《Make A Mindful Investment In Your Ski Gear》

Most people hesitate to learn how to ski because of the initial monetary investment that it requires, and that is totally reasonable. The expenditure for the trip and the cost for the lessons do amount to a significant sum. In addition to that, there is the cost for all the gear you will need. There are ways to mitigate that.

There are three ways you can deal with the cost of all the new gear you will need: 

The principle for buying skiwear is shifting your mindset away from the fast fashion mentality that most of us succumb to. Skiwear is expensive but (hopefully) of very high quality. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will destroy these clothes in the short period of time most of us spend on the mountains each year. Also, skiwear design does not change that much over the years. So, this is indeed a justifiable investment because the ski gear you buy today will be coming with you to many mountain adventures over the years to come. 

In our current world of fast fashion where we wear something a couple of times and then throw it away, isn’t this a refreshing idea? Owning items that are bound to remind you of many happy moments created over the course of many years?

All these ideas of mindful but very costly purchases are wonderful. However, spending all that money in expensive gear is not an option for you. Especially since you are a beginner and do not even know whether you will like skiing or whether you are likely to keep going on ski holidays to eventually justify the initial expense. Fair enough. Luckily, skiing is not that much of an exclusive sport anymore. Nowadays, along with cheap flights and an increase in accommodation options, affordable skiwear is also available. 

The majority of beginners rent their helmet, boots, skis and ski poles so the original expenditure is a bit more manageable. After your first ski trip and if you are absolutely thrilled with the sport (which you will be), consider buying your own ski boots and helmet; this will save you precious time in the resort and, eventually, money. Regarding skis, given the luggage fares that most airlines impose, buying your own skis is indeed a luxury, a nice thing to have but quite unnecessary.

In any case, there is a bit of a learning curve into technical gear and weather resistant clothing, especially if these are your first purchases of outdoor gear intended for cold weather. So, allow yourself enough time to do some research and browse the shops before committing. If you are skiing in the northern hemisphere, Black Friday sales might be a good time for getting ready; just in time for the first heavy snowfalls.