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July, 2025

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Skiing the expensive hobby

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MWG
Posts: 126 - Karma: 2,213
I was making a list of what new ski gear to buy with my next pay check, and realized how much money this is going to cost.

1) Goggles $250 (no wifi/bluetooth compatibility or that speed thing) My current goggles have more marks then a cat scratch post. I don't know which has more fog the goggles or a hotbox with snoop and wiz.

2) Skis $599-$799+ (without bindings) Skiing with no edges can only be fun for so long, I was looking at the line chronic skis because I always wanted to "sneak a 3 swap around" and other line sayings they have in their youtube adds

3) Snow pants $300-$500 With a bib and deepening on the brand without shipping to Canada. might as well get a pair of skis instead and just rock some jeans.


Total 1000 ish taxes not included


All I am saying is unless your parents are buying or you got sponsors you should get a credit card with a high limit.
9 years ago
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GoldFlameChain
Posts: 110 - Karma: 79
#stopskiing
9 years ago
9 1
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chris.goodhue
Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,214
I'd have so much more cash if I didn't ski, it'd be unreal.
9 years ago
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Park_Ranger
Posts: 3825 - Karma: 8,635
Teenagers swiping Mom's credit card at the beginning of the season is seriously the heart of the ski industry.
9 years ago
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4242 - Karma: 10,784
$250 for goggles??
9 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8032 - Karma: 27,088
Yeah I guess buy cheaper stuff if you're that upset by it.
9 years ago
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
Skiing + mountain biking + road biking + photography + coffee/espresso

I need to stop picking the most expensive hobbies. On the bright side, I've found super good deals on pretty much all my stuff.
9 years ago
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skiguy04
Posts: 1641 - Karma: 1,290
1. get a yo-yo instead ($4-20)
2. dedicate winter season to learning tricks
3. ????
4. profit
9 years ago
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,036
MWG2) Skis $599-$799+ (without bindings) Skiing with no edges can only be fun for so long, I was looking at the line chronic skis because I always wanted to "sneak a 3 swap around" and other line sayings they have in their youtube adds


If you are serious about getting chronics, do yourself a favor and buy last year's model. It's the same ski with the same construction just with a different graphic. You'll save a ton of money.
9 years ago
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,038
buy all that shit here ya dingus and buy skis that are on sale
9 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52783 - Karma: 175,263
Don't spend 250 on goggles, 300 on pants, and buy last year+ skis?

Riveting concept. I don't think I've ever spent over 100 on goggles, and 160 on pants.
9 years ago
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skiitsbetter
Posts: 133 - Karma: 310
you could cut that $1000 in half if you didn't treat skiing like a fashion show.
9 years ago
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The.Fish
Posts: 2269 - Karma: 4,999
Goggles don't have to be that expensive but if you are spending $250 i would get 2 lenses, skis do not cost that much at all if you get the old model, especially with line, their skis get pretty cheap. I have never seen pants that expensive. The most expensive i have seen were $250 but they dropped to $175 on sale.
9 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8032 - Karma: 27,088
theabortionatorDon't spend 250 on goggles, 300 on pants, and buy last year+ skis?

Riveting concept. I don't think I've ever spent over 100 on goggles, and 160 on pants.


He's Canadian they make it rain for fun with their worthless currency
9 years ago
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9835 - Karma: 66,533
no one will try to claim this isnt an expensive sport but you can do it so much cheaper

at the right place you can get season passes for relatively cheap (relatively!!)

skis you seriously should never buy new/msrp/retail, there are so many past years' and used skis out there to get. forget brand new skis and forget line's stupid marketing nonsense, there are so many amazing skis out there nowadays

goggles bindings and outerwear you shouldnt skimp on but again you can find great deals


boots are the biggest concern. they need to fit well and getting them used/just getting whatever's cheap doesnt usually work as well here as it does with skis. get a decent pair that fits well and keep them as long as you can


all my gear is good stuff that ive had for years and years. there is absolutely no reason to buy new stuff every year
9 years ago
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chicken
Posts: 6844 - Karma: 2,122
next season get a part time job at a ski shop. buy all your new gear with your extra income.
9 years ago
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Jesse_
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 3,643
chickennext season get a part time job at a ski shop. buy all your new gear with your extra income.


Plus you might get a staff discount. One of my friends works at a ski shop and couldve gotten brand new lines for $200 cad
9 years ago
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chicken
Posts: 6844 - Karma: 2,122
Jesse_Plus you might get a staff discount. One of my friends works at a ski shop and couldve gotten brand new lines for $200 cad


yeah. that's why i specified ski shop and not just any part time job!
9 years ago
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4242 - Karma: 10,784
Jesse_Plus you might get a staff discount.


