With decades of experience on the slopes we share some of the ways we’ve saved money on ski wear over the years. You ready? *DJ Khaled voice*
As the founder of Skimigos writing this, it’s only right I give you the context on how these tips have been brought to you. I learned to ski with a Caribbean parent who wanted my brother and I to have great experiences, but also attempted to save where he could. For many years that meant wearing my thick black school tights as thermals. That I wouldn’t recommend, the stickiness and itchiness still haunts me today! However, trying to get on to the slopes as a broke student, and meeting other people in and out the Skimigos community who found inventive ways to save costs, meant I spent very little on ski wear for many years.
These 5 hacks are tried, tested and lived.
Now, they’re yours to take and adapt for your needs.
#1 – Reuse & Repurpose
You can use your sportswear as base and mid layers for skiing and snowboarding.
Base layers and mid layers don’t need to be exclusively for winter sports. At times, products labeled for skiing are sold at a premium, whereas the same item marketed for a different sport is notably more affordable.
Sports clothes are typically made from nylon or polyester therefore share the same moisture wicking properties as ski base layers and can be utilised for the same purpose.
Here’s a great example:
Wear Colour Snowboard Base Layer
94% polyester and 6% spandex
Nike Football Top
100% polyester
Girls Primark Gym Shorts
88% polyester and 12% elastane
When checking your sports wear labels you may notice they are made of nylon rather than polyester. Nylon isn’t quite as good at wicking sweat, but is still useable.
Some examples of suitable base and mid layers you may already have at home:
Gym wear
Football base layers
Cycling tops and leggings
Hiking base layers
Running top and leggings
!!! We do not recommend any clothing that is made from cotton as it absorbs sweat and the damp will make you cold.
Given this, hoodies, jumpers, fleeces and knitwear made from cotton is a no, no, as your mid layer is the key to keeping you insulated.
Most of you will already have sportswear in your wardrobes so this can be an instant money saver.
Go take a look see what’s in your wardrobe, any questions drop them in the comment section down below!
#2 – Get The Best Deal
Buy in the sales so you don’t have to compromise on the quality of your goggles.
Your eye sight is important.
Most ski goggles will block UVA and UVB rays, however depth perception is equally as important. Being able to see the change in terrain in the snow particularly on the days when it’s overcast, and there’s not much sun ensures you can perform at your best.
You can buy ski goggles from a reputable brand at a comparable price to a lesser-known one when they’re on sale.
E.g. a Sports Direct goggle might cost £20 and you might find a reputable branded goggle for £30. That £10 extra is the difference between you being able to see very well and you being able to see moderately ok.
What the landscape could look like with not so great goggles vs a more premium pair:
You don’t need to spend £150 on goggles but equally try to avoid buying a low-end model. Try and get the most for your budget because the difference between cheap goggles, and an expensive pair is the tech that goes into the lenses.
Check out this informative video on goggle features and lenses on the market, making it easier for you to shop like pro.
For a quick comprehensive breakdown on what to look for when shopping for goggles, check out our What to Wear article.
#3 – Size Bargains
As a rule of thumb the biggest and the smallest sizes have the best bargains.
Ladies, if you don’t see anything at a price you like in women’s, check men’s, the stuff at the small end of the size scale will be the bits shops reduce to clear.
If you are a very petite, you can even possibly shop in juniors. Snowboard gear in particular is a baggy cut.
#4 – Keep it Simple
If you’re a beginner standard ski fabric technology in your ski wear is enough.
Fancy materials like Goretex you don’t need to worry about, it’s super expensive and more than you’ll ever need for beginner skiing.
Once you’ve confirmed you officially have the ski or snowboarding bug and have some proficiency then you may want to begin investing in your kit.
#5 – Skip Shopping & Rent!
If it’s your first time and you want to ski or snowboard on a budget, or simply want to find out how much you love it before investing in your own ski wear, then you can look at renting for a weeks ski trip for approximately £40 – £50. Easy Peasy!
Watch this space, we will be partnering with a clothing rental company to offer you a cheap no stress option to enjoy your ski or snowboard trip.
That’s a Wrap!
Don’t forget to check out What to Wear and Where to Shop to find out smart ways to shop like a pro and save on ski wear!
If you have a hack we’ve not listed, have a question or want us to do an article on another topic you’re keen to know about, let us know in the comments down below.
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