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Are smaller ski companies so much better than larger ones? Your thoughts?

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gameover2299
Posts: 26 - Karma: 71
A friend of mine has been on my ass for a while saying there is no better ski than one made by smaller companies in colorado such as Icelandic compared to larger ski companies like Fischer or Atomic. Is this true based on you guy's experience?
Aug 7 2014 11:25AM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,676
People like to think smaller companies are better, and typically when it comes to customer service etc, they are. However I still don't believe the build of the ski is better in some of the smaller companies. Not saying it's true everywhere, but larger companies just know more, have more resources, etc. And that's how they can deliver a cheaper product that's typically better than more expensive skis from smaller companies.
Aug 7 2014 11:39AM
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gameover2299
Posts: 26 - Karma: 71
I agree with you there, thanks for the input
Aug 7 2014 11:41AM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,016
There are good small & large companies.

There are bad small & large companies.

There are so many different companies now it is best to look at the company individually instead of trying to focus on it being good or bad based upon its size.
Aug 7 2014 12:04PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
iggyskierThere are good small & large companies.

There are bad small & large companies.

There are so many different companies now it is best to look at the company individually instead of trying to focus on it being good or bad based upon its size.


Pretty much spot on!
Aug 7 2014 12:14PM
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Scotty_Boy
Posts: 777 - Karma: 1,449
Small companies (on3p, icelantic) make killer skis, but so do some larger companies like k2 and atomic. That said, there are some companies in both groups that make bad skis.
Aug 7 2014 12:43PM
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gameover2299
Posts: 26 - Karma: 71
I agree with all the points that have been made thank you for all the info guys
Aug 7 2014 2:03PM
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spaceghostpurp
Posts: 249 - Karma: 835
i feel like dealing with small companies is way easier/better because with large companies (in my experience) theres a representative that talks to you about your issue and doesnt care either way because when he goes home it doesnt matter if you like his company or not. but with smaller companies they want you to be happy with their merchandise/company. Saga has great customer service. They are a bigger company but they did everything they could to make me happy.
Aug 7 2014 7:25PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
yep, some smaller companies can be bad. the only thing i dont get about some companies ( cough armada cough) is that they have an average ski made in a factory for what 700$? where i just bought kitten facory skis which have thicker edges, thicker bases, and in some cases more durable for 600$? ( i actually got mine for 509$ hehehe)
Aug 7 2014 7:38PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,435
spaceghostpurpi feel like dealing with small companies is way easier/better because with large companies (in my experience) theres a representative that talks to you about your issue and doesnt care either way because when he goes home it doesnt matter if you like his company or not. but with smaller companies they want you to be happy with their merchandise/company. Saga has great customer service. They are a bigger company but they did everything they could to make me happy.


Im not sure I agree with this. Usually to get to a reasonable high level in a big brand you need to have been working in the industry for years and have a real passion for the sport. Perhaps you caught them on a off day but I tend to find that the people actually at the top of the big brands are jut as passionate as those running the indie brands. It can just be harder for an indivual to say chat to the designer of atomic boots compared to say scott at on3p so I can see where the perception that the big brands are less approachable.
Aug 7 2014 7:41PM
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skier58284
Posts: 1705 - Karma: 5,365
My favorite skis I have ridden are K2, Surface, Dynastar, and Line. I have ridden skis from pretty much all the big companies but not a lot of small companies. Not sure if Surface and Line qualify as "smaller" by your standards. They're well known, but nothing like K2, Rossi, Atomic, etc.
Aug 7 2014 7:54PM
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Ozgod
Posts: 374 - Karma: 448
the small company by me is Shaggy's skis and they are terrible but when you get into the bigger smaller companies like on3p they can make a really good ski
Aug 8 2014 12:50AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
Well I'm not sure how thick the bases are on armada but some of their park skis have 2.5mm edges just like small brands today; ON3P, batalla, kitten factory, and more. But also the thing about small brands vs big brands can be price too. You just bought a super durable ski for $500. And yeah on armadas site skis are listed for more than that. But armada distributes worldwide but kitten factory may distribute worldwide as well but they aren't known too well. Anyway armada has so many retailers. Almost every shop now days carries armada. And on top of that online stores carry armada too like evo and the house. So when armada has all those retailers they can say their ski is $600+ on their site. But when you go into a shop or online at evo. You can find armada skis for good deals at $500 or less.
Aug 8 2014 11:23AM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,016
Grizzly.ButtahWell I'm not sure how thick the bases are on armada but some of their park skis have 2.5mm edges just like small brands today; ON3P, batalla, kitten factory, and more.