If you work even remotely in the ski industry (liftie, ski shop, park staff, etc...even in the outdoor industry) MOST companies will hook you up with a discount. Just gotta ask!
9 years ago
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Charles_Grant
Posts: 428 - Karma: 206
wait until u get into ski touring :S
9 years ago
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,034
hot.pocketIf you work even remotely in the ski industry (liftie, ski shop, park staff, etc...even in the outdoor industry) MOST companies will hook you up with a discount. Just gotta ask!


I was shocked to see you were already giving us a sneak peek on some next year's stuff. You got me
9 years ago
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11990 - Karma: 12,273
chickennext season get a part time job at a ski shop. buy all your new gear with your extra income.


then his $250 goggles are more like $80. it's absolutely fucked how high the mark up is on goggles.
9 years ago
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jellomellow
Posts: 961 - Karma: 3,562
Charles_Grantwait until u get into ski touring :S


fuck this is even worse. Im using this season to get all my training for avys done and buy all the gear
9 years ago
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foolhardy
Posts: 85 - Karma: 114
skiitsbetteryou could cut that $1000 in half if you didn't treat skiing like a fashion show.


This drives me crazy. you see kids on the mountain wearing full saga swag suits which cost a fortune, kids who would probably refuse to ski if they didn't have it. basically, kids are so damn spoiled and unappreciative
9 years ago
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John18_6
Posts: 7313 - Karma: 49,171
Sunglasses and safety glasses is the only way I roll unless it's puking/nuking out or I'm riding out west. Cop a cheap pair for $10 or less.

Skis: "sneak a 3 swap around" is such a bogus claim. The Chronics are definitely a light ski but with a proper scissor and pop a 3 swap will happen on any park ski. If you want chronics get them, but you don't need to pay full retail price. I've never paid more than 50% retail for a ski and so can you.

Pants: Yoke collection pants are $79 on their site right now, but if you prefer baggy pants you'll get dry stroked.
9 years ago
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mike759
Posts: 887 - Karma: 1,990
Spring and preseason sales are where I thrive
9 years ago
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.CJ.
Posts: 1509 - Karma: 3,672
You need to find cheaper gear bud. BST forum has a ton of cheap shit. Go to craigslist for skis. I bought a pair of 2004 4frnt STls in pristine condition for $50. It's not that hard to find cheap stuff. I'll be spending more on a pass next year than I will on a whole "new" kit.
9 years ago
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,753
Your estimates are absurd.

250 for goggles??? Cmon man.

800 for skis? For what dps? Stocklis?

500 for pants?? Arcteryx?

There's much less expensive options available to you.

Buy clearance gear. Buy some stuff lightly used.

Even if you spent that much, buy a couple replacement lenses and those goggles can last years. Pants should last 3-4 years easily. Skis? Anything other than park skis can last years depending on lots of factors. People act like skiing is impossible to afford and it's bullshit. A season pass and one key bit of gear whatever it is each year and we are talking less than a thousand bucks. That could be for 100 days of entertainment. The per day cost could be less than what it costs to be a smoker. Anyone with a job who wants to make skiing a priority can easily pull it off unless you live too far away which again is a matter of priorities
9 years ago
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GayWolf420
Posts: 38325 - Karma: 132,517
if you folks are still paying full price for gear, I feel bad for you. blow it if you got it I guess but man you are dropping some serious balls hardcore if you have issues finding good deals.
9 years ago
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Ricky420
Posts: 162 - Karma: 615
saskskierSkiing + mountain biking + road biking + photography + coffee/espresso

I need to stop picking the most expensive hobbies. On the bright side, I've found super good deals on pretty much all my stuff.


This is the story of my life sadly. only good thing is I work at a shop and get a discount, but I geuss I also buy more stuff because of it
9 years ago
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Mingg
Posts: 14053 - Karma: 51,036
ajeefreyThis drives me crazy. you see kids on the mountain wearing full saga swag suits which cost a fortune, kids who would probably refuse to ski if they didn't have it. basically, kids are so damn spoiled and unappreciative


Saga is pretty average in terms of price. Pants are 200ish and jackets are 200-250. I can think of a lot of brands that are way more expensive.
9 years ago
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mike759
Posts: 887 - Karma: 1,990
MinggSaga is pretty average in terms of price. Pants are 200ish and jackets are 200-250. I can think of a lot of brands that are way more expensive.


