Hi all - just wondering if you can help. Have started to get into snowboarding. Is first time trying it and really like. Thinking of buying some kit to save on rental costs!

Am looking for board + bindings + boots. Hoping to get the whole lot for 150-200 CHF.

I've looked through previous posts and so far I have:
- charity shops (eg www.heilsarmee.ch)
- this forum
- ebay / ricardo

But what I'm wondering is - am I missing anything else? Are there discount online shops that sell new kit in this sort of price range, OR is it much better for me to get a decent 2nd hand kit?

Thanks
K

Hey,

I was in similar situation like yours before this season and was looking for a beginners kit for a 200chf approx. and luckily I found this:

www.airtracks.de

They sell a completely new kits including a snowboard bag, for a 180 euros, plus shipping. You can choose different boards,bindungs and boots. When choosing boots, get 1 size bigger than your normal shoes. If you have any questions, you can contact them - they are pretty quick in aswering messages. I got it shipped to swiss-german border town in Germany and saved a couple of euros.

Ive got mine a month ago and already tested it in Mayrfofen, Austria - it is perfect set for a beginner and it is new, so the it should last longer.

Good luck!

T

Also,
decathlon... have decent price for "entry level equipment"...

I could not find any direct "import from china" website or similar-

Or the one I found seemed dodgy (like people working at main factories for boards who could get some cheaper and sell direct to you... )

What you propose to spend on kit is nothing compared with what you'll spend on lift-passes (unless you walk-up).

My snowboard equipment wasn't expensive but I did appreciate that not everyone has the same shape feet and some boots from some manufacturers were very uncomfortable but others for the same price from other manufacturers were much better.
It's a bit of a chance of you go mail order on the boots
Just bare that in mind.

DO NOT mail-order boots unless you are 100% certain that make/model/evolution fits your feet - perfectly.

I must have tried on 20-30 pairs when I bought mine - which I still have - on their 8th season. They only hurt a bit if I don't get the tightness just right!!

We are all different. You best bet - in my opinion - is go to a resort - speak a to a rental shop about your needs - rent a board, try another board, try another one etc

Then at the end of the season buy the one you like from the rental shop.

When you start you don't really know what you want/need. I got my first board from an instructor - it had been used for 1/2 season. It turned out to be too stiff - a free-ride/off-piste board - and it was excellent at that. It was/is also a very good quality board.

When I bought my second board I knew what I was looking for. And was able to try out boards that the shop would not normally allow people to test/rent (same brand).

The right shop will help you find the right board/bindings/boots for you - the wrong shop will sell you a board/binding/boot combination!

few boards are imported from China, I believe.

But you can try doodah outlet for luck if you can have a drive to their outlet store.

I have bought a nitro board + raiden binding for 400 CHF, much reasonable for the price with good quality

For those in Vaud/Ne/Fr there is now a huge Decathlon in Pontarlier, next to HyperU (last roundabout and right, on the by-pass road direction Besançon.

Seen a lot of boards in brocki's here (2nd hand shops) but I'd steer well clear of those, really really old boards in terrible condition, usually with the clip on type bindings.

for your budget you're really going to struggle, even ex hire boards are more then that. at the end of the season the out of town sports shops sell off old stock pretty cheap, we've managed to get ok boards and bindings for less then 150 chf, and new boots from 15chf (the hire type boots, but still new), that was a few seasons ago though, and the recent sales have been lousy.