How Old Is Your Ski Stuff

Wow.. quite surprised by some of the comments on Ski's. This will be my 5 winter on them, guess I should be getting some new ones next year. Poles, came with skis. Agree with Jacket & Trousers, good to refresh every couple of years, Salomon boots are 3 seasons old, so comfortable, so wont be changing. Leather Spyder gloves, now 6 years old, one of my best ever investments so wont be changing them either.

LOTA wrote:North Face, Tone? That's the modern equivalent of C&A's Rodeo brand!!

Are you taking the piss?

I keep 6 pairs of skis in Niederau, 5 pairs at home. I dumped 6 pairs into the local recycle centre, a few years back, and one pair are currently in a museum in Colorado. In both locations, some carvers, some old long straights. I choose which ski, depending on conditions, (of the snow and of the knee), and how I feel on a particular day. So this season, I skied 165 Atomic carvers in January and February, and 190 straight Volkls in March. I inherited a pair of 170 Atomic GS9s which is what many instructors were using 4 years back. Not too keen on them, quite heavy.

When we go to other areas, we just make a judgement on hiring or taking our own.

My 28 year old rear entry Raichles finally died in Wengen last year, due to some careless kick off boot removal on my part. They were just about done in anyway, but they had been a good boot for me. I had to hire some multi clip boots from Skiset, to get me through the remaining time. I just didn't like them, trying to force your foot into the boot, and faffing about with 8 or 10 clips.
Fortunately, I found a pair of my son's hand me up rear entry boots in the boot cupboard at home, and they fitted like a glove ~ used for my March trip last year.
Then Swingbeep found me a supplier in Germany, that sold Nordica rear entry boots, so I had 2 pairs posted over, (£360 for 2 pairs) did the adjustments, and they are like slippers. They take 5 seconds to put on and take off. So I will now leave a one pair in Niederau, and just travel with hand baggage, and use the new pair elsewhere.

Jackets are a problem for me. They need to have a large inner pocket, so I can fit a 10 x 7 water colour pad inside. Then, because I treat my jacket like a cupboard, they need to have heaps of other pockets. Important pocket is the left hand sleeve ~ holds the season pass, valley pass, insurance card with phone numbers.

Sallos follow the jacket. Never wear goggles. Have 3 pairs of sticks in Austria and 2 pairs at home. Replace if they break or get too bent.

Tony_H wrote:

LOTA wrote:North Face, Tone? That's the modern equivalent of C&A's Rodeo brand!!

Are you taking the piss?

Hope so :-(

Not really; North Face is not what is once was, I'm afraid.

LOTA wrote:Not really; North Face is not what is once was, I'm afraid.

Can you elaborate?

I'm not snooty about these things and have a North Face shell that's 20 years old and still in excellent nick. At either end of the scale, I also have kit from Decathlon and an old SOS jumper that cost the earth but still looks the business. North Face used to be top notch with credibility. Used to be serious, good quality mountain gear. Now just a high street label - was in one of their shops a couple of weeks ago and the ski gear was tatty, to be honest.

LOTA wrote:I'm not snooty about these things and have a North Face shell that's 20 years old and still in excellent nick. At either end of the scale, I also have kit from Decathlon and an old SOS jumper that cost the earth but still looks the business. North Face used to be top notch with credibility. Used to be serious, good quality mountain gear. Now just a high street label - was in one of their shops a couple of weeks ago and the ski gear was tatty, to be honest.

If i am honest you do come across as snooty.
TNF, in my opinion has always produce great gear. the fact that it is worn on the high street doesn't detract from the quality. I buy their gear and will continue too regardless off how many chelsea farmers wear it.