I buy during sales I havent spent more than $100 on jacket or pants
9 years ago
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cannonballer
Posts: 168 - Karma: 592
There is no doubt that skiing is an expensive sport. But your shopping list is absurd.

You could spend $1k+ on the gear you list, or you could spend less than a third of that and have $$ left over for ski items that matter like gas, food, beer, and lodging.

Seriously, specifically to your list:
Googles: You can get a decent pair for $40. You can get Smith I/O with a handful of lenses for under $100.

Skis: you can pick up Line Chronics new for
9 years ago
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,587
skiitsbetteryou could cut that $1000 in half if you didn't treat skiing like a fashion show.


Or you could cut that budget into a fraction of that by finding deals Since skiing is absolutely a fucking fashion show.

Yea park skis are pretty cheap if you dont care that much about what you are getting (brand/model) so just snag some new skis from the BST forums on here or go to spring sales.

Not sure if you are Talking CAD, but you can definitely get some sick goggles for mad cheap if you dont buy straight from the company website since thatz the only place I see prices like that. I got $200 dragons for 60 new that are still in decent shape.

I think pants are the most important outerwear investment you can make, but I shred the fuck out of ski pants so I never spend over 80 on a pair (lasts a little over a season usually). I dont have a lot of luck finding ski pants that are on sale, but Im not too picky with them either. IF you want something nice thats on sale I bet others can direct you.
9 years ago
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mike759
Posts: 887 - Karma: 1,990

You get good brands for dirt cheap
9 years ago
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Wutever
Posts: 279 - Karma: 262
I personally try to figure out what I need and what I already have that can still be used. I definitely need a new helmet and that's more important than new socks or another sweatshirt. I bought a new jacket because all I have is a tighter shell that can't fit a sweatshirt under without being constrictive and the one I found was on sale (I'm glad I got it, Tahoe got NUKED and I'd be cold). I bought new boots because I needed an overall softer boot for my recovery season and those were on Black Friday sale so I believe they were $250 + shipping.
Then it was my birthday in December and my mom was nice enough to get me new skis. Well she had me pick them out and she paid since she didn't know what to get so I know the price came out to about $670 with the skis, bindings, mounting and tax.

If I were you, I'd try my best to look for online shops based in Canada, subscribe to the mailing lists of trusted, websites with brands you like and you'll probably be notified of sales. That way there is a better chance that the shipping won't be outrageous. Just my guess but maybe a Canadian based site would be less likely to charge as much as international fees if it was shipping within the country. It also just generally helps if you can find places like Evo Gear that have an outlet section with previous season's gear or frequent sales.

This will sound stupid, but my mom always told me with shopping, ask yourself a few questions:
- Do I really "need" it or do I just "want" it?
- Do I truly enjoy/love this item? (if you don't love it, don't settle for it)
- Is this something I can wait for a sale, or can I find something better for the same/less?
9 years ago
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freshiesbrah
Posts: 59 - Karma: 0
Jesus Christ what country are you in? I'm in Aus and it's no where near that bad. Try actually shopping around. In US$, this is what I picked up a few months ago:

Saga Fatigue jacket AND pants: $210 (55% off in pre-order sale)
Oakley Flight Deck Prizm goggles: $125
Smith Maze helmet: $90
Line Blends: $365
Look Pivot 14s: $175
DIY mount: free af

That's under $1k USD to pretty much have a full gear refresh for the season. Boots, thermals, etc. are easily used year to year.
9 years ago
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AveragePete
Posts: 249 - Karma: 537
freshiesbrahJesus Christ what country are you in? I'm in Aus and it's no where near that bad. Try actually shopping around. In US$, this is what I picked up a few months ago:

Saga Fatigue jacket AND pants: $210 (55% off in pre-order sale)
Oakley Flight Deck Prizm goggles: $125
Smith Maze helmet: $90
Line Blends: $365
Look Pivot 14s: $175
DIY mount: free af

That's under $1k USD to pretty much have a full gear refresh for the season. Boots, thermals, etc. are easily used year to year.


How the fuck did you get look pivots for 175 I paid fucking double that
9 years ago
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,587
pdeemoHow the fuck did you get look pivots for 175 I paid fucking double that


I got FKs 180s for 200 new

you just gotta find the deals
9 years ago
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freshiesbrah
Posts: 59 - Karma: 0
pdeemoHow the fuck did you get look pivots for 175 I paid fucking double that


Pivot:
http://www.corbetts.com/searchresults.html?Search=&search_query=pivot

FKS:
http://www.corbetts.com/searchresults.html?Search=&search_query=fks

$CAD my friend.

