Freeing the Heel, Part 2
Bargain Hunting for AT Gear
By Carson Bennett, 12-08-08
I have begun my search for AT gear and immediately realized something. This stuff is expensive. If I bought a brand new setup – including skis, bindings, boots and poles – I would have to drop at least $1600. For me, that’s equivalent to four months rent, sixteen months of groceries, or one day heli-skiing in Alaska. In any case, it’s more than I can afford at the moment, so I did what any bargain hunter would do. I went to eBay.
At first the lack of AT-specific skiing equipment on eBay surprised me. My search terms “Randonnee,” “Alpine Touring,” and “AT Skiing” offered no results. When I got more specific, searching for “Alpine Touring Skis,” I finally found a handful of skis, boots, and bindings. By contrast, when I searched for “downhill skis” I got over 600 hits.
I did find a pair of K2 Ascent 8611 Alpine Touring skis on eBay and bought them for fifty bucks. Yes, they’re a few years old, a bit too long for me and a bit too narrow at the waist for the kind of snow I seek, but they had good reviews, they’ve never been used, and for fifty bucks I decided they could at least introduce me to the backcountry.
My search for bindings and boots continues. Even on eBay and Craigslist, a pair of Diamir Freeride or Marker Baron bindings run around $300. And don’t even get me started on boots. A new pair of Garmont Endorphins will cost me $700. The Endorphins are my dream boot – fully thermoformable liners, magnesium micro-adjustable buckles, 25-degree walk mode, reinforced carbon fiber shell, and compatibility with both downhill and AT bindings – but since they cost more than I paid for my car, they’re a bit beyond my range at the moment.
Any tips, Snowblog readers? Where can I find affordable boots and bindings? Is there alternative gear out there I don’t know about? Have a cousin in Houston with a closet-full of unused gear? Let me and the other Snowblog readers know!
[End of article]Two years ago, I went bargain-shopping for AT gear as well. I was pretty lucky; I was able to pick up some nice Atomic TM:X skis with Freerides for about $400 at the Ski Swap here in Boise. My girlfriend hooked me up with some SWEET G3 climbing skins for x-mas. Late in the season, I found some very nice Scarpa Tornado boots for about 350. Ebay is your friend, as is MountainGear.com.
Comment By Nicole, 12-08-08You should be watching steepandcheap.com and tramdock.com. Set them up to run in your computer browser. They have sic back-to-back deals all day long, especially on skis, but you have to act fast because most deals sell out in twenty minutes or so.
Comment By Steve Stuebner, 12-08-08I'd check on the IdahoGearList.com ... it's a new online outdoor equipment site based in Idaho, and keep a bead on used equipment at your favorite ski shops.
It's worth spending money on good bindings and boots because they should last you a long time ...
I agree that Ebay is a good place to watch as well as Craigslist and your local newspaper classifieds.
I've been on the AT Scrounge for a while also. Initially scored an outrageous deal, against all odds, on a pair of Scarpa Denali boots at Second Wind in Bozeman.
The following ski swap score was some equally unique, apparently near-one-of-a-kind Hart all-mountain skis, honeycomb aluminum like my old Hexcels from back in the day.
Bindings, though... I'm sure bargains on Freerides and such must exist, but I never found any. Finally bought their predecessors, Swiss military surplus Fritschi's. They work, but I'm still looking for a deal on later generations.
Just finally got all this put together late last winter, and hit a spot or two I can't wait to re-visit. If it would ever snow!!
It's like having your own private ski area. Except I don't have to worry about my exclusive resort going bust!!
Once in a while I see signs for ski swaps as fundraisers for Elks Club type of places. Pay a fee to get in and swap away. I've heard tell of serious deals at those, but it's hit or miss like Craigslist, I guess.
Comment By Carson Bennett, 12-12-08Great advice everybody! Keep it coming. I just got my K2 8611 Ascent skis in the mail yesterday. They're way too long for me, but at fifty bucks, I may as well try them out, right? Now I need bindings...
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