Ski's rent
If you're just starting your acquaintance with mountain skiing, renting skis is the best way to discover your preferred style for future skiing adventures. This allows you to try out several options, understand what you like, determine the ski lengths, stiffness of skis and boots, and find the suitable radius that suits and pleases you. When starting out and not knowing what you prefer, making a mistake while choosing new equipment is quite easy. Opting for mountain ski rental helps avoid wasting money and preserves the enjoyment of your vacation. However, it's important that the staff assisting with the rental listens and selects suitable equipment. Therefore, the location where you rent skis should inspire confidence and have expertise in this field.
After 2-3 skiing trips, you'll start to understand your preferred skiing style, how much risk you enjoy, and which trails bring you the most pleasure.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING SKIING GEAR?
APPROPRIATE MOUNTAIN SKI BOOTS
There are several key factors in selecting boots:
- Stiffness and its index
- Boot size Boot size, foot width, calf height
- Overall boot comfort
- Other advantages: buckles, adjustments, inner material properties, ventilation, etc.
Ski boot stiffness/stiffness index
This measures the rigidity of the outer plastic part of the boot, particularly the interaction/flexibility between the foot and ankle parts. A stiff boot's ankle flexes less towards the front of the foot, transferring force better to the ski's front and reducing strain on the Achilles tendon during high speeds and loads. A soft boot works oppositely, being more flexible and focused on comfort rather than high speeds.
The stiffness index ranges from 40-140.
Stiff boots (110-140) are designed for aggressively and swiftly skiing professional skiers or those with more weight. They provide the best control over the ski with good pressure transfer but offer minimal comfort for the foot. They can be used with skis of all stiffness levels.
Medium stiffness (70-100) is for moderately aggressive skiers, intermediate or beginner skiers looking to progress. They provide decent comfort and good pressure transfer/control to the ski. Using medium stiffness boots with the highest stiffness skis is not recommended. A softer boot at high speeds will poorly transfer your movements to the ski, causing delayed responses. It will also make it harder to achieve the ski's declared turn radius.
Soft boots (40-60) are for beginners, slow skiers, or lightweight skiers. Although they transfer less force to the ski, a soft boot offers the greatest comfort. It is not recommended to pair a soft boot with medium or hard skis as this combination performs poorly in all conditions, slow and fast trails alike.
In ski rentals, you'll most commonly find soft and medium stiffness boots. Advanced skiers typically prefer personalized boots formed to their feet.
Choosing the boot size
The boot size indicator corresponds to the length of the insole in centimeters. When choosing and trying on boots, it's crucial not to make a mistake and avoid selecting oversized boots. An oversized boot can result in poor ski control and potential injuries during falls.
The boot cuff should not be too high that, when the boot is tightened, the heel cannot rise. The boot should not be too narrow either, as a tight boot will cause discomfort and pain in the foot.
The correct and proper boot length should allow for a slight touch of the toes at the front when the boot is tightened, and you're standing straight. When slightly bending forward and putting weight on the front, the toes should relax and no longer touch the front of the boot. This stance is correct for skiing, and spending most of the day skiing in this position is recommended. Choosing an oversized boot where the heel and ankle are loose risks ankle twisting in case of a fall.
Overall boot comfort
Rental boots are not new; they have been worn by various foot shapes, and the inner lining might have worn out. When trying them on, it's important to spend a few minutes in the boot and feel for any sharp pressure points on the ankle or foot bones. If you feel sharp pressure, try on other boots. Additionally, it's crucial to evenly tighten the boot's closure, ensuring consistent pressure throughout the boot.
Other advantages. Buckles, adjustments, inner lining features.
Boots with metal buckles are more durable. They have stronger resistance when encountering obstacles during a fall. Metal buckles also have micro-adjustments, which can be helpful for comfortably tightening the boot.
