Aspen sits at 8,000 feet at the head of the Roaring Fork Valley that divides the Elk and Sawatch Ranges. Originally established as a mining camp in 1881, it’s now known as a popular ski destination with an average of 150-200 inches of snowfall per year. It also has an extensive après-ski scene that draws in the crowds after a day on the slopes.
Aspen’s four mountains—Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk— feature a wide array of terrain, which means it can be hard to decide what equipment to bring with you. When you rent your gear with Epic Mountain Rentals, you can make sure you have the right skis for whatever it is you’ll be skiing/riding on any given day. Plus, it’s a lot less stressful than packing up your own equipment in your car or prepping it for flight.
Your best bet is to make a reservation online with Epic Mountain Rentals before you go, and the experts in their partner rental shops will help you figure out what gear you’ll need for the conditions. You can choose from different packages for skis and snowboards, depending on what you are looking to do. Helmets and boots are also available to rent if needed.
There are six Aspen Sports shops in and around downtown Aspen and Snowmass Village, where you can rent gear through Epic Mountain Rentals. All of the shops will provide you with expert knowledge as well as the top brands in skiing and snowboarding equipment like Salomon, Burton, Blizzard, Head, Rossignol, K2, Volkl, and others. Depending on which shop you go to, you’ll find a variety of amenities, as well.
Here’s a quick guide on what you can expect at each Aspen Sports Epic Mountain Rentals location.
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Aspen Sports – Cooper Ave
This in-town Aspen Sports shop is conveniently located less than a half-mile from Aspen Mountain and a quick drive to Buttermilk, Snowmass, and Highlands. The shop has everything you need to prepare for a day on the slopes from rental equipment to outerwear. After you pick up your gear, you can store all your stuff at the shop. They have day storage for shoes and boots and overnight storage for skis. Once you are done skiing, you can return your gear to the shop and pop out to one of the many nearby restaurants such as Ryno’s for pub fare.
Aspen Sports — Snowmass Mall
Nestled in the heart of Snowmass Village, Aspen Sports’ Snowmass Mall shop has a prime location near the Village Express High-Speed Six Pack. In addition to the convenient locale, you can also store shoes, boots, and other things for the day while you ski, and pick up any last-minute necessities you may have forgotten like gloves, socks or an extra layer. Other amenities include overnight storage and heated boots. Being in the village, it’s easy to find food and drinks close-by after you drop off your equipment at the end of the day.
Aspen Sports — St. Regis Resort
The St. Regis Resort is in town and is a three-minute walk to Aspen Mountain or a 20-minute or less drive to any of the other three resorts. The shop’s experts will get you set up with top-of-the-line gear to fit your needs for the day. You can take advantage of both day and overnight storage options as well as the option for heated boots. The shop also has a nice selection of outerwear and clothing in case you want to poke around a bit or pick up anything else you need. Being in-town not only makes mountain access easy, but it also makes food and drinks easy to find and nearby once you are finished on the slopes.
Aspen Sports — Grand Hyatt
This Aspen Sports shop resides in the luxurious Grand Hyatt in downtown Aspen. Just steps from the base of Aspen Mountain and a short drive to any of the other three mountains, the shop’s central location makes it easy to hit the slopes. When you rent equipment here, you can store gear for the day to avoid lugging it around the mountain and having to find a safe spot for it when you are skiing. There are overnight storage options as well. If you are staying at the hotel, you can also take advantage of the hotel’s ski valet option. The downtown Aspen location also makes finding a quick bite before hitting the slopes or some apres-ski fun easy and accessible.
Aspen Sports — Demo Center
Sitting slopeside in Snowmass Mall, the Demo Store provides easy in and out and on and off the mountain. The knowledgeable staff will help you figure out what you should use for equipment, and if you’re looking to try before you buy, this is a great spot to do it. They have day storage so you can grab your skis and go without the hassle of finding a spot for your stuff. They also offer overnight ski storage so you don’t have to kug everything back to your room before heading out to enjoy some food.
Aspen Sports — Westin Snowmass
This Aspen Sports is in the Westin Snowmass Resort in the middle of Snowmass Village. This premium location is ski-in/ski-out and sits just steps from the slopes. For rentals, it promises the newest equipment and offers an on-snow valet program—no faster or easier way to get going on the slopes. Like the other Aspen Sports’ rental stores, day storage is available for your shoes and they also offer overnight storage for your skis. In addition, you can get heated boots. Its central location in Snowmass Village means it’s close to the ski school, and there are plenty of food and beverage options nearby.
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Featured image provided by Kevin Chang
