Anyone have some suggestions as to where to checkout for some used ski setups? Started looking on ebay and backcountryoutlet but wanted to see if there were some better places to pick up some used skis or more importantly if there are places you've been ripped off in the past that I should avoid.

Have always rented on my trips to Whistler since it just made more sense but it looks like this year I will be doing a lot more skiing around here and may not make it out West. I'm not admitting defeat quite yet but it may be a local year for me hence the desire to buy.

My location is generally poor for buying new or used equipment, so online sources or visits to Gart while out west are my best options. With three kids, I have to be resourceful.

As with cars, I generally prefer to buy from individual owners rather than dealers. The only mildly sour experience was a pair of entry level boots that, while not rentals, were in less good shape than advertised. Later, from an individual, I got a pair of Nordica's in much better than advertised condition, so it can go either way.

I did buy two pair of excellent condition K2 Escape mid-level skis from Galactic snow sports (ebay and online) but that could have been luck. That's an example of a dealer that does not handle higher-end gear.

I don't see many high end mid-fats or fatties on ebay - those go on tgr and epic, and sometimes the classifieds on dcski or even skinc.

I find that higher-end used equipment is more often found through individuals. However, there are a lot of dealers that sell 2 to 3 year old *new* equipment at greatly reduced prices, see evogear.com or untracked.com for instance though I have not needed to try either. Backcountryoutlet has a good rep and sometimes a good deal.

The most important thing is be patient, a satisfactory item will eventually appear.

Thanks very much. I've had good luck with backcountryoutlet in the past for smaller stuff but never bought skis through them. I figure I have at least 6 more weeks to go before I need skis so I'm in no hurry. ebay seems to have a lot of decent gear in the $250 price range including stuff that looks like what I've used as demos in the past couple years (K2 Apache being one).

For that budget, you might be able to buy new-in-wrapper 2006 skis .

What are you looking for? Powder, mid-fat, carver? Any brands in mind? Did you check local swaps? Epic, TGR? For that price you should be able to find something.

You should just go to the Ski swaps. The one in dc at the Ski center is fantastic!!!

Yes, I notice he didn't specify which Apache. Somehow I assumed it was going to be Crossfire or Recon, not Stryker.

Try Extreme All Sport (28 & 50 in Chantilly VA) for previously used and last model year new stuff. I have purchased several used boots, skis, and my board. I have googled everything I bought there and the prices are competitive and you get to see the stuff prior to buying. Pete is a hoot to talk to also.

http://www.extremeallsport.com/

Call before you go. Sometimes the hours are erratic.

That's that guy near the old Ski Chalet warehouse location.

I remember there was a semi-decent gyro shop near there too?

IMO the stealth ebay value ticket is Nordica at the moment. Used to be Head and Blizzard, not anymore.

Thanks for the AllSport recommendation - I work in Chantilly and it is only a few minutes from my office so very easy to check out for me.

I haven't checked out local swaps yet but I was very disappointed in last years ski expo swap so I am not holding out hope at least for that one.

Really? There were some really good deals, IMO, though you did have to scrounge for them.

IIRC, there were exactly two things there at a stupid price (i.e. someone fell on their head whilst pricing them). I can find at least one of those at most swaps except for the very smallest ones.

What do you think of these K2s?

http://galacticsnowsports.com/k2-omni-45.html

They aren't the ones that I demoed but the price is right. FWIW I tend to beat up my skis pretty bad doing early/late season skiing. So this year I'm leaning towards adding a few sets of skis to my arsenal rather than one top end pair. I ski 95% blue runs with an occasional black thrown in depending on the day and terrain. Price is not really an object but I'm not against a bargain priced deal either.

They are used, and for $99 a nice starter set. Bindings only go to 10 though. How big are you?

I know it is a couple of extra bucks, but this a decent deal:

http://galacticsnowsports.com/j8-nordicahotrod170cm-1236.html

Boots are only 9's, so no problems there...

I'd vote for the K2 - better condition and more importantly 1/3 the price. And the tryolia bindings are idiot-proof. Actually, that is not too bad. I should (not) check that site more often.

ps: i think that shop might be in harrisonburg.

Youre right, it is. Only a couple hours away maybe its worth getting these in person. Although the $18 I save on shipping will probably cost me $50 in gas.

It's a pretty darn basic ski (compare to current Com 3) and the tyrolias are very light-duty. Read: nowhere as durable as the ones higher up the line.

He may not be able to get better price, but I really think he could get better value.

For example, at the last swap there were some Head C-series for $75 with LD12 Railflex on them.

Advantage: Head for better ice hold, no remount drilling ever, +/- 15 mm binding position, metal binding casing, Railflex under boot flex.

dcmidnight, do you just want skis to show up on the lifts with? That can be gotten very cheap. What else do you want in a ski?

Those Tyrolias are the rentals (SP, not SL) - no redrilling and fairly heavy duty. However, that Head/Railflex deal is better. Definately, if you have access to another swap, check it out. There should be one at wintergreen later this fall - not sure what turns up there.