In rentals, boots with adjustable stiffness indexes (50-70, 70-90, 90-110) are available. Adjustable stiffness is useful for achieving maximum comfort. During the initial skiing days, starting with easier trails, you can set a softer index, and when progressing to more difficult trails, switch to a higher stiffness.
More expensive rental boots with a higher (medium) stiffness index typically have higher-quality inner linings. These linings have antibacterial and ventilation layers. Ventilation layers ensure the moisture accumulated inside the boot evaporates through the top of the boot's ankle, ensuring dry and warmer feet throughout the skiing day.
HOW TO CHOOSE MOUNTAIN SKIS
Our mountain ski rental in Kaunas offers skis of various lengths and stiffness. The predominant inventory is suitable for prepared slope skiers.
What suitable ski length and stiffness do you need?
Ski stiffness
Similar to boots, manufacturers usually offer skis with stiffness indexes ranging from 4-15, including a separate series of rental skis.
Rental skis are usually more resistant to scratches, etc., but cater to use for all beginners. Standard skis with stiffness indexes are more sophisticated.
Lightweight and low stiffness skis (4-7) are for beginners, comfort, low speed, and lightweight skiers, especially women. When tilted onto their edges, these skis bend more easily and turn more easily. Less pressure is required to achieve the specified turn radius. At high speeds, these skis are more prone to torsional twisting, increasing the risk of losing control during turns.
Medium stiffness skis (8-10) are for advanced or heavier skiers and those skiing at higher speeds. They are harder to press and bend at low speeds, making maneuvering harder for a lighter skier at a slow pace. However, skiing and navigating turns at higher speeds are easier and more enjoyable than with low stiffness skis. A stiffer ski is more stable, allowing for greater enjoyment even on icy surfaces.
High stiffness skis (11-15) are for professionals, heavier skiers, high speeds, and skiing on icy surfaces. These skis are rigid, heavy, and resistant to torsional twisting. Placing these skis on their edges during a turn, even with significant pressure, does not twist them along their longitudinal axis, maintaining contact with the snow surface. Skiing with such skis requires proper skill but is incredibly rewarding when handled correctly.
To ski smoothly at low speeds with a stiff ski, additional pressure and effort are needed.
A stiff ski requires a stiff boot; otherwise, all your movements will be delayed and less precise.
Ski length
Manufacturers recommend ski lengths within 5-15cm of the skier's height.
For beginners, skis should be shorter, about -15cm than the skier's height.
For professionals, about -5cm from the skier's height.
A shorter ski is easier to control at low speeds but is less stable at higher speeds and slides poorly.
The longer the ski, the more stable it is at higher speeds and slides more easily on snow.
CORRECT POLE LENGTH
Standing upright, with elbows tucked into the body and holding the poles, the angle at the elbow should be ±90 degrees.
For beginners, poles are heavier and more resistant to bending when they fall.
For advanced and professional skiers, poles are lighter, with handles covered in cork or other materials less prone to cold.
WELL-PREPARED RENTAL EQUIPMENT
Even the best-chosen mountain ski equipment isn't the final stop for a perfect start to your vacation. The equipment needs to be prepared. Boots need to be dried, ski edges need tuning, the base needs proper waxing, and the bindings need to be adjusted correctly to detach from the boot when falling.
Understanding that these factors are crucial, we meticulously prepare our rental equipment before every lease. When a client reserves equipment, we inquire about the skier's weight, skill level, and skiing temperature. Based on this, we wax each ski set with the appropriate wax to ensure the best slide. We maintain the edges to prevent any nasty surprises, and even if a mistake occurs, the ski will detach from the boot in time.
Confidence is crucial, and you can trust our equipment!
We invite you to choose our mountain ski rental in Kaunas. The majority of our inventory consists of Slovenian manufacturer ELAN skis with unique Waveflex technology, as well as ALPINA boots from the same manufacturer, perfectly suited for broader Lithuanian feet.
In the rental, you'll also find helmets and ski bags for convenient travel.
