To rent or not to rent skis is the question. They both have their advantages and disadvantages on your ski trip out to Jackson Hole. Some people don’t want the hassle of getting their gear from home to the hill as well as paying the airlines in extra baggage fees to do so, while others couldn’t possibly imagine leaving their gear behind. There is no right or wrong answer or clear-cut rule here; rather you need to assess your current gear and your desire to try out something new.
Lets face it ski and snowboard gear is pretty much like buying a computer these days. Yeah you need it and most likely can’t live without it, but as soon as you purchase it they are out of date, as next year’s new tech rolls out the following winter. You are going to need something though to get down the mountain on your dream vacation to Jackson Hole, so the first question is how do you feel about your current setup? Is it the board or skis of your dreams and handles everything the mountain and Mother Nature can throw at you? Or is out of date, beat up, and better suited to high-speed groomers when you want to go off trail and rip up the bottomless pow. If you aren’t in love with your current skis or board it may be your best bet to save money on the baggage fees and rent or demo when you get to Jackson.
Renting gear on vacation allows you to test out a variety of the latest styles without committing to buying and potentially being disappointed. Also, when you rent at the resort you’re riding, you can pick out a pair of skis or board that is best suited to the resort and it’s current conditions. Lets face it; with the cost of airline baggage fees you probably won’t be packing your quiver. Renting gives you some flexibility because snowfall and snow conditions can be a hard thing to predict after all.
Delivery Rentals
Jackson Hole is a big ski town with a ton of ski gear, so shop around for the best rental deals for you and your family. Besides the best price, check for the brands they carry that you are interested in testing, as well as convenience in getting fitted, and even swapping out gear if you are not 100% stoked on it.
Door 2 Door
As the name implies, Door 2 Door will drop off your gear to you, as well as pick it up when you’re done. A ski tech conveniently comes out to your accommodations to fit you with boots, select the right size skis or board, set your bindings and stance, as well as selecting the height of your ski poles. If need be get on mountain adjustments made at Wildernest Sports at Teton Village. You can even rent a helmet. Save 20% when you book at least 24 hours in advance. For more info call 307-733-4077 or check them out online at d2dskis.com
JH Mountain Direct
Another great option for ski rental gear delivered straight to your door is JH Mountain Direct. With an enormous selection of gear they also have three ski shops in Teton Village to assist you. In addition to getting fully outfitted in skis, boots, and boards, you can also get your lift tickets delivered with your gear, which is a nice touch. Check them out at jhmountaindirect.com
Ski Butlers
Everyone should have a ski butler. Ski Butlers guarantee a perfect fit or they’ll
even meet you at the mountain to fix it. Get the gear you need and get on the slopes quicker. Save 10% when you book online at least 7 days in advance. Or save 15% when you book at least 6 consecutive days in a row. Learn more at skibutlers.com
Shop Rentals
If you don’t need your gear delivered straight to your door there are plenty of local shops to check out to get the gear you need.
Shops at Teton Village
Teton Village Sports, tetonvillagesports.com, 307-733-2181
Brands: Volkl, Salomon, Rossignol, Blizzard, Dynastar, Nordica, Faction, Black Crowes
Jackson Hole Sports, 307-739-2687
Brands: Rossignol, K2, Atomic, Fischer, Dynastar, Salomon, Burton, Never Summer, Lib Tech, Arbor, Gnu
Pepi Stieglers, pepistieglers.com, 307-733-4505
Shops in town
Hoback Sports, hobacksports.com, 307-733-5335
JD High Country Outfitters, jdhcoutfitters.com, 307-733-4449
Sports Authority, wy.jackson.sportsauthority.com, 307-733-4449
Bring Your Own Gear
If your setup is tried, true, trusted, or new, and you can’t bare the thought of leaving your best ski buddy home alone and at low elevation, then don’t. The airline baggage fees are just the cost of business to bring your favorite gear along on yet another epic adventure. The pros can outweigh the cons in this case, as you are already confident on your current setup and can show up to the mountain ready to rip. What you pay in baggage fees will most likely be cheaper than multiple days of renting. Whatever you do, don’t over analyze it. If you rent or decide to bring your own gear, you’ll be sure to have an amazing time on the slopes of Jackson Hole.
