Renting Skis vs. Flying With Your Own: What Makes Sense for an Aspen Ski Trip?

If you own skis you love, bringing them on an Aspen ski trip can seem like the obvious choice. You know how they ski, your bindings are set, and there’s something nice about stepping into familiar gear on your first morning.

But flying with skis is also a commitment. And depending on the trip, renting skis in Aspen or Snowmass can make a lot more sense.

So, which way should you go? There really isn’t one right answer. Here’s how we’d think about it.

When Bringing Your Own Skis Makes Sense

If you have a setup you know well and you’re planning to ski most days of your trip, bringing your own gear has some obvious advantages.
 

You already know exactly what you’re getting. There’s no adjustment period, and if your skis are particularly well suited to the way you like to ski, familiarity counts for a lot.

For someone who has spent years getting boots, bindings and skis exactly where they want them, packing the ski bag may be worth it.

And yes, some people just like skiing their own skis. We get that.


When Renting Skis in Aspen Makes More Sense

Renting starts to get interesting when you think about what you’re actually giving up by leaving your skis at home.

For one thing, you don't have to decide weeks ahead of time which skis will make sense when you arrive.

Aspen Snowmass gives you four mountains and a huge range of terrain. Conditions can change over the course of a trip, too. The skis you would have packed based on the forecast a week ago may not be the skis you'd choose standing in the shop that morning.

Renting gives you more flexibility.

It also means your ski bag isn't part of the trip. No getting it to the airport, checking it, collecting it at baggage claim, fitting it into transportation and doing the whole thing again on the way home.

For a short trip especially, leaving that part behind can be pretty appealing.


You Can Ski Something New

This may be the best argument for renting if you already own good skis.

Ski equipment keeps getting better, and renting or demoing gives you a chance to try current equipment without buying it first.

Maybe you've been curious about a different width. Maybe your skis are several seasons old and you want to see what's changed. Or maybe you just want to spend a few days on something different.

At Incline Ski & Board Shop, our staff gets out and skis the equipment, and each year we attend a regional demo to test the following season's gear. We build our fleet with options for beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers, so there's a lot more to choosing a rental than simply finding the right length.

That's also where talking to someone who knows the equipment can be useful. Tell us how you ski, what you normally ski on and what you're looking for, and we can help narrow things down.


What About Your Ski Boots?

This is where a hybrid approach can make a lot of sense.

For many experienced skiers, boots are the most personal piece of equipment they own. If your boots fit well and you know you can comfortably ski in them all day, bringing your boots while renting skis can give you the best of both worlds.

You get your familiar fit without bringing the full setup, and you still have the freedom to choose skis once you're here.


So, Should You Fly With Skis or Rent in Aspen?

If you love your skis, they're right for the trip and you don't mind traveling with them, bring them.

If you'd rather travel without a ski bag, choose equipment when you arrive, or use the trip as an excuse to try something new, renting is a pretty good option.

And if you're somewhere in the middle, bring the boots.