Last week, I bought a pair of lightly used fischer rx9 with railflex for my son for $102 + shipping, not bad. If you are patient you will find the good deals.

the only think i like better than finding cheap deals on good skis is actually skiing :-))

I had a chance to try out some of the top line K2s last year in Whistler thanks to a local friend and frankly I could not tell the difference in performance between that and the Apache rentals I had. At my level, I would not know or care of the differences between a $1200 brand new ski and a $200 used ski from two seasons ago. Look for a lot of people here I realize that is not the case. But for the last few years I have used K2s on most of my trips so I have some level of brand loyalty built in based on my positive experiences.

If I can find a pair of skis to start of the year with for $100 thats even better. However I realize that yes once I get to $300 the skis are better and then at $400 they are better still - I could play that game right up until I was buying a brand new $1000 setup. Believe me though, its not like I wouldnt want to spend the money or wont spend the money. I spent the money last season on good boots from a good bootfitter (Ski Center) and those made the biggest difference in my enjoyment of the season so my goal for the beginning of this season is to find a good pair of cheap skis to start the year with.

Yea, but a 10 DIN binding? You still haven't given me your height and weight! If your a bigger boy, what are going to do set them at 9.5?

Come on guys, that's a weak binding (junior or women's, or if you're 5'6 155 lbs.

5'11, 175, type II. Last two years out West my bindings were at an 8 and I had no problem.

If it were me I'd go with a beefier binding.

Northcheels has a great pair of Solly's over on Epic for $175:

http://forums.epicski.com/showthread.php?t=60012

You may even be able to talk him down, and if i was going to go with a binding this is the one I would use:

For $75 more bucks? Come on! This is a much better ski.

Thanks ullr. I think you misunderstood me, I wasn't holding to that price it was just the price of that pair. The whole point of my thread was to find reputable places online to shop for cheap gear and it seems to be working. The 175s are a little longer than I prefer but other than that they do look nice. Thanks!

Okeydoke, this is getting productive.

5 11 175 type II

do you expect to take lessons this season?

No lessons most likely. Every year I've gone out West (7 years to Whistler) I've always done a one day private lesson but its doubtful if I stick to local days/half days this year that I will do any lessons and thats a time consideration more than anything.

Okeydoke. FYI, at present I'd probably look at things like

150172098262
260171291866
180169120709
deleted by request
220160260137
160168503070

And that's with just a quick cruise through the sub-$100 listings. You'll notice the bias towards local skiing (yes, even the Snoops come the late-Feb, early March slush).

Most of those would probably sustain further skill development ambitions, for this year at least.

Stay away from the Snoops!!! Those ski's suck and no one should bid on them!!!!!!!













Lookin at em for Mrs. Ullr

hmmm. those deals all have several days left, some will go way up - like the sx9 I'd bet, and likely in the last 3 hours.

Hey, this is a lot more fun than work! Thanks for the thread.

150172098262 -- 5 days - probably good condition
260171291866 -- 5 days - interesting
180169120709 -- 3 days = bindings not adjustable
deleted by request -- cheater!
220160260137 -- 4 days - nice skis, watch these
160168503070 -- 4 days - stiff

Hey guys thanks so much! I know pretty much exactly what will happen. I will find and buy a pair in the next couple weeks then once I get to the ski expo I will find another pair there.

Not a biggie; I think that ski could actually be a really good test for the piston technology around here, particularly when night skiing frozen coral after a day's melting.

The binding weight would be a bigger issue if he is one to care; he demoed K2s; I suspect those had Markers also; therefore he is not one to mind the binding heft, particularly on a light ski.

And

... where're your numbers?

The K2 was a ski I used to own about 5 years ago and is basically for low intermediates to learn on (one step up from a rental ski) and isn't something that you will want to be on for even just general cruising. You sound like a pretty soliid intermediate so I would stay away from that one.

I demoed that nordica modified ski and its a really solid ski for an intermediate to advanced skier for around the DC area. 170 is a good length too. I would beware of the 3.5 quality though.

I have bought used stuff online before. In general you can get good stuff as long as you are careful and its not too beat up. But for 2-3 year old skis new is usually worth the $50-100 more you will pay.

3.5 for the base, not the whole ski. From reading about their rating system, it sounds like a good tune will fix it. New ski's could get knocked down to a 3.5 after a good day in the trees or a day of thin cover.

I too don't like buying anything on-line (except from Mags)!

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. I ended up getting a mint condition pair of Rossignol Z9 TIs at the Ski Center ski swap today. They were very reasonable ($300) and the Rossignol rep onsite said they were a steal for the condition - I know, of course he would say that. Also went inside to check them out brand new and they were highly recommended by the guy that sold my wife and I boots last year.

Sounds good and you're ready to go. Now, you owe us alot of beer of course. Not that we helped or anything, just that we are here when you need us Jan 26 in the timbers pub, see you there.