How to Buy Used Skis: 8 Tips to Avoid Mistakes and Save Money
Buying used gear is great for both your wallet and the environment, and a pair of skis generally lasts longer than you might think. Most things can also be repaired – but not everything. Freeride clarifies the key points you should keep in mind when purchasing a pair of used skis.
In this article, we focus on previously owned skis and outline what you need to consider when potentially buying used gear. Once you find a pair of skis that seem interesting, you should check the condition of the bases, edges, topsheet, bindings, and any drill holes. Ideally, you should handle the skis yourself, but if the seller is too far away for that to be practical, you can always request photos and ask detailed questions.
Bases
A few scratches on the base are usually nothing to worry about (unless you’re competing at an elite level, of course), and it’s relatively easy to repair ski bases yourself (see the video at the end). However, if there are significant gouges, check to ensure that the damage hasn’t penetrated through the base and into the ski’s core. There’s a risk that moisture has entered the ski. Moisture inside the core makes skis soggy, and both wood and fiberglass, found in most skis, are sensitive to moisture. If you have the opportunity and know-how, you can flex the ski to see if it still feels lively.
Edges
Dull and scratched edges are also nothing to fret over; they can be sharpened. However, you should definitely avoid skis with cracks or completely broken steel edges. A broken edge might look harmless and you may not notice it at first, but often it ends up with the entire edge coming off, and repairing the damage afterward can be very challenging. The same applies if the edge is completely rounded, which happens over time with excessive rail use, making it hard to save the edges.
Check how much of the steel edge remains, especially if you’re buying race-oriented skis. Alpine enthusiasts have turned edge tuning into an art form, sometimes to the extent that there may not be much edge left to work with after years of intensive sharpening. If the steel edge is significantly worn down, the base is likely also worn thin from excessive tuning.
Topsheet
The topsheet of the ski, which is the upper part, protects the core from moisture but is not nearly as stressed as the base and mainly serves an aesthetic function. Often there are scratches and scuff marks from the steel edges and poles on the topsheet. They might look like nicks along the edges, small holes, or long scratches. Regardless of how worn a ski’s topsheet looks, it’s generally not a concern unless you are overly particular about the ski’s appearance or if, by some chance, there is a deep scratch that could allow moisture to penetrate the core. The principle is the same as for deep scratches in the bases — a strong red warning flag.
However, there are exceptions. If the ski shows signs of delamination, you should reconsider your potential purchase. Delamination is a term that describes when the different layers of a ski start to separate. This usually first appears on the topsheet, which could indicate that other layers are also about to detach. If this occurs, the ski completely loses its responsiveness.
Bindings
Don’t forget about the bindings when buying used skis. Investing in skis without the accompanying bindings can turn into a bad deal since standalone bindings can be quite pricey.
Determining the functionality of bindings can be difficult at first glance. If you choose to buy used bindings, you’ll be taking a risk. However, you can at least check that nothing looks blatantly broken and that you can easily click in and out of the boots without hassle. You should also ensure that the bindings match your weight and the intended use—it’s tough to go backcountry skiing with downhill bindings…
Drill Holes
This is crucial when buying used skis. Check how many times the bindings have been remounted.
Why is this important? A ski with many drill holes can weaken the ski’s durability and performance. Additionally, it can complicate remounting the bindings since existing screw holes might interfere, leading you to have to mount the bindings further forward or back to secure them. Therefore, it’s also worth checking if the current mounting matches your boot size.
How much do used skis cost?
Keep an eye on obvious factors such as the model year and condition. Also, check what a comparable model costs as well as its original retail price.
For long-distance purchases, you will need to agree on who will cover shipping and how it will be done.
Which skis are good to buy used?
All types of skis can be acquired used, but some are more suitable than others, and it can be beneficial to check for different factors depending on the type of ski you wish to purchase.
Off-piste skis tend to appear quite worn. If the skis have been used in their intended environment, they have likely encountered a rock or two while searching for powder. However, off-piste skiing allows for skis to be in fairly poor condition without noticeable impact.
The more piste-oriented the ski becomes, the more critical you should be about its condition. If you plan to ski aggressively on groomed runs (or, even worse, – gates), you’ll likely feel the effects of dull edges and scratched bases.
Park skis are the least suitable for buying used. Park skiing puts extreme wear on the skis, and a pair of park skis barely survives a season if they’re frequently used on large jumps and aggressive rails.
Where can I buy used skis?
At ski resorts and in larger cities, there are often good secondhand shops focused on outdoor or sports gear with fixed pricing and typically already checked conditions.
Another strongly recommended approach is to buy what are called demo skis. These are skis that suppliers lend out for testing during the season, for instance, during ski testing weekends at the start of the season. No skis are maintained with more care than these since suppliers want to provide their potential buyers with the best possible product. Often, these skis have only 10-20 days of skiing on them.
