With nearly 120 trails and 485 skiable acres, Stowe Mountain Resort has been dubbed the “Ski Capital of the East.” The resort sits at the base of the 4,395-foot Mount Mansfield—the highest peak in Vermont—and boasts a variety of terrain that’s suited to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and skill levels. About 16% of the terrain is ideal for beginners, while 55% suits intermediate skiers and riders, and 29 percent is for experts. Stowe makes that terrain accessible with more mile-long lifts than any other resort in the eastern United States.
Compared to large resorts in other parts of the country, Stowe has a more chill vibe, probably because it’s a classic New England town. But the town isn’t lacking in entertainment. When it’s time to peel off your snow gear and head into town, you’ll find that Stowe has a variety of places to get beers and tasty food. Classic joints like The Matterhorn (which dates to the 1950s) serve up pints, pizzas, and other pub food in a lively atmosphere. At trendy spots like Doc Ponds, you can sample a wide selection of craft beer and listen to tunes played on vinyl. Pizza lovers should make their way to Piecasso, where the atmosphere is bright and modern, and the menu includes 45 types of pies.
From the entertainment scene in town to the slopes of Mount Mansfield, Stowe has everything skiers and snowboarders desire. That includes convenient options for renting gear. Many of the rental locations are conveniently located near the mountain. Plus, most rental shops partner with Epic Mountain Rentals to offer equipment from the best brands, as well as amenities that ensure hassle-free days on the hill. Also, Epic Mountain Rentals will outfit you with a collection of gear that matches your ability level, and shop experts will ensure your boots and bindings are adjusted correctly and fit well.
To help you plan the perfect trip to Stowe, here’s a rundown of rental locations and amenities that each place offers.
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Front Four Rental & Repair
Mansfield Lodge is known for its down-home charm and styles itself as a classic New England ski lodge. Naturally, the slopeside lodge offers ski and snowboard rentals to customers of all skills, abilities, and interests.
In addition to an extensive selection of high-quality gear, Front Four Rental & Repair also offers several perks when you reserve gear through Epic Mountain Rentals.
If you’re staying at Mansfield Lodge and you visit the Front Four shop to rent equipment, you can drop off your skis at the end of the day and the shop will store them overnight. Another advantage of this location is that it sells accessories and apparel, so you can quickly pick up any essential items that didn’t make it into your travel bags.
Front Four Demo Center
If you’ve considered buying new skis or a snowboard, but you haven’t decided what to get, Front Four Demo Center is an ideal place to pick up rental gear. This shop offers the latest skis and snowboards, so you can test different models before investing in something new. You can choose from a wide range of demo skis and snowboards for all ability levels and interests, including all-mountain, women’s-specific, and powder skis.
Another advantage of Front Four is that it’s close to the action. Located on the southern slopes of Stowe Mountain Resort, the shop sits as the base of three lifts, so you’ll be on the slopes in no time. The demo center also offers free overnight ski storage and sells a variety of ski and snowboard gear and accessories.
With Epic Mountain Rentals, you’ll spend less time gearing up and more time exploring the mountain.TrueNorth at the Lodge at Spruce Peak
Nestled at the base of Spruce Peak and across the street from Mount Mansfield, the Lodge at Spruce Peak is the only luxury lodging in New England that offers ski-in, ski-out access. In addition to its prime location, the resort also offers a variety of amenities for skiing guests. Not only will the front of the house staff assist with loading and unloading equipment upon arrival and departure, but they offer valet and day and overnight storage for guests as well.
If you need to rent gear, TrueNorth at the Lodge at Spruce Peak offers all of the Epic Mountain Rentals rental packages, though their focus is mostly on advanced skiers and riders looking for high-quality rentals or demos. Their demo fleet offers brands like Nordica, Salomon, Blizzard, and Volkl. If you are staying at the lodge you can swap out your demo gear as often as you’d like at either of the Epic Mountain Rentals demo centers in the area, Spruce Rentals or the Front Four Demo Center. If your “try before you buy” is a big success, you can credit up to two days of demo charges towards a new purchase at Front Four Sports in the Mount Mansfield base lodge.
If you are not staying at the lodge, but still renting your gear through TrueNorth, you can take advantage of day and overnight ski storage for any Epic Mountain Rentals equipment rentals.
Spruce Rental Shop
When it comes to renting gear, nothing is more convenient than a slopeside shop. The Spruce Rental Shop sits just below five lifts in the Spruce Camp Lodge, allowing quick access to a wide variety of trails and the ski school. The shop offers Sport, Performance, and Demo rental packages to complement your ability and experience level. If you need to outfit kids, there are also Junior packages for children under 12. With each package, you get equipment from top manufacturers, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality.
If you’re a guest at Spruce Camp Lodge, you can use cubbies in the shop to stash items that you don’t want to carry onto the mountain. Plus, there are free lockers for shoe and boot storage, and the shop will store your rental gear overnight.
Adventure Center Rentals (Children’s Ski School)
When it’s time for your youngsters to learn to ski, make sure they have high-quality rental gear from Adventure Center Rentals’ children’s ski school. Suited for kids three and older, the slopeside school is in the Adventure Center at Spruce Peak and carries boards, skis, helmets, and boots. The rental center also offers on-snow valet services, as well as day and overnight storage for added convenience.
If you enjoyed this article, you should also read:
What to Expect From Your Ski Rental Experience
The Top Five Questions You Should Ask When Renting Your Skis
Featured image provided by © Vail Resorts
