Fresh Air Experience

Cross-country (XC) skiing is a sport that gets people genuinely excited for winter. In a country with a notoriously long, cold and snowy season, it’s an activity that brings joy and helps people truly appreciate the great Canadian outdoors.

However, for anyone looking to try cross country skiing for the first time, the price tag can bring about the winter blues long before the snow even begins to fall.

This article will help you decide if you should rent or buy XC skis this year. Let’s get started with help from someone on the inside to help you break down the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Rent It, Test It

For first-time or irregular skiers, renting is a great way to test out the sport before fully committing. Renting equipment is an obvious choice for beginners; it’s inexpensive and convenient for trying out different styles of skis and boots. For those that don’t hit the trails more than once or twice a season, it’s still a legitimate option to avoid the maintenance of wear and tear on owned equipment.

While this may not impact the first-time skier, the drawback to rentals is their quality and availability. While rentals serve their purpose, they’re rarely a top of the line product. For example, Fresh Air Experience’s rental fleet is a level below what we sell on the floor. While the rentals are suitable for a day, they do tend to be a one size fits all experience that doesn’t offer the same quality fit as carefully selected equipment. It also isn’t uncommon for shops to rent out their entire fleet on a perfect February weekend, so first-come-first-served policies put pressure on renters to get to the rental shop early.

XC Skiing with Kiddos

One of the best cases for renting sports equipment is keeping kids active. Every parent knows the struggle of buying their child new shoes, only to find themselves back at the store before the end of the season because the little one grew two sizes in just as many months. With ski equipment, buying new equipment every year can be costly, let alone multiple times within a single winter. Renting is the perfect solution.

Fresh Air Experience offers the Junior Boot Trade-In Program for Nordic ski boots; it’s an economical option for families wanting to keep their kids out on the trails. In the Junior Boot case, kids get equipped with XC ski boots for an entry cost and deposit, and those boots are theirs for as many seasons as they fit. Once the growth spurts hit, the boots can be traded for another size as often as necessary. Programs like this are a great way to introduce children to a family-friendly winter sport, getting them active and outdoors without a hefty investment each year.

When It’s Time to Buy Your Own XC Ski Equipment

Once a skier is out more than 3 to 5 times a season, it’s time to start considering owning the equipment. From novices to pro-level racers, a skier’s experience level is not the only factor that contributes to the cross-country experience itself. The quality and tailoring of the equipment impact the kind of ski experience someone has. Rentals will fit well enough for the day, but once someone is purchasing, a knowledgeable ski shop associate will help a customer hone into the best possible fit: boots that fit just right, and skis and poles that are suited to the user’s height and weight.

One of Fresh Air Experience’s best-selling ski boots provides increased ankle support; for someone just getting into the sport, this can have a significant impact while balance and strength are still being built up. Likewise, a customer can opt to buy XC skis that are lighter than a typical rental pair, making the experience more enjoyable, even at the beginner level.

A ski shop will recommend a different style of ski depending on whether a customer is on groomed or ungroomed trails. One recommendation for new buyers is to ask friends where they ski and what type of XC ski they have. Having people to do the activity with adds to the experience, so making sure someone has similar equipment to their peers means they’re more likely to go out with their friends. For example, if your friends have race skate skis and you have fish scale classic skis, it’ll be tricky for you to ski together with the same level of enjoyment for everyone, so try to get the same kinds of skis.

So, Should I Rent Skis or Buy Skis? Final Verdict.

There are tons of pros and cons to weigh when considering renting or buying XC ski equipment. It comes down to what kind of experience a skier is looking to have, and what fits their budget. For the best experience, there’s no replacement for taking to the time to get correctly sized and investing in equipment that is the best possible individual fit for a smooth cross-country skiing experience. Any skis you are fitted for and buy yourself will always be higher quality and a better fit than even the nicest rental, and with maintenance, they can last for over a decade.

Rent ski equipment if:

• You’re a beginner and looking to try the sport out for the first time
• You ski only a couple of times per season (or less) and don’t mind the one size fits all equipment experience
• You’re buying for kids who are likely to outgrow skis and boots or are more interested in having hot chocolate in the chalet

Buy ski equipment if:

• You’re out on the trails more than a few times a season; this is equipment that doesn’t go bad
• You want a smoother and more enjoyable experience tailored to your body and your favourite skiing conditions
• You’re committed to the sport – now commit to the equipment; it’s one less hurdle between a skier and the trails

Take it from an Ottawa insider: people in Ottawa (even across Canada) have a hard time in the winter. It’s cold and unpleasant, and people want to stay inside and eat comfort food. But if someone has made that investment in themselves, for a lot of people, it’s the little bit of motivation they need to get themselves outdoors and enjoying winter.

Rent or Buy Cross-Country Ski Equipment at Ottawa’s Fresh Air Experience

Fresh Air Experience is Ottawa’s landmark ski and bike shop, equipped with expert staff that can outfit first-time skiers and long-time enthusiasts. Located in the heart of Wellington West, Fresh Air Experience offers XC skis and skate blades as rentals on a first-come, first-serve basis, starting at only $25 per day.

The popular SJAM trail along Ottawa’s river or Mooneys Bay are also perfect places to try out equipment for adults and kids.