For skiers and snowboarders, few pieces of equipment are as important as their ski jacket. Few things are more miserable – not to mention dangerous – than being outside in freezing temperatures, wet conditions and high winds with inadequate clothing. Still, you might not have the money to spend hundreds of dollars on a professional-quality jacket. Here are some ideas and things to watch for when buying discount ski jackets:
Don’t Settle for a Regular Jacket
It can be tempting for new skiers on a budget to try hitting the slopes in a regular winter jacket designed for walking a couple blocks in the snow. Don’t do this – most winter jackets are not capable of handling the wind speeds you’ll be experiencing, let alone keeping the wet out when you fall in the snow. A cheap winter jacket is not a bargain for a skier. Buy a real, purpose-designed ski jacket that can deal with the conditions you’ll be skiing in.
Educate Yourself (Discount Ski Jackets are worth it)
When you have a lot of money to throw around, you can walk into a store and just say “Give me the best thing you’ve got.” However, hardly anybody needs the highest level of quality in every feature of their ski jacket. When buying discount ski jackets, you may have to sacrifice certain qualities in order to lower the price. That’s all right; just make sure you know which qualities to sacrifice. Learn about water and wind resistance, insulation, and all the little details like powder skirts and pocket types until you know both what you don’t need and what you can’t live without.
Buy Second-Hand
There’s nothing wrong with buying a quality ski jacket that somebody doesn’t want anymore. Many people will upgrade every year, and then sell their lightly-worn gear for a low price. As long as the zippers all work, the seams haven’t burst, and the fabric isn’t torn, a second-hand ski jacket can be a great way to save money.
Go Bargain Hunting
If you’d prefer new discount ski jackets over used, then do a little research and comparison. Find the jacket you want online or in a store – preferably in a store, so you can try it on and make sure you like the look, feel, and warmth – then write down the price and specifications. Now start hunting. Look for the same jacket in different stores, and run some in-depth online searches. You’re almost guaranteed to find somebody offering the same jacket for a fraction of the price offered in the first place you found it. Maybe a competing store has a sale on that particular jacket, or perhaps one website just can’t seem to get rid of it and is willing to offer a drastically reduced price.
If you find the best price online, don’t get too excited right off the bat. Make sure that the seller is reputable and that there are no unpleasant fine-print details attached like a voided warranty, shipping damage or manufacturing mishap. Nothing kills the thrill of finding those cheap ski jackets on your doorstep like opening the box, putting them on and realizing that all the zippers are broken.
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Try Lesser-Known Manufacturers
The big names are generally the most trustworthy, it’s true. However, it’s also true that a big name is often the only justification for that extra digit on the price tag, and you might be able to find a much less expensive jacket with the exact same features from a lesser-known manufacturer. In addition to the joy of getting a very high-quality jacket at a low price, you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing that you helped out the little guy.
Once you have everything figured out and find quality discount ski jackets at a price that’s right for you, you have no more reason to hesitate. Buy them and hit the slopes!
