Just booked my first trip out west for skiing..going to steamboat...my question is, should I bring my skis/boots or rent out there?

How will you travel?

good question.....we will be flying into Hayden.

Assuming you are traveling by air. . . Do you already own a good ski bag and boot bag? Have you looked at the cost of rental packages on the Steamboat website?

I prefer my own gear and always take it. But if you are looking to upgrade, or have other reasons to want to demo new gear, then you might do well to rent.

I always rent skis and boots. I find it makes travelling a lot less complicated and easier. Have not been to Steamboat but have found other resorts to have good equipment for rent. Also if you've never skied in (real) powder you may want to rent wider skis.

I did check out renting at steamboat. I thought I might take my boots as long as I can carry on the plane and rent skis/poles..I like my boots. Would I be better off just renting it all out there? Also, since it will be the first time skiing in powder, is it best to take a lesson? I am a good solid intermediate skier.

I would definitely recommend bringing your own boots if they are comfortable. I would also take the opportunity to demo powder skis while you are out in Steamboat. They are way more fun to ski on than regular parabolics. You just sit right on top of the powder.

thanks all for the help. I will definitely rent skis and probably bring my own boots. can't wait to go!!!

If your boots are all broken in the way you like them, then definitely bring them. I made the mistake of not wanting to schlep my own boots to Montana, so I went with the rental boots. Mine have been modified the way I like them and the rental boots did not fit right.

OTOH, my daughter's own snowboard boots were new and not broken in yet. She forgot them one day, so rented some on the mountain, and they were much more comfortable than her own.

lvk mentioned one reason I always bring my own. I've had my boots profesionally fitted and modified, so I wouldn't like rental ones.

I have a nice boot bag that holds not only the boots but most of my ski clothes, plus goggles, etc., all packed around the boots. So it's no trouble to take them along.

As for skis, DH and I share a ski bag, and thr rest of the stuff goes in there to pad the skis. So between the 2 of us, we have 2 boot bags and one ski bag. (Although now that we have bought helmets, we'll have to re-think if we fly to Utah again).

Nora, do you check boot bag or carry on?

Check it. It is too big (in the width dimension) to fit the carry-on requirements when packed.

thanks for your help.

The critical item for me is boot fit so I always take my boots with me. Renting skis with your boots is easy. There is powder skiing and there is powder. I doubt if you will do any powder skiing. What a lot of folks refer to as powder skiing is really a few inches of new snow on a packed base. You are still skiing on the packed base. When it gets chewed up we call it crud skiing. You will need a lessons if interested in true powder skiing. And powder skis are useful but not as good for the packed powder slopes. I would go for a good cruising ski with a medium to narrow width for most of your skiing.

fmp - come on down here; we have lots of powder in Telluride and Durango. We can have a GTG
Deb

Hey..
Friend has a condo in Telluride at the lift and we are thinking maybe catching a couple of days of skiing..Debi, are you close?

Take your own boots dd..I always like to get those performance tricked out ski's..
Have fun..
Nothing like skiing in Colorado!

I live 70 miles from Telluride and DH skis there frequently.

Can you say GTG, TT?

Do let me know if you come out. Email me directly if you'd like.

Deb

OMG Deb..
If we go, I will let you know..
It would be a blast to meet you!

dd - I'm a little late to this, but would also recommend just renting. We were at Steamboat last year and most places have available some very good equipment to rent. We were there with DD's boyfriend's family who have a condo and they go every year - even they rent some equipment. They recommended a place downtown. Sorry can't remember the name but it's on the corner of Hwy 40 (main street going through town) and 4th or 6th street across from the courthouse. They were very helpful and reasonable.

To answer your other question - if you're solid intermmediate, don't think you'll need lessons for the powder (which is incredible).