I’ve got a close relationship with all of my ski gear, ESPECIALLY my boots. You marry your boots and date your skis. Once I am comfortable and trust any piece of my ski equipment, I have a very hard time giving it up. Believe it or not skiing on old equipment may actually become dangerous if gear is too old or worn.
I’ve designed this guide to help you decide when its time to replace your favourite ski equipment!
Table of Contents
When To Replace Ski Bindings
Ski bindings (next to a helmet) are the most important piece of safety equipment when skiing. The function of bindings is simple. Bindings secure your boots to your skis, so you can ski! Bindings act as the connection between the inputs of your body movements and how the ski reacts.
Bindings play a secondary and very important role of releasing your boots during a fall. If your skis were to stay on during a nasty fall your legs and knees would be in a whole world of trouble. All skiers should be aware of the DIN setting on their bindings. The DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) is the standard industry recognized scale for ski binding release force settings. A ski binding will release if there is either too much forward pressure or a large twisting force is applied to the boot. Skiers need to choose a setting that matches their skill level. If you are an expert who skis off cliffs or ski races, an unwanted ski release may actually cause an extremely dangerous situation. For a beginner, if the DIN is too high, and the ski does not release they may injure their legs and knees.
Bindings are sturdy pieces of equipment and if you maintain them properly and store them in a dry and temperature controlled place they can last longer than 10 years. Please note that manufactures do not allow ski technicians to work on bindings that are older than 8-10 years and each year they send out a list of bindings that have aged-out so to speak. A quick pro tip for storage is to always set your DIN setting as low as possible in the off-season so they are not under tension in the off-season. As long as your bindings have no physical damage and the release mechanism is working properly then you should keep on using them.
It is of the utmost importance that the release mechanism is working properly. If you ever have issues with pre-release or bindings not releasing it is best to have them checked by a professional. If your bindings are older than 10 years, are having release issues and cannot be legally serviced by a technician it’s time to hang them up and invest in a new pair. Your ACL’s will thank me! As long as your bindings have no physical damage and the release mechanism is working properly then you can go ahead and keep on using them as long as long as possible!
If you’re in the market for a new pair of freeride bindings, check out my top picks for this years best alpine ski bindings for skiers who charge. All of these bad boys will keep all those hard chargers locked into their skis when chuting through couloirs and jumping off cliffs.
When To Replace Skis
If you are an aggressive skier destroying a pair of skis is actually quite easy, especially if you ride primarily off-piste and in the trees. However, If you don’t wreck them, which is hard to do when you’re having fun, skis can last a lifetime!
As long as your skis, bases and edges are in one piece then you can keep riding on them. I wouldn’t recommend skiing on those triangle tip 200cm skis from the 80’s but if you have a solid pair of shaped skis they will last as long as they can stay pieced together.
Check the bases and edges for any serious damage. By serious damage I mean massive core shots and physical cracks and gouges in the steel edges. These types of serious damage won’t affect your safety, but may hinder the performance of your skis.
Always dry your skis and edges after each day on the slopes. This will ensure that rust and grime doesn’t build up and eat away at the edges until you are next on the hill. I’d also recommend you adopt and follow a basic waxing and sharpening schedule so your skis are always performing at their best. Sharpening keeps your edges from rust and other damage and waxing protects your ski bases from drying out. Waxing and sharpening is super easy to get into and I’ve put together a fantastic Waxing Guide for Beginners.
Technology changes so fast with skis these days it’s hard to keep up. But, its sure as hell nice to treat yourself to a new set when you have the chance, and a good set of skis can always take your skiing up to the next level. If you’re interested in buying a new set of skis check out the Ultimate Guide to Buying Skis so you can find a set that works perfect for you, your style and your skiing ability.
Once you’ve got an idea of what kind of skis you’re in the market for, check out some of my top Freeride Powder Ski picks for this season.
When to Replace Ski Boots
You marry your ski boots and date your skis and bindings! Once you have a super comfortable and well performing ski boot the last thing you want to do is give it up. I don’t blame you! Depending on how much you ski and how hard you are on your boots you may be able to juice 10+ years out of a well-cared for set.
Storing you boots and maintaining them properly are the key to having boots that stand the test of time. (Boot Maintenance Best Practices). There is nothing wrong with skiing on a super old pair of boots as long as the shell and the liner are in good shape. First make sure the boot still fits you properly and the shell isn’t warped or the liner isn’t overly packed out. A packed out lining will feel super loose even when the buckles are fastened. Check the plastic on the shell for any cracks, make sure all the buckles are fastening properly and ensure that toe piece and heel piece aren’t worn down. You can always fix buckles with replacements or buy a custom liner that fits your shell. If there is an issue with your with your shell such as a crack or worn down toe pieces or heel pieces your skis will not release properly from your bindings and may be dysfunctional. If comfort is the issue, then switching up to a new pair is up to you. But, if your toe piece is worn down, it’s time to go boot shopping for a new set. If you’re in the market for a new boot make sure to check out my Ski Boot Fit and Buying Guide so you can find the perfect fit!
