Why Rent Gear?
There are several advantages to renting ski or snowboarding gear once you touchdown in Utah. As the team at Ski 'N See points out, this ensures you're using the right gear for the right conditions. Not all skis are ideally suited for Utah's snow conditions, which produces relatively light, dry powder in abundance with good "body."
Renting ski gear — either at the resort or in a nearby ski town — can save money in baggage fees and reduce stress in lugging around awkwardly large bags. However, traveling with a pair of ski or snowboard boots that you love and trust may be worth the extra checked bag to guarantee a custom fit — just be sure to bring the boots to the rental shop, so they can adjust binding to fit the rental skis or board. Bringing your own boots will also likely save money on rental packages.
Between "carving" and "powder" there is a lot of technical detail standing between you and the mountain. Even the length of your skis is a point of debate, especially as technology evolves quickly. Your choice of ski rental also has a lot to do with where you want to ski.
In brief, carving skis are typically tuned for fast runs down groomed trails and require some skill to turn correctly, while the wider underfoot width of a powder ski helps you maneuver in the soft stuff.
You'll also encounter gear in categories as diverse as "all mountain" and "big mountain," but it still matters which specific mountain you are skiing. The experts at the local rental shops will want to know which resorts are on your itinerary to further fine-tune the choice, based on each resort's unique characteristics.
"Carving skis are typically tuned for fast runs down groomed trails and require some skill to turn correctly, while the wider underfoot width of a powder ski helps you maneuver in the soft stuff."
Renting ski gear — either at the resort or in a nearby ski town — can save money in baggage fees and reduce stress in lugging around awkwardly large bags.
Not all skis are ideally suited for Utah's snow conditions, which produces relatively light, dry powder in abundance with good "body."
Where to Rent
There are 15 ski resorts spread across Utah — you'll find 11 of them about an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport. And wherever you're driving or flying to Utah, there are ski rental experts close by to help you find the right gear for your Utah ski vacation. Many ski resorts have rental facilities onsite, but a big benefit of a winter vacation in Ski City is having a wide range of rental and retail options both within the city and near the mouth of the canyons. You'll also find plenty of options if you're driving north to Ogden or Logan-area resorts.
Depending on your needs — from basic ski clothing and accessories (pants, jackets, goggles, mittens, gloves, socks) to equipment (helmets, skis, boots, poles) — call the ski shop ahead of time to ask if sale prices on retail winter apparel or special rates on equipment rental are available for your family or group.
Here are a few stand-out staples for ski rentals in Utah. But for a full list of ski rental and retail options filterable by where you're heading, check out the Ski Utah listing.
How to Prepare for a Utah Ski Trip
Follow these five simple tips to take full advantage of The Greatest Snow on Earth®.
