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Equipment Your Teen Needs to Ski

By Denise Witmer, About.com

Does your teen like to ski? Is he/she on a ski team or is he/she just starting out in this outdoor winter sport? It doesn’t matter what your teen’s skill level, the equipment is the same. He/She needs skis, boots, bindings, poles, ski clothes and something to help carry it all. While this sport can get pricey, it is an enjoyable and healthy sport that your teen can do for the rest of his/her life. So check out the list of equipment tips and shop around online for some good deals.

Skis
The top brands in skis offer lengths for the beginner and the sports-crazed teen. They offer many types of skis, so you’ll want to get an idea of what your teen wants before getting overwhelmed.

Brands of Skis

  • K2 Skis - Compare Prices
  • Atomic - Compare Prices
  • Rossignol - Compare Prices
  • Nordica - Compare Prices
  • Salomon - Compare Prices

    Ski Boots
    Take your teen out to a ski shop and try some of these on. Be sure he/she brings heavy socks. Boots are a very important part of skiing. They should fit snug, but not too tight. If a ski shop trip isn’t an option, check the online reviews of different boots for sale from brand names you can trust.

    Brands of Ski Boots

  • Atomic - Compare Prices
  • Rossignol - Compare Prices
  • Nordica - Compare Prices
  • Salomon - Compare Prices

    Bindings
    Bindings are what keep your boot hooked to your ski. People get hurt when bindings break, so you want to be sure to get a reliable pair.

    Brands of Bindings

  • Black Diamond - Compare Prices
  • Rossignol - Compare Prices
  • Atomic - Compare Prices
  • Salomon - Compare Prices

    Poles
    Ski poles help with balance. They are very important to a beginning downhill skier. Although I’ve seen expert skiers without them, mostly they’ll use them too. For cross country skiing they are a must.

    Brands of Poles

  • Black Diamond - Compare Prices
  • Rossignol - Compare Prices
  • K2 - Compare Prices
  • Salomon - Compare Prices

    Ski Clothes
    Ski pants, jacket, hat, long underwear and gloves are all need for skiing. Teach your teen to dress in layers. Remember that too much is as bad as not enough. You don’t want to sweat and get your clothes wet.

    Types of Ski Apparel

  • Ski pants - Compare Prices
  • Ski jackets - Compare Prices
  • Long underwear - Compare Prices
  • Gloves - Compare Prices
  • Hats - Compare Prices

    Goggles
    Goggles protect the eyes from the wind, sun and snow. If your teen wears glasses or prefers to wear sun glasses instead of tinted goggles, a recommend a pair that will fit over his/her glasses. If not, get a tinted pair for day wear along with a regular pair for night skiing.

    Compare Prices for Goggles

    Something to Carry it All
    There are sports bags designed for skiing and back packs. These are optional but do keep your equipment clean and in tip top shape when they are stored in the off season in the bags. They also make it easier to get back and forth from the slope.

    Compare Prices for Ski Bags

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