on the saftey issue as I'm not sure.
I would say at your level and weight, you would probably benefit most from 160-170 cm. A quick and crude rule of thumb is that a beginner should go no longer than the chin. An intermediate/Advanced should be around the nose. An expert has different tastes and may go longer or shorter depending on what kind of ski it is.
You should really go see a professional bootfitter. Your boots are your most important piece of gear and an impropper fit will end up costing you.
Demo bindings can be quickly adjusted for different boot sizes (because different people will be trying that ski) as opposed to typical binding that will be set for your specific boot. I'm hesitant to comment on the saftey issue as I'm not sure.
riverc0il
New member
hmmmm. honestly, based on your questions it honestly doesn't sound like you know much about gear. and i don't mean that as a put down, just a general observation. i am of the opinion that buying sports equipment without knowledge or experience or having done research is just bad news, especially used equipment on ebay. you may find yourself buying 8 year old run down gear or equipment that doesn't fit your ability. maybe you are buying from a reputable seller, but you could end up purchasing gear either way below or way above your ability... in either case, you will be hurting and develop more slowly as you fight your gear instead of having the proper gear to help you along.
since you have only rented to date, i would HIGHLY recommend going to a reputable ski shop and buying a package. look for something geared to just above your abilities so you have something to grow into that you won't find yourself out growing within one years time. going this route, you will be able to talk to a knowledgable sales person who can steer you in the right direction. normally, i hate sales people and avoid them, but they know their skis and they will point a developing novice or intermediate skier towards the right packages. this will also allow you to have your feet properly measured and sized. for a beginner or intermediate, custom fitting, foot beds, and all that alignment crap is total over kill. but you should at least have a pro fit your boots. especially considering your understanding of sizing (i.e. you usually pick a ski boot size SMALLER than your regular shoe size for a snug fit).
demo bindings are fine. actually, if buying used, demo bindings are really helpful because they adjust to various size skis which means you do not need to remount them. you can actually easily adjust demo bindings yourself if you know what you are doing. since you are asking this type of question, i recommend HIGHLY that you have a qualified shop tech adjust them. you will need a shop to adjust your DIN any ways, so either way you will be visiting a shop any ways.
don't look at this as trying to beat the system and save money. invest in a quality setup fitted to you personally by a knowledgable shop tech and you won't regret it. roll your dice on ebay and good luck to you.
since you have only rented to date, i would HIGHLY recommend going to a reputable ski shop and buying a package. look for something geared to just above your abilities so you have something to grow into that you won't find yourself out growing within one years time. going this route, you will be able to talk to a knowledgable sales person who can steer you in the right direction. normally, i hate sales people and avoid them, but they know their skis and they will point a developing novice or intermediate skier towards the right packages. this will also allow you to have your feet properly measured and sized. for a beginner or intermediate, custom fitting, foot beds, and all that alignment crap is total over kill. but you should at least have a pro fit your boots. especially considering your understanding of sizing (i.e. you usually pick a ski boot size SMALLER than your regular shoe size for a snug fit).
demo bindings are fine. actually, if buying used, demo bindings are really helpful because they adjust to various size skis which means you do not need to remount them. you can actually easily adjust demo bindings yourself if you know what you are doing. since you are asking this type of question, i recommend HIGHLY that you have a qualified shop tech adjust them. you will need a shop to adjust your DIN any ways, so either way you will be visiting a shop any ways.
don't look at this as trying to beat the system and save money. invest in a quality setup fitted to you personally by a knowledgable shop tech and you won't regret it. roll your dice on ebay and good luck to you.
riverc0il
New member
btw, i additional thing about skis that were demos: you can expect them to have had a lot of days on them already, regardless of what the person selling the gear on ebay says. especially for gear that has been demo'd for more than one year. the bindings most likely are fine, but they could have taken some abuse so there are NO guarantees unlike with a shop. also, the skis might have taken some abuse too. buyer beware.
