What To Look For
There are many factors to consider when shopping for snow skis, but the first one is your age and gender. Women's skis weigh less and are more flexible than men's skis, and children's skis are designed for certain age groups and weight levels, which make skiing easier. You also have to pay attention to the length of the skis, which are connected to your height. If you're taller, then you need longer skis. Shopping from a store that specializes in snow skis can help as the staff is knowledgeable on fitting skis to shoppers.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest mistake you can make is buying the wrong type. Skis fall into different categories, including recreation, racing, powder, free ride and all mountain. If you buy the wrong type of skis, you're risking danger to yourself and others. For example, you might purchase a pair of powder skis, which are longer and softer than other models, and designed for skiing on soft snow. If you find yourself in packed snow or aren't experienced, you could hurt yourself or someone else by crashing.
Where To Buy
If you're looking for Spyder gear, then shop from the online dealer Ski Pro, which is one of the only authorized retailers of the brand. If you're looking at saving money, then shopping from Play it Again Sports is a good option. This store specializes in used equipment and many are located in mountain towns. You might also want to try Amazon or Buy.com, which let shoppers write reviews and tell others about their experiences.
Cost
There is no set amount you can expect to spend on snow skis because the price changes depending on the manufacturer. The best snow skis can easily cost $500 to $1,000 as of September 2009 such as those from Jan Olsson. Atomic Sweet Mama and Evan Silver skis sell for $300 to $500. If you're looking at used equipment, you can still expect to pay $100 to $300 for a quality pair. You can find cheaper models, but most quality used skis cost at least $100.
Insider Tips
Before you consider buying a pair of snow skis, check the placement of the bindings and stand on the skis. You should feel comfortable in this spot and not feel as if you're leaning or tilting to one side. Bindings are placed on the far front of the skis depending on the maker.
