Ways to Save on Ski Gear for Your Vacation

​The weather is starting to cool down (though being a Texan, it was never really hot!) here in Colorado.  You can see the first signs of snow on the top of Pikes Peak, and some of the ski resorts are starting to report their first snows!  My husband and I are busy trying to figure out when we can venture up into the mountains to see the beautiful fall foliage, and of course we are preparing for ski season.  Ski season in our house, now that we live in Colorado, is almost as important as football season!

As I mentioned earlier, we are Texans!  Moving to Colorado has forced us to purchase a totally different wardrobe than would be necessary in the Lone Star State!  Our most recent purchases have included all the necessary ski gear for my husband and daughter so they can look like pros on the slopes this season!  I must admit, I have had so much fun searching for that perfect little pink ski outfit for my daughter, but I have come to one, not so shocking, conclusion - ski gear is expensive!!!!

​Being local, we are fortunate to have access to some great programs that make skiing much more affordable, but I just keep thinking about the families that take annual ski trips!  Buying all those clothes for about one week of use each year just adds to the cost of your family vacation, especially when little (or should I say growing) kids are involved!  I have tried to think of some practical ways that your family could save money on the necessary equipment for you ski vacations.  Here is what I suggest:
 
1.) Shop now! 
 
As I am writing this, it is almost Labor Day, and the stores are busting with sales.  Many places are trying to get rid of those last few items from last season and are doing so by highly discounting them!  My guess is that no one will be able to tell the difference between last year’s black Spyder ski pants and this season’s!  If you can get them at a discount, do it!  Basically, try to avoid buying ski gear in the heart of ski season!
 
2.) Check discount or “unlikely” stores!
 
One discount store my husband always checks before purchasing expensive ski gear (or any cold weather gear for that matter) is backcountry.com.  They offer great brands at a good price.  Last year I was able to find my daughter a ski bib at Target (in Charleston, SC none the less!) for about $25.  Since we were moving here late in the season she only wore it about 4 or 5 times.  It was perfect!  Just this week I was in my local Target and spotted some ski coats for $25!  Here a picture of what they had! 

​I recently saw some ski gear available on Zulily, too!  You could also try places like Play it Again Sports or Once Upon a Child for slightly used but still in good condition gear!
 
Some stores to check for deals that are not discount stores could include Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, or Sierra Trading Post.  We have found good deals at all of these stores and they all have an online store!
 
3.) Buy gear that can grow with your kids!
 
So before moving here, I had no idea that this concept existed!  I have seen several top brands that offer children’s ski clothes that can be extended to give your child extra wear from them!  Basically, certain brands offer ski jackets and bibs that can extend their sleeves and pants by as much as 2 inches in some cases.  We just bought my daughter an Obermeyer set I am hoping she can use for two seasons!  We got it on sale as it was one from last season so getting two seasons out of it would make it so cost effective!  Some of the other brands that I have found that offer this type of “grow with you” feature include Columbia, Spyder, and L.L. Bean.  
 
I hope some of these tips help you and your family save some money!  If all this talk of cooler weather and jackets has put you in the mood for a ski vacation contact us at Whitney World Travel, and we would love to help you plan a hassle free vacation to the mountains!

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About the Author

Morgan Scully, Travel Advisor
Morgan is passionate about all things Disney. From an early age she loved taking in the magic of Disney World, but its when she became a mom and she saw life through her daughter's eyes that she truly understood how amazing a Disney vacation can be for a family. Morgan is well versed in all things Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line. She also serves as Whitney World Travel's Military Vacation Specialist-- helping the brave men and women who serve our country and their families get the most out of their vacations. Morgan is a graduate of Texas A&M University.