Different edges on the Armadas than what we use at ON3P. Lots of companies use a 2.5mm wide edges, very few use a 2.5mm wide X 2.5mm thick edges. I believe the armada's impact edge is around 2mm thick.

Only people using a 2.5mm x 2.5mm that I can think of right ON3P, Jskis, Kitten Factory, and a few other small brands.
Aug 8 2014 12:13PM
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shin-bang
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 6,997
iggyskierDifferent edges on the Armadas than what we use at ON3P. Lots of companies use a 2.5mm wide edges, very few use a 2.5mm wide X 2.5mm thick edges. I believe the armada's impact edge is around 2mm thick.

Only people using a 2.5mm x 2.5mm that I can think of right ON3P, Jskis, Kitten Factory, and a few other small brands.


thats exactly why i go with the smaller companies, but you have to be careful which of the smaller companies you choose...
Aug 8 2014 12:21PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
iggyskierDifferent edges on the Armadas than what we use at ON3P. Lots of companies use a 2.5mm wide edges, very few use a 2.5mm wide X 2.5mm thick edges. I believe the armada's impact edge is around 2mm thick.

Only people using a 2.5mm x 2.5mm that I can think of right ON3P, Jskis, Kitten Factory, and a few other small brands.


well on armadas site it says 2.5 impact edge. but it doesn't specify on their site if its 2.5 by 2.5 or not, but i know of a few companies who only say 2.5 edges but have 2.5 by 2.5, for example there is surface and batalla.
Aug 8 2014 1:40PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,016
Grizzly.Buttahwell on armadas site it says 2.5 impact edge. but it doesn't specify on their site if its 2.5 by 2.5 or not, but i know of a few companies who only say 2.5 edges but have 2.5 by 2.5, for example there is surface and batalla.


I've look at a lot of Armada park skis. They are not a 2.5mm x 2.5mm edge. I've also never seen a Surface with a 2.5mm thick edge and 1.8mm base, though I haven't seen a lot of Surface skis recently so that could have changed.
Aug 8 2014 1:43PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
iggyskierI've look at a lot of Armada park skis. They are not a 2.5mm x 2.5mm edge. I've also never seen a Surface with a 2.5mm thick edge and 1.8mm base, though I haven't seen a lot of Surface skis recently so that could have changed.


Yeah I know from what I understand armada is 2.0 by 2.5. And also I'm not sure what surface bases are, but I do know they are 2.5 by 2.5
Aug 8 2014 2:07PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10447 - Karma: 10,016
Grizzly.ButtahYeah I know from what I understand armada is 2.0 by 2.5. And also I'm not sure what surface bases are, but I do know they are 2.5 by 2.5


Just curious but what model surfaces have you seen with a 2.5mm x 2.5mm edge? That would correspond with a 1.8mm thick base.
Aug 8 2014 2:20PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
iggyskierJust curious but what model surfaces have you seen with a 2.5mm x 2.5mm edge? That would correspond with a 1.8mm thick base.


Well I have surface one life's. I don't think they are 1.8 tho, you have them beat there. But yeah they are 2.5 by 2.5. Even measured them.
Aug 8 2014 4:40PM
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Surfboard
Posts: 528 - Karma: 397
Osgodthe small company by me is Shaggy's skis and they are terrible but when you get into the bigger smaller companies like on3p they can make a really good ski


What are you talking about? Shaggy's makes some hella nice skis i.e. The tubby
Aug 11 2014 9:46PM
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