How Ski Rental Has Changed Over the Years and What You Should Expect Today • The Liftie Report

Since the first ski resorts opened in the 1930s, things have dramatically changed in the way humans interact with the mountains. Lifts have evolved and now provide faster, safer rides. Nearly all resorts allow snowboarding in addition to skiing, and virtual towns have popped up at the bases of many ski areas. All that’s to say nothing of the way equipment has developed.

Lightyears beyond wooden skis with telemark bindings, 21st-century skis and boards are lighter and more technical than ever, allowing riders to tear up the slopes as never before. The increase in capability extends to the world of ski rentals, too. Gone are the days when you had to wait in line for a mediocre, beater set up that never seemed to fit just right. These days, you can rent from places like Epic Mountain Rentals and find high-end equipment that fits and unparalleled service, which together result in a better overall skiing experience.

Here’s what you can expect from your next ski rental.

Equipment that Fits

D4MY6hZbdIo0i1Mabkd2V — Well-fitting ski boots that feel good all day can mean the difference between an epic day on the slopes and a day sitting in the lodge nursing cold, sore toes.
© Vail Resorts

You never want to have to cut your day on the slopes short because your equipment is uncomfortable. While ski and snowboard boots have always come in a range of sizes, the uptick in snowsports popularity has also increased the style options. Now, instead of just getting a size 8, you can get a size 8 that is styled based on your ability level and needs. The aggressiveness of your binding setting will also be managed with your goals in mind. This means you will be put on a set-up that’s perfect for you.

If for some reason you take a couple of runs and find that something isn’t working or that conditions have changed throughout the day, Epic Mountain Rentals will let you trade out your set-up for a different one that feels better to you.

<<Get your gear as early as 3 PM the day before you ski, so you’re ready to hit the slopes first thing in the morning.>>

The Best Gear on the Market

If you skied on rented gear as a kid, you likely saw battered, outdated equipment that was at least a few seasons old (and had likely seen better days). That’s no longer the case. With Epic Mountain Rentals, you’ll find that you can try out top-of-the-line equipment. Many locations offer the hottest skis, snowboards, and boots on the market so that you can demo the newest trends on the mountain. Epic Mountain Rentals is committed to keeping gear in fantastic shape, which means you won’t be given skis that are desperately in need of a wax or tune—on the flip side, they’ll be ready to rip.

White-Glove Service

Epic Mountain Rentals offers warm, helpful customer service from the moment you book your rentals online to the first time you set foot in the shop and all the way through to when you drop your skis off at the end of your trip. Knowledgeable customer service representatives and ski techs with decades of experience want you to have the time of your life on your ski vacation, and they’re willing to do what it takes. Whether it’s taking the time to make sure your boots fit properly or dropping gear off at your room or answering any questions you may have—even if it’s to help you figure out where to grab the best burger for lunch—they are ready to help.

<<Use these 13 tip to take your skiing and snowboarding to the next level.>>

Unparalleled Convenience

Back in the day, renting gear meant leaving extra time on either end of your trip to the mountain. You’d have to drive over to the nearest location, which could be miles out of the way, wait in line once you got there, and leave yourself enough time at the end of your ski day to get back to the shop before it closed. Epic Mountain Rentals has locations at resorts all across North America, which means you’ll spend far less time waiting. If you’re staying at or near the resort you’re skiing at, you can even have your equipment delivered directly to your lodging at no extra charge. Many sites also offer night storage for skiers, so you can simply drop your skis off at the end of the day rather than lugging them around with you.

More Skiing

For many years, the biggest downside to renting gear was that you’d have to spend so much time wrangling logistics that you’d lose out on ski time. Epic Mountain Rentals has eliminated that problem. Now, with convenient locations and delivery options, you’ll breeze through your pickup and dropoff. No more calculating how long it’ll take you to get from the summit to the base and whether you can make it back to town in time to get those skis back. Instead, you can spend your energy figuring out which run you’ll take next. At the end of a day on the slopes, you can exchange your equipment for your street shoes and head back to get a great night’s rest, and get ready to do it all again the next day.

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Written by Emma Walker for Matcha in partnership with Epic Mountain Rentals.