NHpowderhound
New member
rpv08, welcome to AZ!
I would highly reccomend not getting skis from e-bay for your first purchase. Especially used equipment. Especially used demo equipment. Especially unseen used demo equipment from a stranger.
Demoing skis is like renting a car. And anyone who has rented a couple cars will quickly tell you that they dont baby it :wink: . Rollbacks anyone? :lol:
Demo skis will most likely have been put through numerous sharpenings,waxings and stone grindings(where they grind base material off the ski).That means a shorter life for the base and edges. Also the material that makes up the core of the ski may have "worn out". A foam core will break down over repeated compression and loose its charictarisics. The same can happen to other core materials too.
What area are you from or what areas do you ski? Alpine Zone has lots of very knowledgable members on this forum who would love to reccomend a good shop that will sell you a package. A shop will be there to answer questions, give proper fit and be there next year if there is some sort of malfunction with you equipment and you need warrantee help.
And everything else Riverc0il said.
((*
*))NHPH
I would highly reccomend not getting skis from e-bay for your first purchase. Especially used equipment. Especially used demo equipment. Especially unseen used demo equipment from a stranger.
Demoing skis is like renting a car. And anyone who has rented a couple cars will quickly tell you that they dont baby it :wink: . Rollbacks anyone? :lol:
Demo skis will most likely have been put through numerous sharpenings,waxings and stone grindings(where they grind base material off the ski).That means a shorter life for the base and edges. Also the material that makes up the core of the ski may have "worn out". A foam core will break down over repeated compression and loose its charictarisics. The same can happen to other core materials too.
What area are you from or what areas do you ski? Alpine Zone has lots of very knowledgable members on this forum who would love to reccomend a good shop that will sell you a package. A shop will be there to answer questions, give proper fit and be there next year if there is some sort of malfunction with you equipment and you need warrantee help.
And everything else Riverc0il said.
((*
*))NHPH
There's a lot of sound advice in this thread.
I'll just add that you may want to rent until the end of this season and take advantage of the "season end", "summer" or "Columbus Day" sales when prices are typically lower (much in many cases).
Some caveats to the wait 'til the seasons over advice: 1. Some shops may be pricing aggresively now because they are having a tough time moving inventory this year. (but in general February ain't prime time for buying ski gear.)
2. You plan on skiing a lot before the end of the season (10 days or more).
Good luck.
I'll just add that you may want to rent until the end of this season and take advantage of the "season end", "summer" or "Columbus Day" sales when prices are typically lower (much in many cases).
Some caveats to the wait 'til the seasons over advice: 1. Some shops may be pricing aggresively now because they are having a tough time moving inventory this year. (but in general February ain't prime time for buying ski gear.)
2. You plan on skiing a lot before the end of the season (10 days or more).
Good luck.
NYDrew
New member
I agree with most of the above.
First time buyer should go to a shop.
Screw bootfitter, just get something comfortable at your level...again shop will stear you in the right direction...heat molders are great for a cheap customization. What ever it is will be a hell of a lot more comfy then rental crap.
Demo bindings are fine, but they are usually significantly heavyer then standard bindings. you also wont see to many entry level skiis at a demo sale and if you do they will be trashed.
conclusion- buy new stuff from a shop in a package . Ive seen good intro packages (boots,bindings, skiis, poles sometimes helmit) in the $400 range.
First time buyer should go to a shop.
Screw bootfitter, just get something comfortable at your level...again shop will stear you in the right direction...heat molders are great for a cheap customization. What ever it is will be a hell of a lot more comfy then rental crap.
Demo bindings are fine, but they are usually significantly heavyer then standard bindings. you also wont see to many entry level skiis at a demo sale and if you do they will be trashed.
conclusion- buy new stuff from a shop in a package . Ive seen good intro packages (boots,bindings, skiis, poles sometimes helmit) in the $400 range.
