Let's face it — when you travel, you want comfort. Between taxis, airport terminals, check-in counters, security checkpoints, and car rentals, most travelers agree that the less you have to deal with during your journey the better. The same is true for the comfort of knowing you'll be skiing on gear you know and trust, not some random rental.
Is It Worth Shipping My Skis?
This is a common question among avid skiers who travel more than once or twice a year. The combined hassle of lugging skis to the curb, cramming them into an Uber, and dragging them across airport terminals is something everyone wants to avoid. The key factors to consider: comfort, convenience, and cost.
#1 Comfort
Using your own gear is always an advantage over demo or rental gear. Not only do you avoid waiting in line at the rental shop — you also avoid the half-day of adjustment to a new pair of skis. In my personal opinion, renting gear at the resort means you may be skiing on older equipment that doesn't match your style.
#2 Convenience
Flying with your own gear means you can avoid all the rental issues — but airlines sometimes reroute passengers, and your gear might not show up until a day later. Airlines often give priority cargo space to companies with contracts. I can recall one flight from Boston to Salt Lake City where the airline removed passenger baggage to make room for fresh fish being flown in for Utah restaurants. With shipping, you can have your skis waiting at your Airbnb or hotel.
#3 Cost Breakdown
For a 3-day trip (assuming you have your own ski boots): Renting at $60–80/day runs roughly $180–240. Airline bag check at $50 each way runs ~$100. Shipping at $25–50 each way runs ~$50–100. The three major carriers to research are USPS, UPS, and FedEx. FedEx even offers free expandable boxes for skis. Sign up for text alerts so you know when your skis arrive.
Pro tip: Don't forget to wrap the bindings in your ski pants or soft gear for protection. When you're done, drop them at a Ship & Print center or ask the hotel concierge to hold them for FedEx pickup. All these shipping options only make sense if you already own your ski equipment — but if you do, it's almost always worth it.