We all know that you can get some pretty smoking deals at swaps and expos in the area, but is it really all that great of a deal?  One of the common things that we see all too often following these events are people coming in with equipment that is missing parts or that is simply not quite right for what they are trying to do with it.

If you go in knowing exactly what you need and the type of equipment that will suit your needs, then great!  There are certainly some deals to be had.  However, if you are out just to find something inexpensive, one of the most important pieces of advice we have to offer is, “the wrong ski/boot at the right price, will still be the wrong piece of equipment.”

Skis are a little bit easier but more often than not, the equipment brought to these events are things that the retailers are looking to move quickly so that they can make room for new stuff.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that at all, we all do it and it means there can be some great sales for you.  However, sometimes that equipment will not suit your purposes very well.  If you are looking for a high end front side carving ski but there is a really great deal on a soft, flexible twin tip, it won’t work too well for what you want.  Yes, it will get you down the mountain in one piece but it will not perform anywhere near what you expect of it.

Boots are one of the most important things to really watch out for.  The wrong boot can be the difference of spending your entire day on the mountain from getting first tracks to last chair.  If your boots don’t fit right or are too stiff or too soft for you, you simply will not be having all that great of a day.  We typically can get a very good idea of when these events take place because the days following, we see somewhere between 50-100 people coming in with equipment and more often than not, there is a problem with it in some way, shape or form.

Ultimately, you can find some fantastic deals at these shows.  But go in knowing what you are looking for.  Understand how a boot should truly fit and what type of boots, skis, or snowboards are best for your level of ability.  It’s not impossible to find some deals, but its buyer beware.  Shopping with us comes with a lot of great perks as well.  Free mounting, guaranteed boot fit, performance guarantee on skis, and a GUARANTEED WINTER!  Now THAT, is truly a great deal!