When To Replace Ski Poles
Poles are simply metal sticks. The cheaper and older the better! The new ski pole construction although light and attractive looking is quite weak. They make them way to light these days and it is damn easy to bend them on trees even in the smallest of wipeouts. I used to have to buy a new pair of poles once every your because of pole snaps. Two years ago I found an old thick neon pair of poles from the 90’s and they have been rock solid. If you have an old set of poles that are still somewhat straight, keep on using them, there is no need for an upgrade!
The only set of poles I have spend more than 5 bucks on in the last 10 years are my Black Diamond Expedition 3 Poles. They are adjustable and I use them for powder, backcountry and for hiking in the summertime. They’ve lasted 3 years of hard year round use and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a multi season pole option.
When To Replace a Ski Helmet
Ski helmets consist of a polystyrene and polycarbonate plastic shell that absorb impact during a collision. Under ideal conditions a ski helmet could last forever. However, ski helmets go through a lot during their lifetime. Constant UV exposure, small drops, knicks and the occasional wipeout all add up. Helmets won’t necessarily protect you from concussion but they will greatly reduce the incident of skull fracture and death. Manufacturers recommend changing your helmet up once every 5 years. However, if you have a big smash to the head or there is any damage whatsoever you need to replace your helmet!
You only get one cranium! Helmet are cool and comfortable nowadays and to be honest, I think it’s pretty ridiculous if you don’t wear a brain bucket on the hill! Here’s a list of this seasons safest and most stylish ski helmets.
When to Replace Ski Goggles
An old or scratched up pair of goggles will not affect your safety but it will absolutely affect how much fun you can have on the hill. Having clear vision is integral to charging hard and seeing the contours in the snow. Running old ski goggles on the hill is no problem so long as they aren’t to scratched up. Modern day goggle technology is amazing. When I finally switched to goggles that had multiple lenses I could see clearly in all weather and ski with more confidence than ever.
If you’re in the market for quality, I’ve put together a list of this years best ski goggles, give it a read!
When to Replace Ski Jackets & Pants
Your ski outfit is all about comfort and style. I’m always thrilled to see riders still repping their outfits from the 80’s. If your ski outfit is comfortable and keeps you dry and warm then you never have to change it. If you’ve got an older waterproof jacket or pants you can bring some of the waterproofing back to life by running it though a wash with NikWax. If your jacket and pants are freezing, get wet, or don’t fit you properly then you know it’s time for an upgrade! I’ve worn a Helly Hansen Ridge Infinity Jacket for about 5 years! It’s stained and dirty but I absolutely love it!
If you are wrecking your ski gear I think it’s a GREAT thing! It means you are skiing lots and having loads of fun on the mountain. All of the time-frames for gear replacements in this post are just recommendations. Keep in mind, ski gear will wear differently for everyone depending on how many days they ski in a season and how hard they ski! Whether you ski 5 or 50 days a season the best thing you can do to make your gear last is to maintain it and store it properly.
Hopefully this post helped you decide whether to hang up or keep on using your favourite old gear!
What’s Your Oldest Piece of Equipment?
Let me know in the comments!
10 Responses
Started a few years ago on some old red Atomic Beta Carv racing skis, with red Koflach boots. Just upgraded to Line Sick Day 94 skis with Salomon X Pro 120 boots. See you on the slopes!
Unreal! I’ll watch for that Sick Day base graphic when your riding up the Whistler lifts!!!
Boy, he got a lot of things right in this article. Parting with any equipment you love is hard! I looked for a pairbof 2014 skis that hadn’t been drilled or used because I loved my 2014 Vokle Kendos. I finally broke down and bought the 2021/2022 kendos, and I like them almost as much as the 1014 ones. It also took me 3 years to find a ski jacket that I liked as much as my old jacket, and even then I miss some of little features on my old jacket.
