With the arrival of fall shortly after noon on Monday comes a reminder that now is the best time to lock in seasonal rental packages for skis and snowboards.
First of all, they’re available now, and there are good reasons to avoid procrastinating. Some vendors may raise prices closer to the season. Others may run out of seasonal rental gear.
With that in mind, here’s a look at what’s out there and what it will cost you to rent for the season:
Christy Sports: Season rental bundles (skis or snowboard, boots and poles) start at $99 for kids 6 and under, $169 for juniors and $239 for adults. Christy Sports has a great package for kids that bundles season equipment rentals with season passes at two ski areas. Equipment rental with a Loveland season pass for kids ages 6-14 starts at $289; for a Monarch season pass, the price is $343 (ages 7-12). Christy Sports has multiple locations on the Front Range. Online rental reservations are available now, and gear can be picked up at any Christy Sports location beginning Friday .
Epic Mountain Gear: Season ski and snowboard packages (including boots and poles) are available for reservation, ranging from $149 to $249 and can be picked up by appointment at the Aurora and Littleton locations. Epic’s website says seasonal rentals are limited, so customers are advised to act soon.
Breeze Ski Rentals: Same prices as Epic Mountain Gear, as both are owned by Vail Resorts. Seasonal rentals are available at Breeze locations in Lakewood and Frisco.
Larson’s Ski & Sport: Ski or snowboard packages with boots start at $95 for kids and increase with the age of the child, up to $160. Adult packages start at $175 and increase depending on the performance level of the skis or snowboard. Larson’s annual ski and snowboard used gear swaps, including skis, snowboards, boots, cross-country gear and clothing, will be held in the parking lot of the store in Wheat Ridge on the weekends of Oct. 4-5 and Nov. 22-23.
Play it Again Sports: This franchise chain with six Denver-area locations offers a wide selection of used skis, snowboards and boots for purchase. You can walk out the door with a full set-up of high-end gear, including boots for $400-$700, according to Lakewood store owner Eric Patrick, and $200-$400 for less expensive gear. At the Lakewood store only, there is another option: Customers can rent gear for the season for half the sale price, and if they like it, they can buy it outright later by paying the remainder of the original sticker price. There are no details on the store’s website, but you can get more information by calling 303-593-2108.
Sports Plus: This family-owned consignment shop on Old South Gaylord Street near Washington Park also offers full-season rental packages for adults priced at $275-$375. Full set-ups for kids go for $200-$300. They can be booked online.
