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Book ski hire online and save up to 40%

Liz — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:10:49 +0000

I’ve been booking my ski hire online for about the last ten years and I really wouldn’t do it any other way now. Booking ski equipment hire online not only saves you money (up to 40% off in resort prices) it’s also completely hassle free. Booking ski hire online works like this:

Visit skiset.co.uk who have shops in pretty much every ski resort in the World! On the skiset.co.uk website they will offer you a discount on your ski hire of up to 40% off the price you’d pay in the ski resort. You can choose any resort Ski Set have shops in, and then choose the actual shop you’d like to pick your ski hire up from in the ski resort (a map of location is provided), often they have 2 or more shops in resort, so pick the one closest to your accommodation. Then choose the dates that you need your ski hire for, you get the 7th day free and you can pick your ski hire up the afternoon before the ski hire period starts. You then choose the type of skis you’d like to hire, there are a large range of standards to choose from, beginner skis to expert sport skis with a number of options in between. Remove the boots option if you have your own boots. Then just pay for your chosen ski hire selection securely online, print out the confirmation details and take this to the ski shop when you arrive in the ski resort.

There are many reasons why you’re better off booking your ski hire online, I think many people probably haven’t realised the benefits of doing this yet. So here are my top 5 reasons to book ski hire online.

Why Book Ski Hire Online reason 1 – Savings. Typically you can save up to 40% off the price by booking your ski hire online

Why book Ski Hire online reason 2 – Know where you’re going. When booking ski hire online you can choose the shop by location and therefore you’ll know exactly where in resort you need to go to pick your ski hire up from.

Why Book Ski Hire Online reason 3 – Time saving. When you book ski hire online the ski shop will have your skis / snowboard ready to go, so you don’t have to wait when you get to the shop. If you need to hire boots then of course it’ll take a little longer, but when I’ve just had just skis to collect I’ve been in and out in 5 minutes!

Why Book Ski Hire Online reason 4 – Avoid airline baggage charges (and a bad back) . It could well be cheaper to get ski hire in resort than it is these days to pay the airline baggage charges. And it’ll be far less effort too.

Why book Book Ski Hire Online 5 - Get up to date equipment. Ski Set replace their ski hire kit every year. This means that the skis you hire will progress with the technical improvements as they happen. At Ski Set you can also specify exactly the skis or snowboard you would like to hire.

All in all, booking ski hire online is a very simple process and can save you a lot of money, especially if you’re a family or group. Most ski holiday reps will obviously be pretty disappointed that they can’t sell you the overpriced option, but it’s your choice entirely where you get your ski hire from, so don’t feel afraid to not order with your holiday company. I’ve been booking my ski hire online for 10 years and haven’t regretted it yet!

Book your ski hire online at skiset.co.uk

Ski helmets proven to reduce head injuries

Liz — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:16:17 +0000

Every ski trip we go on I seem to notice more and more people wearing helmets. On our most recent trip we took along several friends and by the end of the trip two non helmet wearers had been converted and purchased helmets in the local ski shop in La Plagne Centre. However there are still some people that believe, much like some do about bike helmets, that ski helmets can do more harm than good.

There has now been a study that proves that helmets reduce skiers’ and snowboarders’ risk of head injury by 35 percent and don’t increase the risk of neck injury.

Some people believe that helmets may increase the risk of neck injury when skiers and snowboarders fall, particularly children, who have a greater head-to-body ratio.

The Ski-C girls in the now obligatory helmets

In this study, Canadian researchers analyzed the findings of 12 studies conducted in Asia, Europe and North America and concluded that helmets were beneficial.

“The use of helmets significantly protects against head injuries among skiers and snowboarders,” wrote Brent Hagel, of Alberta Children’s Hospital, and colleagues. “Risks of head injury can be reduced by 35 percent.”

“Based on this evidence, we encourage helmet use,” they concluded.

The study was published Feb. 1 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Data from numerous countries suggest that head injuries account for up to 19 percent and neck injuries up to 4 percent of all ski and snowboard injuries reported by ski patrols and emergency departments. Among skiers and snowboarders, traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and serious injury.

Reviews of our helmets – Red Avid and Giro Encore 2. Buy ski helmets at Snow and Rock.

Tog 24 sale

Em — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:41:12 +0000

If you fancy buying a new jacket or need some new thermals then Tog 24 have got a great sale on at the moment. Check out the clearance section of their website here for some fantastic bargains!

If you like standing out on the piste then this Dolphin Womens Gore-Tex® jacket is just £79.95, that’s nearly 70% off the original price!

Red Avid helmet review

Liz — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:36:08 +0000

: Red Avid Helmet

This season I decided for the first time that I would wear a helmet on the piste. Being the picky skiier that I am, I couldn’t just buy one, I went to Ellis Brigham and tried on every single helmet available!

As this was my first time wearing a helmet, I was keen to find something that I would barely notice. Whilst trying on the range of helmets I noticed that even though many fitted some had padding that dug in, some were tight at the front and loose at the back. It all goes to prove that you really need to get trying on helmets and not just ordering them online.

Eventually after what seemed an age (and it probably was about 40 minutes) I decided on the Red Avid helmet. There is actually a female equivalent of this helmet, the Red Hifi, but I felt the Avid had a better fit on my head. Out of all the helmets I tried which included the Giro range, the Bern Muse, the Saloman Ranger Custom Air and a selection of Protec helmets, the Red Avid was the lightest by far and noticeably so too, it weighs in at 340g (weighed scientifically by my kitchen scales!). The Red Avid cost £69.95 which is a mid range helment.

