MER’s Guide to Saving a Ton of Money this Winter
Colorado is iconic for winter sports. Whether you ski, snowboard, cross country ski, snowshoe, etc Colorado has something for everyone. Winter is coming quickly which means you are probably dusting of the skis, trying on your jackets, boots, gloves, etc to make sure they still fit. You might also be compiling things that you want to upgrade.
In this blog we will be sharing how to save a ton of money this winter. We will outline how to shop used for skis and snowboards, what ski resorts will help you save money, deals on kids tickets, and how you can even make a little bit of money this winter.
Shopping for used Ski/Snowboard gear:
Shopping for used Ski/Snowboard gear results in saving a ton of money but it’s important to know what to look for and how to shop used winter gear. Below we share some resources on how to buy used, what to look for and how to get started on knowing what skis/snowboard is right for you.
What is indemnification and why does it matter?
Most importantly for skis you need to make sure the ski bindings are indemnified:
Most people have never heard of this before, however; it is an important thing to know when buying used skis because it involves your safety.
Binding indemnification means that the manufacture of the bindings guarantees that a ski binding model meets industry standards and is also safe. Indemnification lists are not available to the public and must be purchased. MER buys this list every year to make sure we are up-to-date on industry standards.
What do I need to look for when buying used?
We get it, it can be overwhelming knowing what to look for when shopping for used winter gear. If you aren’t a total gear nerd than it can be tough to know what is a red flag, what can be fixed, and what is a steal of a deal!
Blog for shopping used skis:
MER’s Ultimate Guide to Buying Used Skis
Blog for Shopping Used Snowboards:
Snowboard Robot: Tips on Buying a Used Snowboard
How do I know what used skis/snowboards will be right for me?
If you want information on what type of Snowboard or Skis to buy even when buying used check out these awesome REI blogs that break it down.
Don’t be afraid to ask a staff member at our shop to help you figure out what ski would be best for you. Last thing you want is to buy the wrong type of ski.
Where to ski:
Resort skiing can be a huge expense. Driving up, paying for lift tickets, food, drinks, etc. It all adds up. Knowing where to ski can help in saving a ton of money this winter. Some of our favorite mountains that will help you save money are:
Located twenty miles west of Salida, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 50. Monarch Mountain Ski Resort is located on Monarch Pass at the continental divide. They have 54 trails, two terrain parks, and an extreme terrain area called Mirkwood. There are plenty of runs for all different skill levels, and terrain preferences. You can purchase a 4-pack at one of their events (only available until Nov 9th). They also have amazing prices for kids up to 7. They practically ski for free.
Ski Cooper is right outside of Leadville Colorado. Cooper Ski Resort offers you 64 trails served by 5 lifts, spanning 480 lift-served acres. They have great prices for all ages but and kids 5 & under or 75+ can get a season pass for only $10.
Keep in mind: when you ski on the weekends, it’s more expensive. So try and plan your trip Mon-Thurs to save the most money.
PRO TIP: Pack your own food to save even more money. Take a cooler, keep it in your car and head out there for a mid-day break!
KID PASS DEALS:
Getting your kids on the slopes for cheap is key to saving money this winter.
The Colorado Ski Passport gets your 3rd-6th grader ski passes for only $67! The pass includes 4 days at each of 20 different Colorado ski resorts!
Epic SchoolKids Pass gets your K-5th grader 4 free days of skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte. Registration for the 24/25 season is unfortunately closed but registration for the 25/26 season will be open in the spring and this is one you won’t want to miss.
MAKE SOME MONEY ON YOUR WINTER GEAR:
If you are ready to upgrade, or maybe you gear lying around that you aren’t using anymore you can bring it in for consignment and make some money on it without going through the stress of listing it, dealing with internet scams, meeting with someone, etc.
We take used skis (bindings must be indemnified), snowboards, jackets, snow pants, gloves, hats, snowshoes, cross country skis, snowboard/ski boots, etc!
Bring your items in during our business hours, let a staff member know you are there for consignment, and they will walk you through the rest of the process!
To learn more about consignment you can also check out our consignment page on our website.
Cheers! We hope you have an amazing, low spend, winter!