• Discover Which Type of Skis You Need

• Choose Your Downhill Skis and Poles

• Select Cross Country Skis and Poles

• Get Ski Boots, Apparel, & Accessories

• Find Skis on eBay

• Buy Skis & Skiing Equipment With Confidence

Discover Which Type of Skis You Need

Discover Which Type of Skis You Need

Skis need to match your skills and ability, and the type of skis you buy depends on the type of terrain you plan to ski. Manufacturers design skis for two major types of skiing: alpine skiing (also called downhill skiing) and cross country skiing.

• Downhill skis: Take downhill skis, also called alpine skis, to the ski resort, hop on a ski lift, and feel exhilarated as you travel at high speeds down a mountain. Popular brands include Atomic downhill skis, Elan downhill skis, Rossignol downhill skis, Salomon downhill skis, Volkl downhill skis, and Fischer downhill skis. Head downhill skis offer a smooth run, while Dynastar makes technologically advanced skis that are the talk of the industry.

• Cross country skis: Explore the countryside with cross country skis. Telemarking skis, a type of cross country ski, are designed to help you tackle hills on your cross-country treks.

Buy ski gear specifically designed for women

Women’s skis differ from skis designed for men. Women's skis have more flexibility than men's skis, weigh less, and have mounting points farther forward on the skis to adjust for a woman's center of gravity. Women’s ski boots end lower on the leg. They’re made of softer materials than men’s boots, often including a fleece material that provides extra insulation.

Outfit the kids with junior skis

Juniors skis, primary designed for downhill skiing, come in shorter lengths than adult-size skis. When buying equipment for children, make sure to get them the right size skis and boots so they’ll be comfortable, rather than expecting them to grow into larger sizes. Very young children often don’t need poles, which can interfere with learning proper balance.

Choose Your Downhill Skis and Poles

Choose Your Downhill Skis and Poles

Downhill skis have a shapelier, shorter design than ever before. Downhill "carving" skis come in lengths between 160 cm and 200 cm. Conventional straight skis are available in 5 cm increments, from 175 cm to 210 cm.

Select the right length for your downhill skis

It's easier for a large skier to make turns with a long ski than for a shorter skier to do the same. Longer downhill skis, recommended for skiing on fresh powder, keep you centered and make it easier to grip snow in turns. Aggressive skiers looking to ski in various conditions at high speeds may also want longer skis.

Lightweight, shorter downhill skis make it easier to change direction and carve more easily at slow speeds. Shorter downhill skis make a good choice for beginners and more cautious skiers.

The following chart will give you an idea of the right ski length for your weight.

Also factor in your height when choosing the length of your downhill skis. When placed on end the ski should reach somewhere between your chin and forehead. When barefoot, measure the distance between the floor and your nose. Add 2.54 cm to your results (roughly 1 inch) to compensate for the height of your ski boots.

Measure downhill ski width

Downhill ski width is typically measured in three areas: the width at the tip, at the waist, and at the tail (for example, 122/90/115). These measurements give you an accurate idea of the uses for a ski.

• Downhill skis for beginners: Beginners should choose downhill skis with a wide waist of 70 mm and a narrow tail measuring 80 mm.

• Downhill skis for quick turns: If you want responsive downhill skis for quick turns, choose a ski with a narrow 60 mm waist.

• Downhill skis for powder skiing: Downhill skis with a wider waist, around 80 mm, are ideal for powder skiing.

The sidecut refers to the inward curve between the front and tail end of the ski. A ski with a deep sidecut allows for quick turning. A ski with a shallow sidecut makes for wider turns.

Evaluate ski construction

Ski construction has an effect on overall quality. Various types of construction include:

• Cap downhill skis: Cap downhill skis have a wood or foam core, completely covered in fiberglass

• Laminate downhill skis: Laminate downhill skis, made of strips of fiberglass sandwiching a core of another material, give you a smooth ride, but do not offer the same durability as cap downhill skis.

• Monocoque downhill skis: All-fiberglass Monocoque downhill skis offer the most durability of the three traditional ski materials.

Some downhill skis are made of Kevlar, titanium, carbon, and boron fibers. These materials can add to the cost of the ski.

Choose downhill ski poles

To get started, buy durable and cost-effective aluminum ski poles. Ski poles made from graphite or other materials weigh less than aluminum ski poles, but may break more easily.

Select Cross Country Skis and Poles

Select Cross Country Skis and Poles

Cross country skiing requires skis and poles designed specifically for backcountry conditions.

Types of cross country skis

Your choice of cross country skis depends on where you expect to trek.