So, on our recent trip to the Three Valleys I got to try the helmet out properly. On the first day I told myself that if I didn’t get on with it, I’d ditch it. But….. much to my surprise it fitted perfectly, didn’t annoy me and by the end of the day I’d kind of forgotten it was on my head! For anyone out there looking for a helmet, I highly recommend the Red Avid. It’ll now become a regular fixture on my head, and I’m sure one day I’ll be grateful that I made the decision to wear one.

Giro Encore 2 Ski Helmet Review

Dave — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:33:33 +0000

A few weeks ago I decided to take the ‘better safe than sorry’ option and buy a ski helmet for the up and coming season. Having never contemplated wearing one before I asked some friends if they had any advice and recommendations. The most important advice given to me was to try as many helmets as possible, which meant a trip to the nearest ski shop.

Giro Encore 2

After trying on numerous helmets by major brands RED, Giro and Salomon I decided for the Giro Encore 2. Not only did it fit like a glove (which too be honest all the Giro helmets did), it weights only 540grams so at £64.99 I thought it offered the best value for money.

A wide range of ski helmets can be seen at snow and rock

North Face Etip ski glove – perfect for iphoning on the piste!

Liz — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:51:40 +0000

I’ve just been watching the Gadget Show and have seen a fabulous pair of gloves – the North Face Etip glove that will be just perfect for using your iphone (and other technical things) on the piste.

The basic premise is that all touch screen devices rely on the connectivity between your finger and the screen (can you tell I’m not technical!). What I do know is that it’s annoying, and I’ve just seen a fabulous way to resolve the problem. The gloves have what’s called an etip finger to allow you to use touch screens, there is also a gripper palm to ensure you don’t drop your ipod off the chair lift!

The etip gloves are not available online in many places, but you can buy them from Cotswold Outdoor for £22.

10% off ski wear at Outdoorscene

Liz — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:28:51 +0000

Get 10% off at Outdoorscene using code “snow10″. Visit the outdoorscene.com website for a great selection of ski and snowboard clothing at affordable pricing. This is a great website for those kitting themselves out for their first ski holiday, with ski jackets starting at a bargain £40. They do state on the website that these clothes are not designed for climbing Everest, however for a weeks ski holiday they will be perfect. Visit the outdoorscene.com website.

The RaxSki

Em — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:25:24 +0000

On our trip to the Metro Ski and Snowboard Show we came across the ‘RaxSki’ for the first time. It looks unlike any other ski and so we were intrigued to find out more!

The RaxSki is an Austrian invention and basically looks like half a ski! The rear end has been replaced with a spoiler which apparently lets you turn and brake quicker than with any other ski.

The explanation of how they work isn’t the easiest to understand, it has to be said! The fins (or spoiler) ‘make carving more efficient because they geometrically extend the shaped ski edges backwards’. This allows the ski to carve deeper and avoids any kind of skidding.

You can ride RaxSkis anywhere on or off piste, although the makers advise you not to try any big air maneuvers when wearing them! Unforutunately we weren’t able to try it out for ourselves but we’re keen to do so if we get the chance! Buy the RaxSki. If you’ve tried the RaxSki let us know what you think!

Beanies by Grannies!

Em — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:26:06 +0000

We stumbled upon this fantastic company at the Ski and Snowboard show and whether you’re after some new head wear for yourself or an original and quirky Christmas pressie for someone else then this is the place to go to.

Grannies Inc beanies are knitted entirely by Grannies! We asked them whether this is really the case or whether it’s just a clever gimmick but they assured us that they do actually use bona fide grannies, as advertised for in a well known Knitting magazine!

You have the choice of designing your own beanie, or, if you’re not feeling particularly creative, opting for one of the many pre-designed beanie styles. If you opt to design your own you can choose from fitted or baggy, you can choose extra features such as pom-poms and ear flaps, and you can choose a colour scheme to match your ski gear.

The Beanies cost £20 and yarn stock permitting, all orders are usually processed and sent to a granny to knit within 48 hours. Although all of their grannies are speedy knitters they ask you to allow 10 working days for the delivery of your order.

So get those beanies ordered now to keep those grannies knitting!

Snow and Rock sale – best buys for women

Liz — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:35:04 +0000

Snow and Rock have got a brilliant sale on at the moment, so we thought we’d do a capsule ski wardrobe for beginners, or for those just needing some extra kit.

Socks

PHD Ski racer socks now only £13.56 a pair in the Snow and Rock sale. Tip -if you’ve got your own ski boots then you’ll probably get away with normal socks depending on the age of the liner.

Thermals

The North Face Long Sleeved zip neck is half price in their sale and at £17.48 in the Snow and Rock sale it is certainly a great bargain.

Salopettes

Colombia Killington salopettes are reduced to £29.97 in the Snow and Rock sale, and for such a well known quality brand, they’re worth snapping up.

Fleece

The Mountain Hardwear women’s Micro Chill jacket uses Arctic(TM)100 fabric for lightweight and comfortable warmth, and features a high cut collar with a full front zip. Reduced to only £26.97 in the Snow and Rock sale.

Ski jacket

A great trendy bomber jacket from Helly Hansen that can take you straight into town after. Half price at £75 in the Snow and Rock sale.

Gloves

A good quality glove is probably your best friend on the mountain, good fingers can make a lot of difference to your comfort. These great quality gloves by Dakine are now only £22.48 in the Snow and Rock sale.

Note that as of going live all these items were available, though at these prices they won’t be round long. So if something is unavailable when you visit, just have a look on the Snow+Rock sale, there’s loads of bargains to be found. Visit the Snow+Rock sale