Skis

Skis cost anywhere from $400 to $1000. The total price for a ski setup can range from $600 to $1500. If you consider how much you get for your money spending less than $400 on your skis does not make sense. And, at that price point, there is no way of knowing exactly what the quality of your skis will be.

Skis are expensive to make because they require a seam-less marriage of materials (wood, metal, fiberglass). Significant engineering and design know-how are required to produce a ski that works well on the slopes. Because each ski length (175, 180, etc.) also demands its own mold (about $80,000), it takes several months from design to delivery.

The small skis are called “skiboards”. They come all different brands, shapes and sizes, but they are generally between 40 and 90 cm in length and can either be one-size-fits most or fit via releasable bindings.

The general rule is for your skis to measure somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. With expert level skiers often choosing skis slightly above their head.

The average, casual skier typically replaces their skis every 8 years however, your skis peak performance declines after 100-125 full days of use. If you ski 20 days a year, that that's five years.

In short, DIN is a standardized and calibrated rating of how stiff the release of a binding is set to. In other words, it tells you how much forward falling force and twisting force will release you from your bindings. Several factors like weight, height, skiing ability, age, and boot-sole length will come into play when determining your ideal DIN.

While it;s best to get your bindings checked and adjusted by a professional ski technician, there are online DIN calculators to help you get started.