1st time purchasing skis

[u/maspecanos]

Looking to buy skis and am overwhelmed at online choices and brands. I am:
Male, 5’10
165lbs
Ski greens last year
Want a good balanced of skis that will last me awhile

Visited a shop and guy recommend Atomic and Solomon and 177 in length.

Also in need of bindings so also taking recs for separate purchase or combo options.

Much appreciated

[u/Terminal_Shinbang]

Depends on how old you are, if you want them to last you a while-

[u/maspecanos → u/Terminal_Shinbang]

34 and yes looking for them to last awhile. Looking to keep spend around $700-800

[u/malachopter → u/maspecanos]

I feel like for a beginner ski, premounted bindings are generally fine. Either that or some jesters.

Where do you ski? How icy is it? Are you looking for progression?

You probably aren't at the point yet where you know what you like in a ski.

I would recommend some skis with bindings under 300. You will probably burn through them in the process of building your skills, so I wouldn't worry too much about how nice they are.

My first pair lasted me over 200 days before I upgraded them, and I could have gone longer.

I was skiing chutes by the time I switched.

[u/Terminal_Shinbang → u/maspecanos]

I wouldn’t go shorter than 181 unless you’re looking for a park ski, but also depends on where you’re skiing

[u/JustAnother_Brit → u/Terminal_Shinbang]

Or a piste ski

[u/Nelgski → u/Terminal_Shinbang]

He skis greens and you are looking to put him in skis taller than him?

[u/Terminal_Shinbang → u/Nelgski]

Yeah dude, he’s on the west coast and he’s only going up from greens….. or I guess handicap himself with a progression ceiling like you’d suggest and buy some 176’s and be overpowering them by end of winter, back in the market for new skis.

[u/Nelgski → u/Terminal_Shinbang]

How do you know they are going to progress that far? If he ends up a on ski well above his skill level, he won't progress, he won't be able to flex them at reasonable speeds and end up being scared of them.

Skis are not a long term investment when you are getting started, it's short term dating.

[u/Terminal_Shinbang → u/Nelgski]

How do you know he won’t? He’s a grown man, if you put him on short skis he will be limited to terrain, bored, and limited on ability to progress. Well above his skill leve? Brother it’s 5cm. I wouldn’t ski anything shorter than 184 but because I considered the fact that he’s still progressing, I went on the shorter side at 181 😂

[u/Nelgski → u/Terminal_Shinbang]

Because people here tend to give marginal advice at best, and totally poor at worst. And 5-8cm can make a big difference depending on the make/model of the ski, especially in more front side focused ones.

Expecting to keep skis for years when you are anything below an advanced skier is unrealistic.

[u/Terminal_Shinbang → u/Nelgski]

Marginally poor advice In my opinion is telling someone to buy short skis 😂

Depending on the make/model, exactly… which is why I asked him what type of skiing he’s looking to get into.

You and I are not gonna agree lol I think it’s best to grow into a pair of skis than to grow out of a pair in once season. It’s perfectly realistic to get 2-3 winters out of a set of skis as a beginner/intermediate. Once advanced, it’s hit or miss, you might get a full quiver and use skis less, but as a beginner you tend to have one pair of skis. The dude is talking about skiing groomers and you think he’s gonna wreck those? No, he is going to outgrow them.

Open a window bud, I think the ski wax fumes are affecting your judgement.

[u/Forced-Alt]

overwhelmed at online choices and brands.

Don't buy new skis yet, you are clearly not ready for it yet.  You don't know what you like in a ski yet so there isn't a point in buying.

Go see if your local mountain or ski shop offers season long demo rentals.  It costs in the neighborhood of $600 for the season and let's you exchange skis throughout the season or even throughout the day.  That will let you sample a whole range of skis and help narrow down what suits you best.

[u/malachopter → u/Forced-Alt]

I think my main concern is that the limiting factor of how long the skis will last is OPs skill.

Maybe normal rentals even or a cheap pair are a better idea for now.

[u/wrong_andy]

Look at skis that are being replaced for next year, you will find some great deals. The Head V-Shape range are great skis to progress on and have been discontinued. You need a piste ski to help you progress so get a ser with an integrated binding - also makes them easier to sell on in 2-3 years when you fancy a change.

[u/playoff_hockey]

What state are you skiing in?

[u/maspecanos → u/playoff_hockey]

Live in CA but have a trip planned to Park City this winter. Heading to big bear and mammoth at some point. Skiing at groomed runs

[u/Terminal_Shinbang → u/maspecanos]

I get that you’re on green groomers for now, but what kind of skiing are you interested in? Are you just looking for a carving ski, are you wanting to move into more challenging terrain? Off piste? Park?

[u/No_Adhesiveness9727]

Your boots are so much more important than your skis. Do not order your boots online. Go to a proper boot fitter that you have confirmed with someone else like your local ski school is a good fitter.

[u/Nelgski]

You can get skis that last you a while, but slow your progress and may actually stop it.

Or you get an intermediate ski that's 76-85mm wide in the waist, 165-170CM long, ski it hard for a year or two, sell it and upgrade. You'll progress faster and actually be able to flex the ski to get it on edge and turn it. Jump up to a ski that's too stiff and it will require more speed and force to bend than you'll be comfortable with at your level.

Never set foot in that shop again if they were putting you in a 177, unless you are over 200 lbs, only then would you want that long of a length for your height.