I would like to really make a couple points though that might be especially useful for new skiers. I’ve skied for 25 years now, starting as an adult. I tend to be frugal and resisted spending large sums on equipment for a long time. What a MISTAKE! I used to freeze when I skied. I was then given a very good and also expensive pair of ski pants for xmas and what a difference they made! I then invested in a fairly expensive ski shell and an expensive underlayer. My ski days improved immensly and I enjoyed skiing much more. Then in 2014 I invested in a good pair of skis, spending more on the skis than I had on a complete package before. Again, my skiing and confidence improved immensly and I enjoyedbskiing even more. But here is the one thing that changed my life. In 15 years I probably bought 10 pair of goggles. Each pair sucked. They would fog up, or freeze up, or were too dark, or not dark enough, or restricted my peripheral vision. I started with the cheapest, and kept spending a little more each year. I bought a pair of $80 googles convinced they would be better. They weren’t. Finally, before a trip to Utah in 2014 I bucked up and spent $300 on Anon M2s with 2 extra lenses. I had low light, medium light, bright light and mirrored, and dark sunglass lenses. WOW! WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT. Obviously being warm made skiing more enjoyable, and having good skis made a difference, but the Googles might have been the best and most worthwhile investment I ever made! I’m still using them 8 years later and still marvel at how good they are and the difference they made. I will replace them in the next couple years, but when I do I will make a large investment again. Do yourselves a favor and spend the money for the best pair of googles you can afford. BTW, I often tuck an extra lense in my coat. Light conditions often change throughout the day. If its bright and sunny I start with darker lenses but tuck my low light lenses in my coat for when the shaddows come out or the clouds roll in. I wish I would have invested in great goggles 10 years earlier.
Thanks for the amazing tips. You are 100% right!! Good goggles are a true game changer.
Hi,
I ski once a year and rent 170 skis and boots. I’m an intermediate level and just want to enjoy the slopes without going gang busters. I figure if I buy some used skis then maybe I’ll go out more.
Lots of skis for sale on Craigslist now. I have no idea what a good price would be for a pair of used skis that have no dings etc. and that come with the bindings? Many brands I’ve heard of going for $100-300 dollars.
I would like your opinion.
Thanks
Hey!
It’s impossible for me to give you a straight answer since the price of a ski varies alot depending upon its age, model, and condition. I think $100 would be a reasonable price for an older pair (older than 5 years) with a few dings on the base. $300 and upwards would be for something in good condition that is less than 5 years old!
You are definitely in the right ballpark price wise. Let me know if you want my opinion on a specific model!
Cheers!
King Fujas with Marker Bindings – 2010
Kahru Jak Telemark skis – 2003 redrilled at home for NTN bindings in 2015. Scott Voodoo NTN telemark boots.
Replaced my 1998 Tecnica TNT boots with Tecnica Cochise 130 in 2019
K2 All Mountain snowboard 2015 w Northwave boots and Flow Bindings (I think)
Bollé helmet 2014 (I will replace that this year)
Bollé goggles – replace them about every 4years.
Marmot ski pants 2018, RAB soft shell jacket, Marmot Precip waterproof 2019.
I wish it all lasted forever. The clothing gives up before the equipment.
I do about 40 days a year. Been skiing for 50 years.
Totally agree your “if it works don’t fix it” approach. It’s the vertical drop that matters, not the year of gear.
Duncan this made me so happy!!
“It’s the vertical drop that matters, not the year of the gear”
Quote of the month!
Excellent article, thanks. I’m 78. I started skiing when I was 40 (in 1984) and bought my first top-notch skis 13 years later. They were K2 four 88. They’re ~74″ long and have little LEDs which are gimmicky but fun, supposedly part of an impact buffering system. The bindings are appropriate for that type of ski. I used them for about 25 half-days, each year, for about 10 years and they haven’t been used since. I still love them but I got a second-hand pair of short carving skis: HEAD Superframe 280i with Tyrolia HD14 bindings (in 2007). The guy I bought them from was a more serious skier than I ever was. My boots (Nordica Next 74) fit both sets of skis, and have been well looked after. I love them all. Everything was well-looked after but I gave up skiing after the 2012 season. My back and 67-year-old knees said “NO MORE!” Boots, bindings, and skis all seem perfect to me, but a retailer told me the bindings are obsolete and no technician will touch them. I’d like to sell them all, as a package but… can I sell then, ethically… with disclosure about technicians not working on them? I’d hate to take them to the dump! Obsolete? Sounds as if the manufacturers are colluding!
David! I’m sorry to hear that your body has said “No More”. 67 is a pretty damn good run if you ask me!! You totally can sell them if you disclose that to the buyer. Of course a super high level skier may not want to trust an old binding. But the setup would be perfect for someone just getting into the swing of things who is willing to do the adjustments to the bindings themselves. Are manufacturers colluding? Probably… but at least you can get a slick new graphic for $1000 lol. Thanks for reading my friend!