Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to products that I or my friends have tested, own, and truly love.
We recently took our toddler skiing in Colorado with a small group of friends. We splurged and did a proper grown-up resort rental within shuttle distance to the lift - meaning, any savings we could make on snow gear was highly welcomed.
Now, mid/end-winter, I know most of you already have your kids geared and kitted for snow play. If not, let me share with you how I avoided spending a fortune on great gear and how I made some good deals on new gear. I also include a tip on how to save on ski and boot rental.
E doesn't look too impressed, but I promise she had a blast skiing and was nice and warm in her discounted/hand-me-down gear.
Love the hand-me-downs and used gear
Toddler E has been using a 12 year old hand-me-down winter jacket from my nieces. It may not be the coolest jacket out there, but it works! I did contemplate buying her a longer one (it is on the short size), but my friend reminded me that the kids won’t be doing any fast downhill skiing in snowstorms. I focused instead on getting her a good snow bib to help keep her upper body warm. If you do need a jacket, look on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, local consignment stores or even Amazon Used Gear for great deals. Nordstom Rack, Kohls and REI outlet and REI used gear also have some great deals, especially mid-winter when the season is almost over.
Be realistic about how much use it will get and set your budget accordingly
My friend made a good point about how little our toddlers would actually be skiing. This season is seeing a lot more snow than previous years, but let’s be realistic: E will not be rolling around in snow piles daily all winter long here in sunny Albuquerque. And the times we take her skiing, hiking or sledding, we’re usually only out there for 1-2 hours at a time. Most toddler snow gear will do great for short-term use. However, if you live on a snowy mountain or venture into snow play every week, it is absolutely worth investing in the proper gear. That being said, the best gear is not always the most expensive gear out there. Look for reviews from other moms, such as this one “Check What’s Best” or “The Spruce” to learn about the features and look for sales and used gear. Often, buying a full set will also save you a lot.
Focus on room to grow - Snow-bibs with extensions
There are great reviews out there on the best snow bibs on the market at affordable prices. Those reviews will tell you about special features such as leg extensions and velcro shoulders for proper fit. That is how I learned what to look for. By adding an extra inch in the leg seem that you simply unpick, you prolong the life of the bib. We found a bib that covers the back and chest more than the traditional shoulder straps but that still allowed for adjustment in the shoulders with velcro. E can now wear them for at least another winter season.
Look for less popular colors or older versions which are cheaper
I wanted to make sure that baby brother O can inherit at least part of E’s gear, so I looked for gender neutral colors. I realized by scrolling through the color options on Amazon that they often have a good deal on less popular colors. It’s also worth scrolling down to see if they suggest an older version of the same item which will drop the price. If you are great at planning ahead, wait until the end of the season and buy a snow set on super sale for next winter. Mittens and hats can be found at the end of each season in the sale rack at Target or similar stores for a significant discount. I’ve stocked up each season for next year.
Rent skis and boots from home - avoid high resort prices and save time
We planned to put E on skis for the first time, so I knew she wouldn’t be using them a lot. I also knew we wouldn’t have much time at the resort (two full days for us to take turns skiing, watch the kiddos AND teach E to ski). So I went to our local Sports Systems in town to rent skis and saved $4/day AND precious time. Granted, we had to rent them for 3 days as oppose to only 2. However, your local store might be willing to negotiate a deal. In my case, I only paid for two days by letting them know that E would only be using them two days and that it was her first time (so she would hardly use them at all). It allowed us to squeeze in an hour of skiing with her before getting into the car on our return travel day.
If you know your little one will be skiing a lot, it might be worth looking for used gear on Craiglist. I saw a pair of skiis and boots listed for $40!!!! Sadly, they were too big to even fit next year, but you might have more luck.
What I bought
Snow bib, $13: White Sierra Snow Bib (first generation), “Dazzling Blue”, on sale for $13 compared to $45 (now $35).
The deal is no longer there, but this is the item I was looking at when I noticed a link to an older version and a different color. (These prices change all the time). I chose this bib type for the reviews (warm but not too bulky), for its wider shoulder straps and chest/back cover (similar to the style of highly rated Helly Hansen and Patagonia bibs in the mom’s reviews), and for the extendable legs.
Ski Helmet, $8.95: Retrospect Traverse H3 Youth Ski and Snowboard Helmet, size XS (48-51.5 cm).
From new, this helmet (at the moment of writing, early February) in matte white/gray is $15. Very affordable. However, if you select the color Tangerine/teal, the price is $29.99. Scroll down and you will notice a “Used & New $8.95. Keep in mind the inventory of used helmets change all the time, so this is not a guaranteed deal.
Winter boots, $14, Target. Toddler Boys' Barkley Winter Boots - Cat & Jack™, down from $29.99.
Our friends used these boots for their little boy for our winter camping trip. She had bought them at the full price at the beginning of the season. They seem nice and warm and waterproof enough for the occasional snow play E would be doing. And they are easy to get in and out of. When returning from the trip mid-December I hurried to Target to look for them. And to my surprise, they had a variety of similar boots on sale for half the price. Again, waiting until mid-season or end of season sales can really pay off.
If you want to spend a little more on your little one’s snow boots, my friend highly recommends these $50 KEEN Kelsey Boot WP Shoe (Toddler/Little Kid). They are great because they are taller than the average snow boot and really do keep the snow out. And the zipper in the inside of the boot makes them easy to put on your squirmy toddler.
Please share your thrifty ideas as I’m sure there are many more ways to save. Enjoy the snow!!