• Traditional in-track touring skis: Suitable for paths that have already been broken, in-track touring skis can also be used on ungroomed areas. With little sidecut, they’ll stay on track. Use a kick-and-glide motion.

• Skating skis: Use skating skis with an inline skating style on groomed trails. Skating skis are narrower, shorter, and lighter than other traditional cross country skis.

• Off-track skis: Use these to navigate ungroomed terrain. They’re wider than in-track skis so they’re easier to move over powder.

• Backcountry skis: Backcountry skis have metal edges, measure as wide as most alpine skis, and work best for adventuring in variable snow conditions.

Examine cross country ski features

Once you know which type of cross country skis you need, look at dimensions, sidecut, camber, and waxing

• Cross country ski dimensions: Measure the width of a ski at three places—the tip, the waist, and the tail.

• Cross country ski sidecut: Sidecut is the inward curve of the ski. A ski with a deep sidecut turns more quickly than a ski with a shallow sidecut.

• Cross country ski camber: The camber is the space between the middle of a ski and the ground when the ski’s on a flat surface. Cross country skis require more camber for the kick-and-glide motion.

• Waxed vs. waxless cross country skis: It’s easier to take care of non-wax skis. Experts prefer waxable skis because, when cared for correctly, they outperform non-wax skis. Keep in mind that waxing skis in highly variable temperatures or at near freezing is difficult.

Select cross country ski poles

Ski poles are an important part of your equipment—they give you more control on the slopes. Poles come in fiberglass, aluminum, graphite, or some combination of these.

• In-track ski poles: Poles should reach from the ground to your armpits or a little higher. Because you ski in packed snow, the pole baskets can be small.

• Off-track ski poles: Pole baskets should be slightly larger than those used for skiing in trails. Another possibility is telescoping poles, which let you vary the length when moving up and down slopes.

Get Ski Boots, Apparel, & Accessories

Get Ski Boots, Apparel, & Accessories

Besides skis and poles, you’ll also need ski boots, bindings, and essential ski accessories before you hit the slopes.

Fit ski boots correctly

Besides your skis themselves, your feet and ski boots will spend the most time in direct contact with snow while you ski. Boot size is often measured in European Mondo point sizes. The following chart helps convert your shoe size into mondo size:

Select downhill boots and bindings

Downhill ski boots have a stiff outer shell and foam interior. Buy the smallest size that’s comfortable, because the interior will mold to the shape of your foot. As you move up in ability, you’ll want a stiffer boot for more aggressive skiing. Lange makes performance boots that are the choice of the World Cup.

Modern bindings release quickly when you fall. Ratings, known as DIN, indicate how easily they release. Buy boots with the correct DIN:

All downhill boots are compatible with all downhill bindings. Because women have a different center of gravity, women’s bindings are usually mounted slightly forward of center. More expensive bindings tend to perform better.

Wear appropriate ski apparel and accessories

When you decide on your skiing outfit, consider the climate. Wear lightweight, breathable materials in warm, dry climates. Wear layers and materials graded for colder weather in colder, wetter conditions.

• Ski jackets: A waterproof jacket or shell protects you from the wind, cold, and moisture. Select a breathable material.

• Ski suits: Get a ski suit to cover your whole body.

• Ski pants and bibs: Choose waterproof ski pants that will fit over your ski boots. Another option is a ski bib, which have waterproof suspenders.

• Socks for skiing: Wear thick, warm, stretchable fabric socks.

• Ski gloves or mittens: Wear waterproof gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm. Also, look for gloves or mittens with a liner that you can remove if the weather becomes warmer.

• Headwear for skiing: Hats, beanies, and headbands keep your ears covered and warm.

• Ski helmets: More and more skiers are wearing ski helmets that reduce head trauma during a fall. Wear a ski helmet when skiing in rocky or wooded areas. Ski helmets should carry a CE, ASTM, or Snell RS-98 certification.

• Sunglasses or ski goggles: Goggles shield your eyes from snow and wind chill. Sunglasses keep the glare out of your eyes. Get a pair that offers 100% UV protection.

Find Skis on eBay

Find Skis on eBay

Once you know what type of skis you want, go to the Sporting Goods portal, click Skiing & Snowboarding, and start searching for items on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Accessories, Apparel, Cross Country Skiing, Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding, Telemarking, and Other Skiing & Snowboarding. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by specific item type.

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find Atomic skis, type "atomic" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Skis & Skiing Equipment With Confidence

Buy Skis & Skiing Equipment With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.