I bought my first pair of FKS120s for $180CAD ($135USD!) on Corbetts ages ago and the best deal going at the time I bought my Pivot 14s was $175USD on Backcountry.com
9 years ago
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AveragePete
Posts: 249 - Karma: 537
freshiesbrahPivot:
http://www.corbetts.com/searchresults.html?Search=&search_query=pivot

FKS:
http://www.corbetts.com/searchresults.html?Search=&search_query=fks

$CAD my friend.

I bought my first pair of FKS120s for $180CAD ($135USD!) on Corbetts ages ago and the best deal going at the time I bought my Pivot 14s was $175USD on Backcountry.com


Fuck my life omg
9 years ago
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-Colton
Posts: 272 - Karma: 2,525
As someone who works at Corbetts ski shop... those prices are actually not that bad. Obviously there is many ways to cut costs and we dont make it highly aparent due to that we obviously want your money (business strategy) but we do offer crazy deals on things and you just need to find those killer deals. You can drop 1000 on a twin tip and a simple binding.. not including those other items. the point that everyone is saying is that skiing can be cheaper if you look around.

Talk to your mom about finding deals, my mother always helps with saving a few extra bucks to put towards apres
9 years ago
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Cade2
Posts: 2124 - Karma: 2,706
You think skiing is bad try drumming. I agree skiing is pretty expensive but more overall expenses on drum equipment is tripple what I payed for skis. I have spent 1200$ in cymbals alone
9 years ago
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.zoidberg
Posts: 147 - Karma: 475
i got basically all my gear on the b/s/t page. 60$ new anomie pants and 40$ electrics. you just need to know where to buy cheap gear and dig a little.
9 years ago
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TheDoughAbides
Posts: 1319 - Karma: 4,038
Caps4saleYou think skiing is bad try drumming. I agree skiing is pretty expensive but more overall expenses on drum equipment is tripple what I payed for skis. I have spent 1200$ in cymbals alone


riding bikes makes skiing seem pretty cheap too.
9 years ago
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-Colton
Posts: 272 - Karma: 2,525
TheDoughAbidesriding bikes makes skiing seem pretty cheap too.


*Insert white mans voice* ... Sailing is up there also... competing in that sport pretty much is non existant unless you have mommy and daddys pockets
9 years ago
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Jesse_
Posts: 1498 - Karma: 3,643
TheDoughAbidesriding bikes makes skiing seem pretty cheap too.


Unless your sponsored biking is fucking expensive lol
9 years ago
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Marcuntus
Posts: 128 - Karma: 252
Hit up the BST thread to save some $$

I bought my last 3 pairs of pants for $80 each and all are still going strong, a pair of like New I/o for 90, a saga shut out for $80, and a full set up for $400.

Yes it is expensive and I buy everything cash but you don't have to buy 2k17 gear every time
9 years ago
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lilgapaboi
Posts: 260 - Karma: 580
heres what you should do:

sunglasses - $5

off brand snow pants cuz who cares what brand they are - $20 max

cool jacket/hoodie, your choice of brand - under $100

skis, there are lots of decent skis for under $500

hat and facemask - under $20

boom you're all set.

Your welcome
9 years ago
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Jesse.White
Posts: 450 - Karma: 754
Become an industry professional (ski patrol, ski instructor, ETC). You'll get wicked deals through pro forums. Being a ski instructor I haven't paid anything near retail in the last 5 years. You'll be looking at 50-70% off most ski brands.
9 years ago
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fries
Posts: 2979 - Karma: 7,528
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/8/Sell-and-Trade


nobody on this entire website would willingly pay that much for any one of those.

Get off brand goggles on amazon if you really have to, or just... dont buy overpriced oakley goggles.
i recently got the 'smith squad' new for 80$ and they're pretty nice. Just treat your goggles good and you wont have to replace them

For pants just get yoke collection or buy some second hand. I have always bought new ones and they have never been above 300.

as far as skis go, they should last multiple seasons. if you are going to spend as much as you listed then you should go for something really durable that will take a beating (ON3P skis). For bindings i use Look pivots just because they're durable and they work good for me. they are about 200$ retail.



Getting into skiing is stressful but the most money you will ever spend at once is buying your first setup. After that it's just replacing things when they get worn out, usually buying them on sale or used. just know where to look.
9 years ago
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